Big Apple BBQ

Last week, EVERYONE was hounding me about going to the Big Apple BBQ.  Did you guys think there was any chance I wasn’t going to be there?  And if you weren’t, here’s a recap…

I wasn’t one of the avid foodies that showed up at 10 am for the nationally renowned BBQ.  I had lunch plans with my grandma and Jon at Amazing 66 Restaurant, so I showed up to the BBQ at 3 pm already full and smelling of wonderful Chinese food.  There were so many people at the event, which I heard was much bigger than last year.  I was so happy to see people outside on a beautiful day enjoying great American food.  There was so much culinary love in the air!

I impeccably timed my arrival to coincide with where my friends were situated on the Mexican corn line in front of Tabla.  I know that Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group organizes this event, but why did their Indian restaurant have to do an overly cheesy Mexican-type corn?  The cheese tasted like parmesan and covered 99% of the kernels.  This might have been fine had we not been under the sweltering sun sweating the hell out of our skin.  The yellow corn was grilled nicely.  But it wasn’t exactly as sweet and crunchy as I like my corn to be, which is more characteristic in white corn.  (Sorry, no picture.  It was too hot!)

Emily and I did our rounds and decided to try Rack & Soul’s Baby Back Ribs and Baked Beans.  There were many vendor’s selling St. Louis style ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, brisket, and beans beans beans, but we were in the mood for something succulent, yet not too rich.  The ribs weren’t mind-blowing by any means, but they were very smokey, sweet, and tangy.  Texture-wise, not too great.  The meat didn’t melt off the bone into my mouth as I had imagined it would.  I’m sure eating in the actual restaurant would have enhanced quality control.  And remember, I had already eaten lunch with my grandma!  Ohhh, the lengths I’ll go for all my food babies.  Obviously, I love doing this “research.”  Rack & Soul is located on the UWS, so it might actually be worth the trek up there one day.

While we were eating our ribs, we noticed the long line in front of the Stubbs BBQ caravan.  We later found out that the people were lining up for free food.  So what did we do?  Yup.  Stubbs BBQ was avidly promoting their line of sauces by giving out free sloppy joes.  These weren’t ordinary sloppy joes made with ground beef (you already know how I feel about that).  The chunks of meat actually seemed like chopped steak.  I’m not sure what kind of sauce they used, but it seemed like a honey BBQ sauce with an extra kick.  The chopped sausage on the side was boring.

The Big Apple BBQ was a bustling heap of smoky fun.  The food wasn’t outstanding (at least the things I tried), but I hope next year I’ll make better decisions.  There will be no lunch with grandma (better luck next time, grandma).