My friend Darren and I decided to finally start our tour of Minnesota's BBQ joints. We had started talking about it a couple of years ago when Minnesota Monthly published their top 10 list.
That list was:
1)
Bob’s
Smoke Stack Ribs, Rochester - no longer in business
2)
Q Fanatic, Champlin
3)
Token BBQ, Mapleton
4)
Big Daddy’s BBQ ,St. Paul
5)
Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque
6)
C&G’s Smoking Barbecue, Minneapolis
7)
Louie’s Bucket of Bones, Ironton
8)
One Stop Restaurant, St. Paul
9)
Piggy Blue’s Bar-B-Que, Austin
10)
John Hardy’s Bar-B-Q, Rochester
We decided on three from the above list (#'s 6, 9, 10) plus two others: Lone Star BBQ and Grill, Saint Peter and Z's Smokin Bonez, Maple Grove. All of the restaurants were happy to work with us to offer a sampler platter of all their bbq. For the most part, we avoided sides as to keep from filling up.
Stop 1: C & G's Smoking Barbecue, Minneapolis
We arrived just before noon, and there was a sign indicating that they would open until 12:30 that day. Because we had a few miles to travel, we decided to skip it for now.
Stop 2: John Hardy's Bar-B-Q, Rochester
Meats:
Ribs - very good although very little smoke flavor.
Chicken - dry, had an interesting rub
Brisket - no smoke, looked and tasted like roast beef
Pulled pork - dry, needed sauce
Turkey - the best thing they offered. Nice smoke taste, very tasty
Ham - no smoke flavor, just ok
Black eyed peas - good, Darren didn't care for the seasoning, but I liked it.
They also brought us a basket of buttered and lightly toasted French bread. Wonderful. (so much for not filling up on sides)
Stop 3: Piggy Blue's BBQ, Austin
Smoker: Cook Shack, wood : hickory
Meats:
Brisket - a little smoke, no rub, blah
Pulled pork - no smoke, no flavor
Chicken - no smoke at all, very dry
Ribs - best item here, nice smoke, good bite
Ham - decent smoke, good taste
Turkey - very dry, blah
Came with beans and slaw - I didn't try them
Stop 3: Lone Star BBQ & Grill, Saint Peter
Smoker : Ole Hickory Pit, wood: red oak
When the owner found out what we were doing, he came out to talk to us. He had learned his craft while living in East Texas and smokers.
Meats:
Ribs - nice smoke ring, great taste, best of the trip
Brisket - again, proper smoke, nice rub, great taste.
Pulled pork - nice smoke flovor, moist, the best of the day's lot
Hot Link - crisp snap (bite), good spice
Brat - great taste
came with smoky beans - only had one tate, but very good
I highly recommend this place.
Stop 5: Z's Smokin Bonez, Maple Grove
Smoker: Pro Smoker, wood - maple & oak pellets
Meats:
Pulled pork - a little balnd
Chicken - good, but lacking smoke
Brisket - very ncie, good smoke ring, very tender - best of the day
Ribs - nice bite, but a little sweet (the manager told us they put a honey butter glaze on them half-way through the smoking process) - I think they should skip this step
Sausage - spicy, good snap
Another recommendation!
Overall
We were pleasantly surprised that we found two places that we would visit again. Sometime in the spring, we'll try road trip #2 to visit more places.
Meats:
Pulled pork - a little balnd
Chicken - good, but lacking smoke
Brisket - very ncie, good smoke ring, very tender - best of the day
Ribs - nice bite, but a little sweet (the manager told us they put a honey butter glaze on them half-way through the smoking process) - I think they should skip this step
Sausage - spicy, good snap
Another recommendation!
Overall
We were pleasantly surprised that we found two places that we would visit again. Sometime in the spring, we'll try road trip #2 to visit more places.
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