Poll: Triangle divided on who has best barbecue

Poll: Triangle divided on who has best barbecue:: "The Triangle Business Journal's latest weekly nonscientific poll elicited a split decision from 764 participants over which Triangle establishment serves the best Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

From Aug. 16 through Aug. 22, our readers were asked, 'Who serves the best Eastern North Carolina barbecue in the Triangle?'

Nearly a third of all voters, or 222 participants, selected 'other' as their answer, voicing strong support for a number of Triangle barbecue houses not included...

Here's a funny anonymous comment:
"There is no such thing as good Eastern North Carolina barbecue. Bring on the Memphis or Texas [barbecue] with the thick, yummy sauce."

I second that motion.
BBQ / Barbecue

Lost Pirates Found!

"Pirates of the Carolinas" used to be a family attraction at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC. A couple of years ago, I was disappointed to find it had closed. Burroughs and Chapin left no info about what had happened. Had pirates been outlawed? Was there no interest in pirates mixed with pizza, a pirate gift shop, and an arcade?
An even older Myrtle Beach attraction is closing after more than fifty years, the Pavillion. I had the chance to grab a few pictures in the park a few weeks ago, before they officially opened for the day. Toward the back of the park, I saw a familiar looking display of pirates and skeletons. Avast! It was the old 'Pirates of the Carolinas', reconstituted into 'Treasure Hunt'! The same facade, the same admiral, the same ride. It was exciting to rediscover these pirates, but sad to think this will be gone at the end of September..or will it?

Pirates / Pirates of the Carolinas

"Leave her, Johnny" - Sea Shanties

"Leave her, Johnny" - Sea Shanties: "Shanties are songs of the sea that were used mostly in work situations on board. Their synchronization of the workers' hard and repetitive tasks helped them to toil more efficiently and safely. Other benefits of music and singing in the naval environment included...."
Pirates / Shanty / Shanties

The Captain's goin' ArrrSS

This old salt doesn't sail with the winds of change as quickly as some, but the time has come for me to dive into RSS with all the dispensing of orange chicklets.
Yes, it's true, my Captain's log here has had a feed of sorts for some time, but I just now figured out how to inform folks. I'm nought but a humble pirate; techie stuff comes hard to me at times.
My site The Pirate's Realm now has a feed, for all you blokes what look for updates and fresh content, and want it to come to you.
Now, all you web geeks don't go lookin' for ol' Sage to come and read the stuff to you....make SOME effort, or I'll have your guts for garters. Arrrr!!

Barbecue Redemption.

The anxiety and dread are behind me. I can now say I have eaten the worst barbecue ever. I went to a local joint called Pig-N-Out the other day. It was the last business in a long, sweaty line that had no A/C on that 97-degree day.

Even in my road-weary condition, I noticed the inside was dark and eerily quiet. I know now that there are good reasons why some restaurants are nearly empty even at mealtimes. I oredered the rib plate, expecting some concoction of pork, smoke, and spice, but what I got what a mystery wrapped inside a riddle inside some beef-flavored mess.

The pig logo should have been replaced with Batman's Joker or the Riddler. Why were the ribs so soggy? Why was the only flavor besides meat an overpowering Texas Pete? (sorry, TL Gardner) How hard did you have to work to transform beef ribs into peppery, meat-flavored chwewing gum?

Out of six huge ribs, (I use the term in the academic sense) I only found three bites I could swallow. The sides of beans and potato salad and fries and hush puppies were really good, though. The ribs went home with me, for I had vowed that that beast would not have given his life in vain. I would redeem the ribs.

I placed the meat in question in a ziploc bag with liquid smoke, KC Masterpiece sauce, garlic powder, and fresh cracked pepper to marinade overnight in the fridge. The next morning, they spent three hours in foil in a 325 degree toaster oven...what? Smoke them outside? The heck you say! It was 97 degrees again. I am not about to cook myself trying to smoke meat in a heat wave. Even the toaster oven was placed in the garage.

Anyway, the ribs were delicious come suppertime: tender, sweet, smoky (cheated), spicy ribs. It's true, they were beef. The meat was too much, the grain too long, the color too dark for them to be pork. It was against my heritage to indulge in beef and not pork ribs, but they were great nonetheless.

The bigger lesson here is that if you want at least good-tasting ribs in Winston Salem, NC, stay away from any establishment that calls itself a barbecue joint. I have learned the hard way; not any one of them are worth it.
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs