Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bbq

Help me plan a BBQ road trip

soonertbone — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:25:56 -0800

A friend of mine are planning a "BBQ Road Trip." Hitting up five or six major cities in the South, with the aim of getting a representative taste of the various styles of American BBQ. What cities would you include on this list, and what restaurant in each city would you choose to go to? Our idea for an itinerary, so far, is this:
--leave NYC
--St. Louis
--Kansas City
--Memphis
--Atlanta
--Somewhere in North Carolina
--Back to NYC

Again, what we're looking for is a representative sampling of American BBQ. I don't think we'll have time to make it down to Texas, but I'm interested in hearing if there are other cities that might be better, along the general route I've outlined above.

Once you've identified a city that should be included, what's your favorite restaurant in the city?

Smoked Turkey

dirtdirt — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:21:33 -0800

I am going to smoke a turkey this year for Thanksgiving. Uh. 'Smoke' like a brisket, not 'smoke' like a cigarette. Any advice? I have a Weber Bullet, and I am reasonably comfortable with it - done a bunch of briskets and ribs. But a whole turkey? That is out of my comfort zone. The stakes are high because, well, it's Thanksgiving. I get one shot and if I botch it we're all eating macaroni and cheese. And my appetite for turkey is not such that I care to do a practice turkey.

There are a couple of good looking techniques over on the useful website with the dumb name, and I am leaning towards the apple brine method they have, but first hand accounts, tips, tricks, recipes, or caveats would be great.

Finger Licking Good

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:17:38 -0800

What are the best BBQ restaurants in Manhattan? Bonus points if it is Texas themed in someway. Cost is not an issue. I had a great first date with a girl I met from Texas. She recently moved to NYC and is feeling a little homesick. She also loves steak, ribs and good Texas eating, so I thought it would be a cute idea to take her to a great NYC BBQ place for our second date. Any ideas?

Cost is not an issue. One of us is lives midtown and the other the east village, but anywhere in Manhattan is fine.

So far, I am thinking about Blue Smoke as a good option.

Also, any other Texas themed things I am missing that may be fun to show her in NYC?

Max Weber

fixedgear — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:08:13 -0800

Big Green Egg. Worth it? I'm a Weber guy, cowboy charcoal. My Weber has rusted through. I need to replace it, probably with a 22.5" Gold or Silver. I'm sort of idly considering a Green Egg of similar size, but they are pricey.

Yes, the old one died because it was stored outdoors. It did have a cover, but the cover eventually got sunstruck and died and I never replaced it. I think what killed it is not emptying the ashes, which soak up moisture from the air and then rust the bottom. The cowboy coals also burn hotter than briquettes. One of the sockets that the legs fit into has rusted where it was spot welded.

So?

N Californian picnic lovers, help recommend a grill area!

cranberryskies — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:58:40 -0800

Can anyone suggest a picnic area with bbq grill for oyster picnic near Pt. Reyes/Tomales Bay/Stinson? For those familiar with the SF Bay Area, we'll be heading up north to Tomales Bay to pick up some fresh oysters this Sunday. While the oyster farms tend to have picnic areas and grills perfect for an oyster picnic, we figure the picnic tables will be packed by the time we get there.

Does anyone have any recommendations for other picnic areas (complete with picnic tables, grills, and running water) near Point Reyes, Tomales Bay, Stinson, Inverness, or the surrounding areas? It's a whole national park and state park area up there, I figure there has to be a few good bbq grill picnic areas, but I can't seem to google them up.

Bonus points for directions to the picnic area and best time to get there (if the area gets crowded).

Roasted Rodents?

saradarlin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:45:22 -0800

There are mice nesting in our BBQ!! What do we do? We use the BBQ every week or every other week and in between uses mice keep rebuilding the nest that we keep removing. How do we get them to stay away? If it matters, we've been keeping the cover on the BBQ between uses and this only seems to be a problem in the spring/summer and not in the winter. We cannot get a cat and have no mouse problems in the house. Any tips?

Another BBQ question

Ghidorah — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:02:24 -0800

Kind of a last minute request: I'm doing a bbq at my place tomorrow for my birthday, and I'm kind of stumped as to side dishes. I read about the bbq in the park question (and even commented in it), but I made potato salad at the last bbq, and it turns out these folks aren't much into potato salad (and, personally, I hate the stuff). I'm making burgers and chicken fajitas tomorrow. I'm trying to think of some cold sides to go with the grilled stuff.

Issues: I've got a 13" grill, so I can't do much on the grill aside from the burgers, the chicken, and the peppers/onions/mushrooms to go with them.

Corn would be nice, but here in Japan, it's freaking expensive. Does anyone have some suggestions for a decent side? I'll have chips and dip, some celery, things like that. Something salady would be nice, but a bit less normal would be good, too.

Oh, and, yeah, the bbq is tomorrow, so this is something I'd have to be able to throw together in the morning. As always, thanks everyone.

Grilling in DC sans permits?

garfy3 — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:24:10 -0800

Where can we grill outdoors, in a park-setting, in DC or Arlington -- without permits or law enforcement getting involved? We're dying to grill outside tomorrow, and live rather close to Rock Creek Park, but it appears one needs a permit in advance to do any grilling there. On further inspection, most parks in DC don't allow it, and it would take all the fun out of it to be looking over our shoulders while trying to enjoy the outdoors.

So where can we go that we *don't need a permit* and can just show up and tailgate / grill out?

We're even considering crashing some kids' soccer game if we can just join the sidelines and start grilling.

thanks!

How large should the orifices on my BBQ be?

aquafiend — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:31:07 -0800

How large should the orifices on my 52,000 BTU (4 burner) natural gas BBQ be? How long should it take to heat up to 500F? I know you may not be a gas fitter and you are definitely not my gas fitter, but I am trying to convert my new propane Broil King Sovereign XLS 90 (http://www.broilkingbbq.com/grills/series_15.html) to natural gas. Google has told me that the orifices on the valves need to be widened, since NG is regulated at a much lower pressure than liquid propane. I've had a gas fitter friend of my dad come and swap the propane regulator for a NG hose and hook it up to my supply, but he only widened the orifices from a #57 bit size to a #55 bit size.
Each of the main burners are rated to output 13,000 BTUs, while the side burner is rated at 10,000 BTUs and the rear is rated at 18,000 BTUs. What bit size should I use so that I get the proper power out of my shiny new toy?

Finally, I came across this semi-helpful chart on the web (http://www.joppaglass.com/burner/lowp_chrt.html) but I believe my gas line (Toronto, Ontario) is regulated at 2.5" WC.

So, is there anybody knowledgeable with gas and BBQs that can help me crank the power of my grill without melting the entire box?

SteakFilter: Help us wow our Mom's with a great steak recipe for Mothers Day!

pghjezebel — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:34:33 -0800

SteakFilter: Help us wow our Mom's with a great steak recipe for Mothers Day! The Mom's in our family have requested steak for Mothers day dinner. We're tired of cooking the same old stuff (dry rubs, BBQ, plain grilled). What we need is a recipe that will wow them!

If it helps, so far the side dishes ideas being tossed around include:
Cauliflower Popcorn
Garlicky Greens
Polenta Fries or Spinach Mashed Potatoes
Salad

Help us wow our Mom's!

Korean Grill House need not apply

TheWhiteSkull — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:58:45 -0800

Best Korean Barbeque on Bloor? I'm taking some friends out for Korean barbeque this weekend, and I'm looking for recommendations for the best grill-at-your-table places, ideally in (but not limited to) the Bloor & Christie corridor. My criteria for evaluation include not only quality and selection of meats, but quality and variety of panchan, other dishes (mandu, pajeon, etc.), atmosphere and such.

How do I make BBQ flavoring for potato chips?

Caviar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:14:50 -0800

How do I make BBQ flavoring for potato chips? I love BBQ flavor potato chips. I've recently acquired a deep fryer, and would like to take a stab at making my own. I realize that every brand will have a slightly different formulation, yet there's something instantly recognizable as "BBQ chip seasoning".

The "Dirty" brand chips are pretty good, though not perfect. They all seem to be some variation on onion powder, paprika, salt, smoke flavoring and the like, but many of them also contain "spices", which is not helpful.

I think I tend to lean towards liking mesquite varieties better than other flavors.

I would like to do this without some of the more common processed ingredients, like maltodextrin.

Anyone have an actual recipe I can start from?

BBQ

chickaboo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:15:51 -0800

What is a good gift for a departing friend who enjoys barbecuing... I dont have a price range in mind unfortunately... but probably at least $100

Chipotle Overflow

netbros — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:15:05 -0800

I happened to mention to a well-meaning friend that I liked the taste of chipotle. Soon afterward, I received a care package just loaded with chipotle products. Please help me make mouth-watering concoctions. The package contained chipotle salsa, hot sauce, mustard, adobo sauce, pickled chipotle peppers, BBQ sauce, even some chipotle cheese. I am drooling with anticipation. Now I just need some recipes. Please help.

Feel the Side Burn

rouftop — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:11:25 -0800

What should I make with my grill's side burner? My uncle went in with me to buy a very nice, highly rated natural gas barbecue. It's fantastic. And it comes with this handy side burner that I can use for... umm... well, I have no clue.

What do you do with a side burner on a barbecue? What makes it better than going inside and using my stove?

Teeny Tiny Foods Please!

dersins — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:59:15 -0800

We're having a "tiny food" party / BBQ, and I need menu suggestions. Sliders (obviously), cornichons (or gherkins) and tiny cupcakes are readily available. Coronitas (7 oz. Coronas) to drink. So, what else? Other mains, sides, desserts, beverages. Any suggestions would be helpful. NB: although I'm grilling the sliders, suggestions do not need to be limited to grill-friendly items. Thanks in advance.

BBQ in a park - sounds simple enough right?

abdulf — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:10:25 -0800

I'd like to host a recurring BBQ/picnic at a local park for around 10 people. I've never done this before. What do I need to know? Some specific questions:

1. There are BBQ grills/pits at my local park. Nothing fancy, just a grate over a metal box. I have seen people cooking on these but it doesn't look very hygienic. How do I cook safely?

2. What kinds of entertainment go well at a park? Kites, soccer, football - anything else I'm not thinking of?

3. What are some good side dishes that complement burgers and hot dogs?

4. Anything else I should know about organizing BBQ/picnics at a park?

Charcoal grilling on a Boston rooftop--legal?

mgerstenblatt — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:07:35 -0800

Is it legal to use a charcoal grill on a downtown Boston rooftop? We're thinking of doing some early spring bbqinq tomorrow afternoon on our North End Roof. However, our roof is not a finished roof-deck. Does anyone know if this is legal in the city of Boston? We live right next to the Fire Station, so chances of getting scolded are high. Any insight is appreciated.

Yard party in the City in the Garden without a garden?

@homer — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:21:50 -0800

Where to have a yard style party in Chicago? My friend wants to have her birthday party in a yard with a barbecue and all the alcoholic fun that goes with it. The problem is that nobody we know has a yard big enough for it. I've checked out the Chicago Park District and the Cook County Forest Preserve. There are either limits on alcohol or the areas close too early. I'm trying to spiral out to the suburbs but after a point it gets too expensive to take cabs from and to the city.

The budget for any kind of rental is probably a couple hundred. Maybe a little more. If the party could start later in the day that would be cool and the later it could run the better.

How best to "repurpose" a dead peach tree to smoking wood for the grill?

schmoppa — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:36:53 -0800

How best to "repurpose" a dead peach tree to smoking wood for the grill? I've got a mostly dead peach tree in my front yard that we need to cut down - it has a root infection of some sort of larvae which resulted in at least half of the tree dying (no leaves) and its dropping of gooey, jelly-like sap all last summer.

It's a real shame, because the year before (we did not own the house then) we were told by the mailman that the tree was so prolific, he used to pick a peach off it every day in the summer.

Anyway, I hear peach wood is good for use smoking in the grill or bbq, so I was wondering how best to cut the thing down and make usable chunks?

We'll use a chainsaw to get it down, but then what?

Good food, good company - help me get both!

pinksoftsoap — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:49:22 -0800

HALP! I am trying to plan a birthday party for two friends but am finding a lot of hurdles. Any suggestions that can accommodate ~20 or more adults in Manhattan (preferably), Brooklyn, or Queens for cheap? The party is for two awesome guys who love good, hearty food. Some suggestions pitched so far:

- Dinosaur BBQ - no reservations available until January :(

- Daisy May's BBQ - reservations available but only for a minimum of $35 a head off of their special menu :( I can risk just having everyone show up without a reservation but with these numbers, that might not work out well.

I'm hoping for a place that's $20 or under per person that's not a bar or club-like lounge. Also, I strongly dislike Dallas BBQ. My group has also done Dave & Buster's to death, so no to that as well.

Thank you in advance!

Delicious Mongolian BBQ in LA

razzamatazm — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:04:17 -0800

I'm stumped as to finding an amazing Mongolian Barbeque place in Los Angeles. I'm used to places like BD's out in the midwest but have yet to find anything similar- Help! I've found some Mongolian BBQ places around town, but most only have a few selections as to meats, and instead of a thousand sauce/spice combinations, I'm limited to hot, medium, and mild. Help me get the flavor I need!

Fix my brain, oh ye gods of the green.

ryaninoakland — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:21:40 -0800

I take 100mg daily of Zoloft (Sertraline). It seems to manage my anxiety/panic disorder fairly well but I'm still depressed as shit. For those unlucky folks who happen to suffer the double edged sword of anxiety and depression in tandem: what drugs or methods have helped you the most? I know there is no easy out, yet I'm still looking. I've been on various SSRIs for 10+ years with mixed results but have never found the one that really "works for me". I'm looking to the existential angst ridden populous of this site for insights into what has helped out ya'll get the ball rolling on living your best lives. I have done a lot of research into this topic and have seen many doctors, psychiatrists and therapists so spare me the wikipedia links. I only want to know, what has worked for YOU?

p.s. I know there are tons of previous posts on medication management, but couldn't really find anything relating to my specific predicament.

thnx, xoxo, bbq, luv,

Ryan.

Where should we eat in Burlington, VT?

TurkishGolds — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:20:10 -0800

Where should we eat in Burlington, VT this weekend? I am going to be in Burlington, VT with my brother and our mom & dad this Saturday night. As a group, I think that we'd better stick with something safe -- American, pub food, BBQ!!, seafood. Nothing too adventurous.

Requirements:

-Downtown. We'd like to be able to walk around in the evening and check out the town. (Bonus Question: How's parking??)

-Reservations. My mom doesn't want to have to wait. She has a backup restaurant where she already has a reservation (T-Bones (Worst of WEB 1.0 WARNING!)). If I can't secure a reservation, then we're going to have to default to her plan.

-Good (or at least decent) food. Good service. Good atmosphere. It should be sit-down, with a server, not order at a counter.

Here are some options that I've found that look ok:

The Vermont Pub & Brewery

The Daily Planet

Big Fatty's Pit BBQ

Thoughts on these places, or anywhere that I might have overlooked?

Cook My Corn

B(oYo)BIES — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:21:33 -0800

Help me make some corn on the cob that doesn't come out stiff. Looking for tried and true methods for boiling or BBQing corn on the cob. I have some corn on the cob that i bought from Costco. It is already off the husk.

I normally boil some water, and some salt, and then add the corn on the cob. I let it cook for about 8 minutes and then pull it out. A few times it came out perfect, but the last few times it has been too tough.

I also like cooking my corn on the BBQ sometimes, and because I will be at the BBQ tonight, I would like some tips for cooking it there too. In the past I have buttered the corn, wrapped it in tin foil and put it on the BBQ, but it has always been a trial and error sort of thing.

Does anybody have any methods for cooking corn on the cob perfect, each and every time?