After my judging stint for Brunched I headed over to Benchtop Brewing to meet with Bob to shoot some BBQ. I needed some updated shots for a little story I’m doing locally and Bob graciously accommodated me. It included the Big A$$ Rib (I know I posted one before, but this one was even bigger!) that everyone loved so much I had to share.
I ain’t scared.
Red River Smokehouse
I recently told you all about Redwood Smoke Shack, a BBQ food truck that has placed itself soundly in the top tier of BBQ in the area. I love BBQ and smoked meat. Pulled pork, beef brisket, BBQ chicken - whatever! If it was on a grill I'm probably going to like it.
Last month I got a message from a guy named Jon Basco asking if I wouldn't mind checking out his authentic Texas BBQ operation called Red River Smokehouse. Of course I said, "YES!"
(I didn't really yell like that, it was in message, but that's how it sounded in my head.)
A little bit about Red River Smokehouse, the truck is named after the Red River that separates Texas and Oklahoma. Jon is a Texan transplanted in the area through his service in the Marines. After getting out of the service he ended up staying here and with him his take on BBQ. I think we lucked out.
Red River Smokehouse was going to be at Commonwealth Brewing Co. early the next week after we talked and I planned on meeting him there. Monday rolled around and it was the big day, I mean I get to eat BBQ and drink beer at the beginning of the week, that's about as good as it gets. I went straight to the truck to meet Jon in person and check out his setup. He uses a custom trailer that affords him a lot room (more than some of the rigs I've seen out there) and it's equipped with a smoker on the back. Jon let me jump up and check out the truck but I didn't get too far in because he was busy and I didn't want to get in they way. I told him I was going to grab a beer and he said he'd put together a little something for me try. Excellent.
Jon Basco of Red River Smokehouse
I love Commonwealth Brewing Co., they have an IPA called Wapatoolie that is hazy, citrusy, and amazing to drink. I know some people might look for something a little darker to pair with BBQ but I like to say, "I can do what I want!"
That's my Commonwealth Brewing Co. Wapatoolie
I grabbed my beer and was scoping out a place to sit with some good lighting and notice a someone getting their photo taken in the brewery and then immediately recognized her as one of the local lifestyle/fashion bloggers Tilley Hansen of Tilley's Threads. We follow each other online but have never met in person, I'm all about meeting the people I see online. I figure if you can creep on them online you can definitely (at least) say hello in person! She was with her friend and photographer Meridith A. Bright who shoots for Elizabeth Ashley - Virginia.
Tilley stole my beer, luckily she she left a little for me
After chatting for a bit I went to check on the food, luckily it was finished by the time I got to the truck. I know I already posted a photo up top there, but here is another because we eat with our eyes first right?
I got hooked up with some smoked turkey breast, BBQ pork ribs, brisket (dry and wet), and some sides. I went straight for the beef brisket first. Jon explained to me earlier that this brisket was only seasoned with salt and pepper then, of course, the smoke. It was delicious! Seriously, after having the brisket I was thinking I really needed to sit down and do a comparison from the notable BBQ trucks out there. I could eat this stuff all night.
The ribs were excellent, didn't fall apart, the meat firm on the bone. Lightly sauced and tasty. The turkey breast was a nice surprise too, some people out there don't eat beef or pork so bird is always a good to have on the menu too. I liked the smokey flavor.
I liked the mac and cheese a lot and cole slaw is always good. Oh yeah, look:
Usually when I'm out, I'm the one taking all the pictures. It was fun to watch someone else out there doing their thing. I peeked outside and saw someone else I knew...
...Boss Lady Caity! She runs the Your Pie Pizza joints in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Try their pizza if you haven't yet, the Great White is my favorite. Let me get back to the BBQ.
If you haven't tried Red River Smokehouse you need to. Put it on the list of great BBQ trucks we in the area you need hit and definitely get the brisket!
I have another truck I'm scheduled to visit, I've had their food a few times before but I'm going to check out the operation a little more in depth! Till next time!
I caught the new BBQ truck on the scene the other weekend - Redwood Smoke Shack. I've bumped into the owner, Bob Roberts, around town at events that usually that involve beer. I got an invite from him to check out his truck at Benchtop Brewing Company in Norfolk, VA.
Bob Roberts (owner) was visited by HomeGrown's chef Nic Hagen
The truck is actually a trailer with the smoker attached to it; looks pretty cool! The menu has lots to offer: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, sides (including the huge Supreme Potato), and much more! I got a sampler plate, a couple of beers and dug in.
They do elotes too...
Bonus: I saw a lot of friends and my fellow photographer buddy Amanda from Stellar Exposures. Check out the food!
One of the first recipes I ever used to make something was BBQ sauce. It was from a Betty Crocker cookbook my grandparents gave us in a care package while we were stationed in Ft. Bliss, TX. Being a young, enlisted couple we didn't get out much at all. Getting a box full of dry goods and a cookbook was great. My grandparents were once a young army family and they knew what would be useful for us, they were very practical. Oh, I gotta write about the time I was trying to use the book to make biscuits but I read the recipe wrong. We didn't eat biscuits that night.
Fast-forward to the present time and we're still cooking! It's actually been a while since I made BBQ sauce but it's the first that popped into my head when I was asked to submit a recipe to the latest HR Growler. The theme was "Summertime", grilling! Who doesn't love to cookout over the summer. Fire-up the grill, open a good beer and take in the experience.
I wanted my sauce to have a little heat and, of course, beer! I made four different recipes before settling on a delicious, balanced sauce that goes great with chicken and pork. Just about any beer will work, I liked the Blue Mountain Brewery A Hopwork Orange and the Enjoy By 4.20 by Stone Brewing Co., stouts would work well too. Try it out, mix it up, add or remove what you like.
Go to HR Growler for the recipe, here's the link.
The first annual Ribtoberfest made its debut at Town Point Park, downtown Norfolk, VA. The venue was packed for BBQ fans lining up for a taste of the smoked meats. A battery of craft brew was lined up and serving the thirsty patrons with local beers from Smartmouth, O’Connor, Beach Brewery, Back Bay, and many more. The weather was perfect along with the food, outdoor entertainment and music was provided for all to enjoy.
July 4th over at our friends John & Connie’s. He made a delicious pulled pork and hung out at the tiki bar; even had a few jello shots. I included a photo of a smoked corned beef brisket he made for the next day. Looked beautiful.
For Father’s Day Shelby made me BBQ ribs! I love ribs and she made a lot of them. We were feeding 5 but only manged to knock off one rack (it’s true, I know.)
After a couple days of eating ribs for lunch and dinner I had a few left so I decided to make sliders from the last of them. I carved off the rib meat from the bone, sauced the again and nuked them for several minutes—turning periodically. They turned out great with a little onion and sliced pickle.
Recently we were invited to our friends’ son’s 1st Birthday Party. Ken’s family is Filipino and that means tons of food! It was all so good that I told Ken if they don’t quit feeding me like this I’ll never leave. He said welcome to the family.
After running by Local Heroes Comics in Norfolk, VA we ended up stopping by The Ten Top for dinner. I usually think of sandwiches when I think of this shop and I wanted something meaty—I had a hard time picking something out. For Shelby it was easy, he favorite lamb sandwich is here, the Greek Lamb Hoagie. Looking over the menu she noticed the BBQ Braised Berkshire Pork Shank and suggested I try it.
We ordered and sat down. We’ve done take-out before so this was the first time we had the chance to check the place out. Small with a lot of character. The decor was cool with a working pinball machine people were actually playing.
Our food and came out and we were both surprised by the size of my meal. The pork shank reminded us of the ham hocks we would order in Germany at the fest tents. They French cut the shank so the bones were exposed and charred. Rustic and smelling delicious, I dug in. The sauce was great with a little bite from the vinegar and the pork cooked perfectly. I ended up taking half home with me.
Very nice, relaxing…happy we stopped by.
Made it to a Hampton Roads Beard and Stache Society meeting this week. It was held at Belmont House of Smoke and it was all-you-can-eat rib night. So I had the ribs ;) They were great.
Weekend cookout, working the Weber! Burgers, Italian Sausage, and BBQ chicken.
