Posts tagged as:

ribs

McRiblets?

by John on June 5, 2010 · 1 comment

After the longest hiatus I have taken since starting Epic Portions, I am back with a new fast food report.

Apparently it wasn’t enough that Burger King was destroying ribs.  They couldn’t be the ones doing it. Now McDonalds is joining the war against one of my favorite foods in the world and is almost ready to roll out McRiblets.  I have never seen an oven, grill or anything of that manner in a McDonalds “kitchen”, so I can’t say I’m very optimistic.  Then again, even if McDonalds had smokers installed at all of their locations I still wouldn’t eat their ribs.

McRiblets

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Burger King Ribs (?????)

by John on May 20, 2010 · 5 comments

So apparently Burger King is rolling out their ribs in major markets(Dallas, Chicago, ect..) this week and it made me realize that I haven’t called anything stupid in a while.  In fact, after running a quick search I found that it’s been since April 5th, when I called Subway’s breakfast completely stupid, that I called anything stupid.  Well folks, Burger King decided it had been too long since John got a little perturbed about a fast food menu item and decided to do this.  Great work Burger King.  Great work.

Burger King Ribs

jasonlam, flicker

BK Ribs come in packs of three, six and eight, with the six pack costing you $7.99.  If you decide that’s not enough of a bargain you can go with a combo meal, which adds on the usual fries and drink, for $8.99.

What I’m trying to figure out is why is Burger King pumping their $1 menu items and $5 meal deals and then rolling out some ribs for 8 bucks?  Also, you fast food restaurants already ruined the burger, French fries, burritos, apple pies, and countless other food items.  Can’t you leave ribs alone?  They don’t belong on fast food menus.  They belong in restaurants where there are plates and napkins.

Visit Burger King’s website to see one of the more annoying things ever advertised by a fast food company..

Four tender pork ribs with a smoky BBQ sauce. So you get all the meaty taste of BBQ ribs without the hassle, smoky clothes and runny eyes of a real BBQ.

No hassle, smoky clothes, or runny eyes of a real BBQ?  Of a REAL BBQ???? Let me get this straight.   You’re taking BBQ ribs, something that is traditionally messy(in a good way) to eat, and advertising it as a clean, anti-BBQ version? Like, “come get ribs, but they’re ribs that aren’t messy, smoky, and don’t have any flavor so your eyes won’t run”. Seriously Burger King?  I feel like punching you right now.

Last thing, Has anyone ever had broiled ribs before?  I sure haven’t.

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Chest pains. Slowed, labored breathing. A giant smile on your face and a bit of BBQ sauce stuck to some part of your face. Not that much lighter a wallet…

These are the results of a trip to Allen and Son, one of my favorite NC BBQ joints. Living in NC for 2.5 years has led me to a few places now, and A&S is still my favorite. My friends Dave (you have seen a couple of his posts) and Amy swun through NC and I decided to take them to taste some delicious NC BBQ – Eastern Style!  Perhaps I should explain:

In North Carolina, Barbeque is first and foremost a noun. BBQ is pulled pork.  There is no brisket or steak or chicken or anything else.  You can, of course, GET those things – but they ain’t BBQ.  There are two primary types, East and West.  This civil war of sauces pits (BBQ pun intended) vinegar-based sauce, the eastern style, against tomato based sauce, the western (or Lexington) style.  Although I live in central NC, I live in an area surrounded by eastern stye BBQ houses, and A&S is one of the best.  The BBQ is sumptuous, with an incredibly soft texture. The sauce balances the fatty pork with a beautiful tangy acidity that only eastern vinegar sauce can bring to the scene. Plus…the ambience is…hilarious.

When I eat BBQ, I want checkered table clothes, porcelain pigs everywhere, and waitresses that bring you literally, a HALF A GALLON of ice tea when you order it. Oh yeah – no such thing as unsweetened ice tea here. Did I mention the diabetes along with all those heart attack symptoms above?

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The BBQ Plate with slaw and hushpuppies. The classic never loses its character.

Dave got the BBQ plate, Amy had the burger…and I…well, I had the Ribs.  With a capital R.

The heart starts beating faster…

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Pork Ribs - with slaw and the best potato salad ever.

To be honest..I rarely get the BBQ at A&S anymore.  Someone said that I’ve ‘learned my lesson’ about eating A&S BBQ, which isn’t really true.  That’s a little like saying a whiskey drinker ‘learned his lesson’ from all that beer he used to drink.  I haven’t learned anything..I’ve just moved on to what I consider to be bigger and better things.  Like ribs.  Why?  Question answered:

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These things are delicious. Absolutely delicious. And they fall apart. Amy tried to eat the bone. I warned her that I didn't know what would happen to her digestive system on the remaining 5 hour car ride ahead of her...

In summary – if you’re in the area…go here.  Trust me.  I’ve been here enough that I’ve moved on to the ribs.

Allen and Son Pit Cooked BBQ
919.942.7576
6203 Millhouse Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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