the Quest for Q
Chef John Schenk's passion for food extends beyond the walls of each Strip House location. With a nose for smoke and an insatiable hankering for the best BBQ around, Schenk searches high and low to answer what could be one of the most hotly debated food subjects in America. These are his favorites:
NEW YORK
The Smoke Joint
87 South Elliott Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.797.1011
thesmokejoint.com
I fell into this place after playing tennis in Fort Greene Park. There it stood, like a smoky beacon on a distant hill, calling my name. The Hacked Pork and the Beef Short Ribs have a real competition going on between them. Both are dry-spice rubbed and packed with flavor, and pair well with the dipping sauces. I consider the Smoky Greens and 'Cued Beans the dynamic duo of my culinary palate--I could eat those all day long! There's lots of love of BBQ here!
NEW JERSEY
Big Ed's BBQ
305 Route 34
Old Bridge, NJ 07747
732.583.2626
bigedsbbq.com
All-you-can-eat smoked baby back ribs--'nuff said! Cole slaw and corn on the cob, when in season... I've made this run more than once: off the plane in Newark and out to Ed's for a quick under-the-radar BBQ fix. Then it's into the Manhattan office and back to business!
HOUSTON
Goode Company on Kirby
5109 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77098
713.522.2530
goodecompany.com
Long-time family-run establishment that displays Texas heart and BBQ soul! Great brisket, but I often have the Sweet Water Duck and Czech Sausage combo--it's almost
lethal! I love duck in any fashion, and BBQ'd is a natural but so hard to come by in BBQ joints. Czech sausage is essentially kielbasa, and I just plain love kielbasa! (I used to live down the block from Ukrainian butchers in New York, and it shows.) Also love the Jambalaya Texana and Jalapeño Pinto Beans.
FLORIDA
Brown Bag BBQ
4748 Golden Gate Parkway
Naples, FL 34116
239.455.4366
I get the baby back ribs and from time to time the chicken (juicy). Again, family-run and the pride shows up everywhere. I love the cole slaw and onion rings. I don't get to visit that often, but now I can't wait to get back there!
Park Avenue BBQ Grille
525 US 1
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
561.842.7427
pabbqgrille.com
I have to say, the Deluxe Sampler, consisting of a quarter chicken, a half rack of ribs, pulled pork, and beef, might seem like a lot to eat, but I do my 'Kobayashi' and get the job done! Definitely get the potato salad and cole slaw, both fabulous examples of BBQ sides.
Meteor Smokehouse
404 Southard Street
Key West, FL 33040
305.294.5602
A hands-down winner, as this is the only one I could find, but it is great none the less! I get the dry or wet ribs--pork and beef, depending on my mood. The spicy green beans simply RO CK, and the cole slaw is no slouch. Plus, it's located right next to a great Key West bar, The Green Parrot. It is a BBQ happening...
LAS VEGAS
Lucille's
2245 Village Walk Drive
Henderson, NV 89052
702.257.7427
lucillesbbq.com
St. Louis spare ribs and Texas-style beef brisket... Southern braised
greens and homemade biscuits...
I live in Vegas, so this is a home joint. I love braised greens; collard greens are a great favorite. Anyone who knows me also knows I will travel great and stupid distances for a great biscuit. Luckily, Lucille's is down the road from where I play tennis, so I don't have to factor the price of gas into the cost of the biscuits, and somehow this makes them taste even better. I actually go here at lunch just for the sides. I am unaffected by the stares...
PUERTO RICO
Bebo's
1600 Calle Loíza,
San Juan
787.726.1008
When I was first traveling from the airport to the El Conquistador Resort, I used to see this place packed every time I passed it, day or night. I finally had to rent a car from Thrifty, which is two doors down, and so I meandered over to find out what all the fuss was about. WOW! This place is special! Crazy good pork shanks, ribs, and chicken. Sides: baked caramelized plantains and yellow rice. Puerto Rican BBQ is not spicy, so I always have to add Tabasco. People tell me the blood sausage is to die for but I don't swim in those waters, so if you go, take the plunge and tell me how the water was!
Don Quijote BBQ
T1 Avenue Conquistador
Fajardo
787.863.5797
Try the pork ribs and half chicken, and when they have it, the breadfruit and tostones for sides. This Dorothy is certainly not in Kansas anymore! A great, very local BBQ joint, and, incidentally, a favorite of my day sous-chef in Las Vegas, who has family in the area. Go figure on that "small planet" coincidence.