Saturday, March 18, 2017
Back To It
It has been almost three years since I tried to write to this blog. Time does get by me. I have been riding and eating BBQ, but not writing about it. I hope to change that in the coming months.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
BBQ R.I.P.
I am amazed at the number of BBQ restaurants around me that I have become aware of or have opened in the recent year. A number I hope to write about in the future. At the same time I have to note some that have closed (or at least I think they have closed, I am not the one to be make this news.)
One of the issues we have in our current electronic world is that many of the restaurants continue to have a presence on the web long after they have closed. Many of the restaurant review sites are great at listing a place, but extremely slow at either noting a new place or letting you know it has closed. I am sure they suffer from the same limits that I have. Who do you notify that your are opening? Who do you notify that you are closing?
A number of times I have tried to check if a restaurant is still open, found recent updates and travel the miles only to find the restaurant closed. Not just closed, but repurposed to some new function that insures that it is not open. I guess there is always the possibility that they have moved to a new location, but without a way to discover that I have less belief that that has occurred.
One of note is Michael's Unforgettable BBQ which was located in Jefferson City Missouri across the street from Oscar's restaurant. It opened about seven years ago, and was open for two or three years before closing. In fact it closed, reopened and then closed again. I think it was run by "Michael" who was a great pit master. Then I think it was run by a daughter or other family member, then by some other friends. Eventually it was run by a two people, a woman who cooked and a lady who manned the counter. The building remains, and is available for special occasions, if the sign is to be believed. They had good BBQ particularly the pulled pork, but I liked their hotdogs even better. To this day it is listed in my Garmin GPS, and in my various apps on my phone as open for business. Since I eat at Oscar's on a relatively frequent basis I know that it is not open at that location.
This past spring I made a number of trips around the central Missouri area, some for business some for pleasure. I had some freedom to schedule the times, and often tried to arrange to be at a favorite BBQ restaurant near lunch time. On many occasions I was disappointed to find the restaurant closed.
Grump's Bar B Que in Rocheport was a nice restaurant. It started as a double car port with a few picnic tables, and food prepared in an RV parked nearby. Over a couple of years it expanded to two car ports, and then the car ports were given walls as well as doors and windows. A couple ran the place as a way to add revenue to their retirement. They were well know by the workman in the area for providing good food for a low price. One of my favorite memories was the waitress who at the time might have been 4 years old. If you came in and sat down, she would come over with a pad of paper and a pencil and "take your order." I would watch her scribble on the pad, not giving me much confidence that I was going to get what I wanted. I then noticed that her grandmother listening at the other side of the room heard what I had asked for, and provided me good food quickly and efficiently. I liked the brisket in particular. But there were good pies and a number of respectful offerings. The last few times I have driven by the building is still there, but nothing leads me to believe that it is open.
There was a BBQ restaurant that opened a number of years ago in Sweet Springs Missouri, and then closed before I had a chance to try it. It was something like Applewood BBQ. I drove by it, noted its existence but did not stop soon enough.
There is of course Biffles Smokehouse BBQ in Concordia which I wrote about some months ago. At the time I had stopped by just a few days after it closed. It was an important site along I70 for a number of years. When I first become aware of it I did not have the disposable cash to be spending on the "expensive" BBQ at just anytime, so it was only for special occasions. As the years past it became a more frequent experience. It was a well run family operation. I am very surprised that it has not continued into another generation.
A BBQ restaurant that I discovered probably 20 years ago was Bill Sharps BBQ located between Knob Noster and Warrensburg on HWY 50. At the time it had been open many more years. In fact it had burned to the ground and been rebuilt at least once before I ever stopped to eat. There was an older man, I assume Bill Sharp who ran the place, and obviously was a pit master. They served good BBQ, and the size of the portions were huge. Located near Whiteman Air Force Base, they had a large connection to the service men that came to the base. They had a lot of pictures of planes and air force memorabilia, I am sure given to Bill by appreciative customers. Seating was at big tables, so you did not necessarily know who you would end up sitting with. I expect that much of my particular taste for BBQ was shaped at Bill Sharp's.
You can't mention amazing restaurants without mentioning Perry Foster's BBQ in Warrensburg. It was an amazing place. It was open and then closed, open then closed. I don't know the truth of it, but I understand it depended on whether Mr. Foster was in or out of jail. It had some of the best BBQ I have ever tasted. The portions were legendary. The service was generally just this side of rude, certainly it was abrupt with little patience for someone like me that was not real clear on all of the ways things worked there. The restaurants ambiance was of open windows without screens, so you occasionally took a mouthful with a fly. It was all worth it. I can remember taking my wife and daughter there once, and neither would eat anything....The building is now a car lot, and I understand Mr. Foster has moved to Georgia to open a restaurant there. If I found out about the location I would drive there to eat.....
I will probably think of some others...
One of the issues we have in our current electronic world is that many of the restaurants continue to have a presence on the web long after they have closed. Many of the restaurant review sites are great at listing a place, but extremely slow at either noting a new place or letting you know it has closed. I am sure they suffer from the same limits that I have. Who do you notify that your are opening? Who do you notify that you are closing?
A number of times I have tried to check if a restaurant is still open, found recent updates and travel the miles only to find the restaurant closed. Not just closed, but repurposed to some new function that insures that it is not open. I guess there is always the possibility that they have moved to a new location, but without a way to discover that I have less belief that that has occurred.
One of note is Michael's Unforgettable BBQ which was located in Jefferson City Missouri across the street from Oscar's restaurant. It opened about seven years ago, and was open for two or three years before closing. In fact it closed, reopened and then closed again. I think it was run by "Michael" who was a great pit master. Then I think it was run by a daughter or other family member, then by some other friends. Eventually it was run by a two people, a woman who cooked and a lady who manned the counter. The building remains, and is available for special occasions, if the sign is to be believed. They had good BBQ particularly the pulled pork, but I liked their hotdogs even better. To this day it is listed in my Garmin GPS, and in my various apps on my phone as open for business. Since I eat at Oscar's on a relatively frequent basis I know that it is not open at that location.
This past spring I made a number of trips around the central Missouri area, some for business some for pleasure. I had some freedom to schedule the times, and often tried to arrange to be at a favorite BBQ restaurant near lunch time. On many occasions I was disappointed to find the restaurant closed.
Grump's Bar B Que in Rocheport was a nice restaurant. It started as a double car port with a few picnic tables, and food prepared in an RV parked nearby. Over a couple of years it expanded to two car ports, and then the car ports were given walls as well as doors and windows. A couple ran the place as a way to add revenue to their retirement. They were well know by the workman in the area for providing good food for a low price. One of my favorite memories was the waitress who at the time might have been 4 years old. If you came in and sat down, she would come over with a pad of paper and a pencil and "take your order." I would watch her scribble on the pad, not giving me much confidence that I was going to get what I wanted. I then noticed that her grandmother listening at the other side of the room heard what I had asked for, and provided me good food quickly and efficiently. I liked the brisket in particular. But there were good pies and a number of respectful offerings. The last few times I have driven by the building is still there, but nothing leads me to believe that it is open.
There was a BBQ restaurant that opened a number of years ago in Sweet Springs Missouri, and then closed before I had a chance to try it. It was something like Applewood BBQ. I drove by it, noted its existence but did not stop soon enough.
There is of course Biffles Smokehouse BBQ in Concordia which I wrote about some months ago. At the time I had stopped by just a few days after it closed. It was an important site along I70 for a number of years. When I first become aware of it I did not have the disposable cash to be spending on the "expensive" BBQ at just anytime, so it was only for special occasions. As the years past it became a more frequent experience. It was a well run family operation. I am very surprised that it has not continued into another generation.
A BBQ restaurant that I discovered probably 20 years ago was Bill Sharps BBQ located between Knob Noster and Warrensburg on HWY 50. At the time it had been open many more years. In fact it had burned to the ground and been rebuilt at least once before I ever stopped to eat. There was an older man, I assume Bill Sharp who ran the place, and obviously was a pit master. They served good BBQ, and the size of the portions were huge. Located near Whiteman Air Force Base, they had a large connection to the service men that came to the base. They had a lot of pictures of planes and air force memorabilia, I am sure given to Bill by appreciative customers. Seating was at big tables, so you did not necessarily know who you would end up sitting with. I expect that much of my particular taste for BBQ was shaped at Bill Sharp's.
You can't mention amazing restaurants without mentioning Perry Foster's BBQ in Warrensburg. It was an amazing place. It was open and then closed, open then closed. I don't know the truth of it, but I understand it depended on whether Mr. Foster was in or out of jail. It had some of the best BBQ I have ever tasted. The portions were legendary. The service was generally just this side of rude, certainly it was abrupt with little patience for someone like me that was not real clear on all of the ways things worked there. The restaurants ambiance was of open windows without screens, so you occasionally took a mouthful with a fly. It was all worth it. I can remember taking my wife and daughter there once, and neither would eat anything....The building is now a car lot, and I understand Mr. Foster has moved to Georgia to open a restaurant there. If I found out about the location I would drive there to eat.....
I will probably think of some others...
Friday, July 4, 2014
A July Ride
A July Ride
Missouri usually gives a couple of days each July that are just wonderful. The temperatures are moderate the humidity low, the winds light. Yesterday was one of those days. I took advantage of the opportunity and rode a loop north and west of my house.
I cheated, and had my wife take me to the end of the gravel road so I could take the road bike. The road district is sure proud of it's grader. They like to use it frequently. Just about the time there is a path through the gravel, they grade it all again. It is like riding on a pool table covered in marbles....I can handle it on the mountain bike, but it is a bit of a pain on the trail bike, and down right dangerous on the road bike. It is a 2 mile stretch of gravel, but after that it is a series of paved roads with light traffic and friendly people, accustom to seeing people on bikes.
It was a wonderful ride! The farmers are haying and harvesting wheat. The corn is shoulder high, and with all of the recent rains the grass is green. There is a diversity of flowers.My pictures do not do them justice, but the view as a ride are really nice.
I did break a spoke. The second on the rear wheel of the road bike. Last time was catastrophic, and the wheel was far from true, and made riding impossible. I had not put the tools into the bag to handle the situation, so I was forced to call for a ride back to my truck. When I got home I outfitted each bike with the minimum necessary tools to handle the possible problems while riding. That proved to be valuable yesterday, when I was able to true the wheel and open the brake a small amount, and make the bike ride able. I was about ten miles from home when it occurred, which would have been a long walk.
I have not been stopped very often on a ride. The most frequent problems have been flat tires, and after that broken spokes. I broke a pedal once, which made a very bizarre ride home. It broke at the crank arm, so I was forced to pedal with one leg. I rode a tour once with a man who only had one leg. He rode a lot faster than I did, so I did not ride with him, and did not observe his technique.
I broke a stem once. I was riding down a hill at some speed when I found the handlebars in my hands unconnected to the bike itself. I was able to slow and stop the bike, but was more than a little scary. Luckily I was close to home. That was over 30 years ago, when drilling out parts to "lighten" them was more common. I had obviously over "lightened" that stem....
On one tour I kept loosing the bolts that held my bag carrier to the bike. I carried extra bolts and nuts. I had even used lock-tight. Managed to loose the same bolt three times. Noticed it was always discovered in the morning as I prepped to ride. After some time I caught a man taking them. I mentioned this to the tour organizer, and it seemed like there were several people with similar issues, that suddenly stopped after the man was confronted.
I carry spare spokes, tubes, chain links, and the tools to repair if necessary. What I don't carry is a shady cool place to repair the bike, so you end up on the side of a hot road in full sun, with sweat dripping into my eyes. I see many riders without even a spare tube, or tire pump. I guess if they have a problem, they hitch a ride or call someone.
With this being the second spoke I broke in the same wheel, it is time to replace all of the spokes. I ordered some new spokes when I got home last night. Most things on a bike have gotten cheaper over the years, that is not true of spokes. They ranged in price from 55 cents to $1.55 per spoke. I know that I am heavy, but I should not have an issue with broken spokes. Wheels take a lot more abuse when ridden fast on poor surfaces. This spoke broke on a flat stretch of smooth road. I was not even making much effort at speed, just enjoying the view.
I think that I will change it to a three cross. It is currently a two cross. I use to build all of my wheels four cross, and also tied the crossings with wire. When you tour you carry a significant weight, and some of the roads I faced in north Missouri were really abusive on wheels. There is nothing like a hilly road, covered in cold patch road surface! Abusive to the wheels and to your butt....
The last time I had covered this route there had been several dogs that paid attention to me, yesterday there were almost none. I did meet a couple of other riders, which was unheard of ten years ago. It shows that it is a lot more acceptable now than years ago.
Unfortunately even this relatively short ride did a number on my legs, tells me I need to be riding more!
Missouri usually gives a couple of days each July that are just wonderful. The temperatures are moderate the humidity low, the winds light. Yesterday was one of those days. I took advantage of the opportunity and rode a loop north and west of my house.
I cheated, and had my wife take me to the end of the gravel road so I could take the road bike. The road district is sure proud of it's grader. They like to use it frequently. Just about the time there is a path through the gravel, they grade it all again. It is like riding on a pool table covered in marbles....I can handle it on the mountain bike, but it is a bit of a pain on the trail bike, and down right dangerous on the road bike. It is a 2 mile stretch of gravel, but after that it is a series of paved roads with light traffic and friendly people, accustom to seeing people on bikes.
It was a wonderful ride! The farmers are haying and harvesting wheat. The corn is shoulder high, and with all of the recent rains the grass is green. There is a diversity of flowers.My pictures do not do them justice, but the view as a ride are really nice.
I did break a spoke. The second on the rear wheel of the road bike. Last time was catastrophic, and the wheel was far from true, and made riding impossible. I had not put the tools into the bag to handle the situation, so I was forced to call for a ride back to my truck. When I got home I outfitted each bike with the minimum necessary tools to handle the possible problems while riding. That proved to be valuable yesterday, when I was able to true the wheel and open the brake a small amount, and make the bike ride able. I was about ten miles from home when it occurred, which would have been a long walk.
I have not been stopped very often on a ride. The most frequent problems have been flat tires, and after that broken spokes. I broke a pedal once, which made a very bizarre ride home. It broke at the crank arm, so I was forced to pedal with one leg. I rode a tour once with a man who only had one leg. He rode a lot faster than I did, so I did not ride with him, and did not observe his technique.
I broke a stem once. I was riding down a hill at some speed when I found the handlebars in my hands unconnected to the bike itself. I was able to slow and stop the bike, but was more than a little scary. Luckily I was close to home. That was over 30 years ago, when drilling out parts to "lighten" them was more common. I had obviously over "lightened" that stem....
On one tour I kept loosing the bolts that held my bag carrier to the bike. I carried extra bolts and nuts. I had even used lock-tight. Managed to loose the same bolt three times. Noticed it was always discovered in the morning as I prepped to ride. After some time I caught a man taking them. I mentioned this to the tour organizer, and it seemed like there were several people with similar issues, that suddenly stopped after the man was confronted.
I carry spare spokes, tubes, chain links, and the tools to repair if necessary. What I don't carry is a shady cool place to repair the bike, so you end up on the side of a hot road in full sun, with sweat dripping into my eyes. I see many riders without even a spare tube, or tire pump. I guess if they have a problem, they hitch a ride or call someone.
With this being the second spoke I broke in the same wheel, it is time to replace all of the spokes. I ordered some new spokes when I got home last night. Most things on a bike have gotten cheaper over the years, that is not true of spokes. They ranged in price from 55 cents to $1.55 per spoke. I know that I am heavy, but I should not have an issue with broken spokes. Wheels take a lot more abuse when ridden fast on poor surfaces. This spoke broke on a flat stretch of smooth road. I was not even making much effort at speed, just enjoying the view.
I think that I will change it to a three cross. It is currently a two cross. I use to build all of my wheels four cross, and also tied the crossings with wire. When you tour you carry a significant weight, and some of the roads I faced in north Missouri were really abusive on wheels. There is nothing like a hilly road, covered in cold patch road surface! Abusive to the wheels and to your butt....
The last time I had covered this route there had been several dogs that paid attention to me, yesterday there were almost none. I did meet a couple of other riders, which was unheard of ten years ago. It shows that it is a lot more acceptable now than years ago.
Unfortunately even this relatively short ride did a number on my legs, tells me I need to be riding more!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
A Simple Ride
It is a beautiful time to ride a bicycle. I am lucky that there are several alternative rides available when I get to the end of my driveway. Each can be modified in a variety of ways, based on my whim.
I notice that the number of bee hives is increasing. Not sure if that is because they are productive and he is building more hives, or if they have succumbed to what ever is killing bees and he has put all of the hives in one location...the fact that they are so close together would likely mean they are no longer productive, otherwise I would expect that they would be a bit aggressive toward each other.
Something was going at a house up the road. I heard the sirens when I was on a parallel road, then passed the truck on my road. I did not see smoke, so likely that means an injury. Glad to have the active response, worry about what it means.....
It is a pretty time of year in Missouri. Winter was long this year, and it pushed many of the trees and flowers to green and bloom at the same time. The redbuds are just starting, and the flowering pears are at peak. I have not seen any dogwood yet. I plant about 50 dogwood each year that I get from the conservation department. About 60% survive for three years, when I think they should be able to survive into a maturity. Most of these do not flower, but they do leaf out. I understand that it takes about 10 years before they are mature enough to flower. I am pushing beyond that event horizon, so should be able to see the result of my efforts. I plant lots of other trees as well, mainly oak but I also try to plant trees that will provide food for the animals and birds.
It was good to see that the cows are out in the pasture....
I am sure they are enjoying the newly green grass....I notice that the number of bee hives is increasing. Not sure if that is because they are productive and he is building more hives, or if they have succumbed to what ever is killing bees and he has put all of the hives in one location...the fact that they are so close together would likely mean they are no longer productive, otherwise I would expect that they would be a bit aggressive toward each other.
Something was going at a house up the road. I heard the sirens when I was on a parallel road, then passed the truck on my road. I did not see smoke, so likely that means an injury. Glad to have the active response, worry about what it means.....
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Smoke and Fire BBQ
COMO Smoke and Fire BBQ
4600 Paris Road Columbia Missouri
Columbia is starting to get a lot of BBQ restaurants! Not sure why we suddenly have such an influx, but it is welcome. The newest addition is Smoke and Fire BBQ on Paris Road. I noticed the sign after the new year, and got the chance to stop end of last week. It is in a location that has had several restaurants in the last years. It is certainly easy to get to from the north part of Columbia. The décor is familiar from the previous restaurants, with some BBQ memorabilia added.
It has a varied menu, with limited BBQ offerings. It has the BBQ basics, and it has lots of other options for any in the party that want something else.
I had the brisket. It was cut thick, as thick as I think I have ever had it. By weight, it is a heck of a lot of meat. It has a nice flavor. I prefer a thinner cut, but that is my preference. Hard to argue with the choice when it is as tasty as this was. With fries and slaw and texas toast it is a nice meal for a price that would be considered middle of the pack.
I came a little before the lunch rush and it was easy to see that they were learning to handle a full dinning room. By the time I left every table was filled, and staff were really straining to keep up with all of the orders. I think it will be a bit of a learning curve to get the service up to expectations, it would help if they hired a few more to help. That is not to say the meal did not come quickly, because it was really fast from entry to eating. What became difficult was paying for it!
Biffle’s Barbeque
Biffle’s Barbeque
103 NE 2nd Street, Concordia, Mo 64020
Monday, December 2, 2013
Wavery Apple BBQ
Waverly Apple BBQ
700 W Walnut St
Waverly, MO 64096
I often choose to take the opportunity to drive from Kansas City by a route other than I70, particularly when I feel that the traffic is going to be a concern. One of those alternative routes takes me north, along HWY 24. It is a pleasant route that takes me by wineries and apple orchards. It also goes through a little town of Waverly. On one of these trips I noticed a sign for a BBQ restaurant, and I made note that I should come back when I had the opportunity to eat.
That opportunity came today. I was actually on a road trip to Bethany Missouri, which is pretty far north, near the border with Iowa. I needed to deliver a couple of machines to a repair facility. Since my other options were Florida and California, I decided Bethany was closer. While a 3+ hour trip, my predilection to start early had me on the road by 6:00 in the morning, and I had completed half the trip and delivered by packages by 9:30. It was a nice trip, started in the dark and watched the sun come up as I drove roads that I am very familiar with. North to Macon, west to Laclede, north to Milan, west to Trenton, north to Bethany. I use to take these roads at 70 to 80 miles per hour. Not so much anymore. I do not like to take the same route on both sides of a trip, so after delivering the equipment I headed south on HWY 35, and quickly saw HWY 13, and made the choice to take the path south through Gallatin and Hamilton. I punched in BBQ in to the GPS, and saw a place in Higginsville, which was on HWY 13, so it seemed like a good choice. While I am anything but impulsive in life, I am impulsive driving, and when I got to HWY 24 at Lexington, I remembered Waverly BBQ.
I was very pleased. It is a clean restaurant, so common when it is virtually the only place to eat in town outside of Casey's. It had a comprehensive menu, but it had true BBQ. You can always tell when you see a wood pile next to a well used cooker outside the restaurant. This one was obviously not just for show!
This is an interesting restaurant. Someone once told me (or I read it) that some people are interested in quantity, and care less about presentation and quality. Others want quality, and still other care more about how it looks on the plate. Waverly BBQ had a range in the menu, with less expensive items that were a plate full. The BBQ items tended to me more expensive. But the quality was very high, and no slouch on quantity!
I choose the combo plate, with ham and brisket. The slaw came from a jar, the fries were recently in a bag frozen. The brisket was truly worth it all. I also liked the ham! The brisket was cut a little thick, but it was lean and well smoked and a wonderful flavor. It came without sauce and did not need it. The ham did have a sauce, and was nice vinegar tangy flavor. I would expect the ribs and other BBQ sides were equally good. It was clear, that this is cooked by someone who understands BBQ.
On one of those day trips that you set out on with the wife, head down HWY 24 visit some winery's buy some fruit from the stands, and make it to Waverly for some excellent BBQ!
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