BBQ Crawl I 2008

From CBBQAwiki

Contents 1 The Low Down 2 Members in attendance 3 Reviews 3.1 Jay Bee's House of Fine Bar-B-Q 3.1.1 Individual Comments 3.1.2 Brisket Comments 3.1.3 Chicken Comments 3.1.4 Beef Link Comments 3.1.5 Pulled Pork Comments 3.1.6 Pork Ribs Comments 3.1.7 Bean Comments 3.1.8 Sauce Comments 3.1.9 Overall Review 3.2 The Rib Nest 3.2.1 Individual Comments 3.2.2 Tri-tip Comments 3.2.3 Chicken Comments 3.2.4 Beef Links Comments 3.2.5 Pork Rib Comments 3.2.6 Bean Comments 3.2.7 Mac & Cheese Comments 3.2.8 Sauce Comments 3.2.8.1 Mild 3.2.8.2 Hot 3.2.9 Overall Review 3.3 Porky's 3.3.1 Individual Comments 3.3.2 Brisket Comments 3.3.3 Chicken Comments 3.3.4 Beef Link Comments 3.3.5 Pulled Pork Comments 3.3.6 Pork Rib Comments 3.3.7 Bean Comments 3.3.8 Mac & Cheese Comments 3.3.9 Potato Salad Comments 3.3.10 Greens Comments 3.3.11 Fried Chicken Comments 3.3.12 Banana Pudding Comments 3.3.13 Peach Cobbler Comments 3.3.14 Overall Review 4 Menus 5 Photos

The Low Down

WHAT: The first in a series of outings where we meet and visit several BBQ joints and sample their fare..

WHEN: Saturday January 12th

PURPOSE: Fun, fellowship and food!!!

WHERE: The following three joints:

JayBee's BBQ 15915 S Avalon Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248

The Rib Nest BBQ 1766 W El Segundo Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249

Porky's BBQ Eight-O-One E Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301

Neil advises that these places are within an 8 to 10 mile radius, so not too much driving.

START TIME: We will start at JayBee's at 11:30 and move right along.

Members in attendance

Members who visited all three places:

• Marcel Fortin, CBJ
• Neil Strawder, 4 Q BBQ team
• Brian "Country" Zalewski, Big Country BBQ team
• Brian Kreisler, Blast-Off BBQ team
• Joe Miles, Master CBJ
• Walker Holloway
• Ben Karr, Master CBJ
• Bentley Meredith, Burnt by the Best BBQ team and CBJ
• Kristin Meredith, Burnt by the Best BBQ team and CBJ

Members who were at Jay Bees and The Rib Nest:

• Russell Jones

Members who were at Jay-Bees only:

• Benny Adauto, Funtime BBQ team
• Shari Adauto, Funtime BBQ team

Members who were only at Porky's:

• Lamar Myles

Reviews

We did not write individual reviews, but instead recorded the comments of the members attending in an anonymous fashion. Members were not required to comment, but noted comments if they were moved to do so.

This article was started by Kristin Meredith, but hopefully others attending will add to it. Hopefully others will post pictures and Bentley has scanned and posted the menus.

Jay Bee's House of Fine Bar-B-Q

We gathered at Jay Bee's at approximately 11:30 am. This place is a classic BBQ "joint" or shack -- a small area to order at, a few picnic benches outside to eat at, big take away crowds. The owner, Curtis Neeley, was on site and cooking. He took time out to visit with us throughout a large part of our stay. He was very forthcoming about his pits and his woods and his food prep, which we all took as a sign of a solid BBQ establishment. He cooks on an Old Hickory, using mesquite charcoal, white oak and hickory. He told us the potato salad was store bought, but the beans and sauces were homemade. He does not inject his brisket

We ordered the small party platter which consisted of: 1 slab of pork ribs, 1/2 chicken, 1 lb. brisket, 4 beef links, 1 lb. pulled pork, 1 pint beans, 1 pint potato salad and 10 slices of bread. We were given sauce on the side -- both mild and hot.

Individual Comments

I was very impressed w/the brisket, laugh if you will, I know you all like to make fun of mine, but I know good brisket when I taste it and this bordered on Great! Pork could have had more flavor, most will say that is what sauce is for, but when your at a place that has a vinegary sauce, you need the meat to stand out in my mind. Curtis, Curtis, Curtis...what can you say about Curtis, talked to the guy for 5 minutes and he made me feel like I had been his friend for 30 years! Yes, I liked Curtis...anybody that tells the truth about his potato salad has some integrity with me! CURTIS...put some molasses in that sauce, dang it! They don't need my endorsement, but I would definitely encourage folks to check this place out, you will not be disappointed.

Bent

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JayBee's is a classic BBQ shack and they definitely serve classic BBQ. Tender, juicy brisket, spicy beef sausage and ribs cooked just right. I enjoyed the food at JayBee's. Unlike Bentley, I liked the sauce. All sauce doesn't have to be sweet for me as long as it compliments the meat and that is what happens at JayBee's. Curtis was great and we were all impressed that he took time out come talk to us about his food and how he prepares it. JayBee's is definitely worth the trip.

Neil Strawder

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I'm still on the fence about JayBee's. I thought the whole feel of the BBQ shack was cool; you really felt like you were going to be eating some down-home cookin'. I wasn't terribly impressed by the food, although I wasn't terribly disappointed either. I must say that Curtis was outstanding...a real character! He was friendly and humble and willing to show us his operation. Heck, he even gave Bently some brisket cooking tips. If I'm ever in the area, I would eat at JayBee's again but I wouldn't make the drive from Huntington for it.

Country

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Brisket Comments

• "Moist, tender, but could have a bit more flavor"
• "It was tender, good flavor (no injection), tasted great without sauce"
• "Very tender"
• "Moist - tender - fall apart"
• "Very moist and tender -- lacking in flavor without sauce"
• "Needed more flavor"

Chicken Comments

• "Good flavor, a little dry"
• "Nice flavor, but dry"
• "Good flavor, but dry"
• "Dry -- average"

Beef Link Comments

• "Very good, not too spicy"
• "Great flavor"
• "Little dry, pretty good for a beef link (pork are better)"
• "OK -- spiciness came late"
• "Very tasty"
• "Really liked"

Pulled Pork Comments

• "A little mushy/soft"
• "Was a little overcooked, overall good taste"
• "Good taste overall"
• "Bland, but tender"
• "Not a lot of flavor, but moist"

Pork Ribs Comments

• "Good taste, but dry"
• "Chewy, had a mesquite flavor, slightly overcooked"
• "A little dry"
• "Dry - a little crispy"
• "A little dry"
• "Good flavor, but somewhat dry"

Bean Comments

• "Very good"
• "Good beans -- sweet"
• "Damn good"
• "Excellent"
• "Excellent beans"
• "Great beans"

Sauce Comments

• "Good"
• "Liked the mild sauce, very Carolina"
• "Too much vinegar for me, but good spice"
• "Both sauces were good"

"Very good sauces, loved the hot sauce"

Overall Review

The grouped liked this place. The Que was very good and the openness and friendliness of Curtis was much appreciated. I think we felt that we could recommend this place as being a decent representation of authentic BBQ.

The Rib Nest

We arrived here at about 12:40. It was located in a small strip mall and the interior is something like a small hamburger place. We were not impressed with this place. First, it had a "B" rating in cleanliness. Second, the staff was very cold and uninformative. They could not or would not tell us what type of pit they were cooking on or what wood they used. They would not advise if the sauces and sides were homemade. They did not sell pulled pork and the "beef" turned out to be tri-tip, not brisket.

We ordered the small mixed tray: 1 and 1/2 slabs pork ribs, 1/2 lb. beef, 1/2 lb beef links, 1/2 chicken, 1 pint mac & cheese, 1 pint beans. Sauce was on the side.

Individual Comments

They had good beans, tender but firm. Sauce was just sweet enough to compliment them and not over power them...they need to put some cooked onions in them! The Mac & Cheese was probably the best thing about this place. It was definitly homemade! I still want macaroni salad w/my BBQ not Mac n Cheese! Thats it folks. I will not be going back. That's my review.

Bent

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This may as well have been a Taco Bell. The people that were working weren't interested in talking to us about their Q. How many of us EVER pass up on an opportunity to talk about our Q? It just seemed like they hired some kids and threw them behind the counter. The Q was just average. The beans tasted like they came straight out of the can. Save yourself time and energy and skip the Rib Nest.

Country

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It's hard to separate my feelings about the service in this place from the food but I will try. I thought the ribs were fatty and not seasoned particularly well. I poured some of the "hot" sauce over them but it didn't help. The BBQ Beef was ok once you got past the fact that it wasn't brisket. Someone suggested that it was tri-tip but I can't see them spending the extra money for that cut of meat. The beef links were probably the best of the meats and they were better with the sauce.

The sides were very non-descript. Beans tasted like canned. I would have been more satisfied with Kraft Mac & Cheese than the glop they were serving. It was mushy and lumpy. Bentley, I will bring some Mac & Cheese to the Q-Fest so youwill know what it is supposed to taste like.

The people at The Rib nest were not very helpful and didn't want to speak to us. I won't be going back an i wouldn't recommend it for anyone else.

Neil

Tri-tip Comments

• "Good flavor"
• "Good flavor, moist"
• "Excellent, I want the rub"
• "Well cooked, done just about right, could use a little more seasoning"
• "Average"
• "Good flavor, but not much beef flavor"

Chicken Comments

• "Good flavor, very mesquite, a bit dry"
• "Very good"
• "A little dry, needs more flavor"
• "Dry"

Beef Links Comments

• "Fair -- little dry"
• "Fair, dry, nice spice"
• "Good, moist, flavorful, still beef"
• "Okay, like the first place better"
• "Not bad"
• "Nice flavor"

Pork Rib Comments

• "Tough, a little dry -- mesquite flavor"
• "Cooked a little fast, but fair flavor"
• "A little dry"
• "Better cooked than first place, lacked flavor, cooked just about right"
• "Had better, dry"
• "So-so"
• "Kinda fatty, light seasoning"

Bean Comments

• "Just a bit above opening a can of baked beans"
• "Tastes like pork n' beans with BBQ sauce"
• "Pork and beans with BBQ sauce"
• "Liked them ,good and firm, but well cooked -- just the right sauce"
• "Canned beans"
• "I think it was Van de Kamps"

Mac & Cheese Comments

• "Okay -- very clumpy, not creamy"
• "Little dry, but good flavor"
• "Good with cheese, it was dried out but in a good way"
• "Good, homemade, well cooked"
• "Crap"
• "Not good at all, lumpy"

Sauce Comments

Mild

• "Okay, vinegar -- not real special"
• "Too much vinegar"
• "Nothing special"

Hot

• "Not over the top, but it was hot"
• "Some heat, not over powering"

Overall Review

We were fairly underwhelmed by this place. The menu was limited, the staff was not welcoming, the Que was okay. I don't think that most of us could recommend this place.

Porky's

First, we should note that these folks are CBBQA members and that alone should give us all incentive to support them. But on top of that, they were incredibly welcoming (they did not know we were coming) and very hospitable!

We arrived here about 1:30 pm. This place has a big take out business and a drive through which was pretty busy the whole time we were there. It is a small restaurant. You order at the counter, but sit at a table and have plates and real silverware and serving dishes. It was very clean and bright inside and they had the football play-offs on TV. There are unlimited refills on soft drinks.

They cook on a Southern Pride smoker. Vera, the owner/manager was on site and proudly showed it to us. They use hickory and oak for fuel. We ordered the small party platter: 1 slab of pork ribs, 1 lb of pulled pork (they agreed to substitute this for rib tips), 1/2 lb of brisket, 1/2 lb of beef links, 1/2 chicken, 1/2 qt. potato salad, 1/2 qt beans, 10 halves of Texas toast (the toast was great!). The sauce was on the side They also brought us -- on the house -- the following to sample: mac & cheese, greens, Golden Bird fried chicken (they have a franchise for it on the premises), banana pudding and peach cobbler. These folks wanted to treat us well and impress us and they accomplished that goal tenfold!

It is a testimonial to how good this food was that, even though we had been to two other places and had eaten quite a bit, people could not stop eating at Porky's -- even though we were all about to explode. It was that outstanding!!

Individual Comments

Words cannot describe how good this place is...Go as often as you can!

Bent

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Porky's was off the hook!! Brian and I arrived before the rest of the tribe. I was ready for a beer (there was no booze at the two previous joints) so we went in. The first thing to catch my eye was the big pan of golden fried chicken sitting under the heat lamps. It was calling me, so I answered it. There wasn't a single item that came out of that kitchen that disappointed. Everything was da bomb!! Special notes go out to the collard greens and mac & cheese...mmmmmmmm!! The food was awesome, and the staff was as friendly as you could hope for in a restaurant. I could only find one complaint...they had a big, beautiful LCD TV showing The Matrix in theatre-level sound, even though there was only one other person eating inside when we arrived. We asked if they could switch it to the game, but were told that TV only plays DVDs, no TV. They obliged and put the game on the little tiny TV over in the corner...hey, at least we got to see some of the game. All in all, this place is a "must-visit" if you're looking for good BBQ...well-worth a 30+ mile drive. Much to my pleasure, they are opening another store on Redondo St in Long Beach. They will know my face around there, that's for sure!

Country

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Porky's was definitely my favorite of the 3. Vera, the owner, went out of her way to make sure we were satisfied and she succeeded. Everything was good and when you go (and you will) make sure you get some greens! I didn't get to taste the Mac & Cheese (I think Country ate it all) but all of the other sides were delicious. The Golden Bird chicken that they serve was delicious but it wasn't as greasy as I remember from my younger days.

The presentation of the meat on sizzling fajita platters with onions and bell peppers had our mouths watering and we weren't disappointed. All of the meat was flavorful and well prepared. The sauce complimented the meat although I couldn't tell the difference between the mild and the hot. The Pulled Pork was in chunks that you could pick up and bite but was still tender. The brisket had a nice bark that almost had a crunch but it wasn't burnt at all. The ribs were tender but didn't fall off of the bone.

This is definitely the best BBQ place I have been to in L.A. and I would recommend it for anyone looking for good Q.

Neil

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Brisket Comments

• "Excellent! Moist, tender, flavorful -- the best!"
• "Excellent flavor and tender"
• "Great flavor, tender"
• "Delicious!!"
• "The best I've eaten at any restuarant"

Chicken Comments

• "Very good"
• "Moist, tender, good flavor"

Beef Link Comments

• "Good flavor and texture"
• "Best of the links today, give me more!"

Pulled Pork Comments

"Outstanding -- moist, tender, melt in your mouth"

• "Every chunk was well seasoned"
• "Excellent flavor, tender, moist"
• "Fantastic"

Pork Rib Comments

• "Tender and smoky"
• "Tender, moist, wonderful flavor"
• "Good flavor"
• "Good flavor -- great texture"
• "Tender, moist and flavorful"
• "Oh my god, great all of it!!"

Bean Comments

• "Homemade and meaty"
• "Chunks of meat with onions and bell peppers -- excellent!"
• "Good stuff"
• "Very good"
• "Obviously homemade -- very substantial and flavorful"

Mac & Cheese Comments

• "Good flavor"
• "Yum!"

Potato Salad Comments

• "Creamy and well seasoned"
• "Tasted homemade, good"
• "Good stuff"
• "Very creamy with more of a mashed potato feel -- would have liked it to be a bit more chunky"

Greens Comments

• "Best restaurant greens ever!"
• "First time eating greens, very good!!"
• "Hate greens...loved these!!"
• "The best"
• "Super good"

Fried Chicken Comments

• "Excellent, the best!"
• "Crispy and flavorful"
• "Coating was like tempura"
• "O.M.G.!! Yum! Not quite Jay & Monica's, but very good!"
• "One of the best I have ever eaten"

Banana Pudding Comments

• "Sweet and creamy"
• "Great!"
• "Good"
• "MMMM!!!"
• "Great :-)"

Peach Cobbler Comments

• "Tasty crust, just the right sweetness in the peaches"
• "A little too sweet for me, but great flavor"

Overall Review

We all thought this place was outstanding. I wish they would open one in Pasadena, but no such luck -- they are opening in Long Beach in about one month instead (March 2008). We would recommend this to anyone and it is just an extra benefit that you are supporting a CBBQA member when you go there to eat.

Menus

Photos

                             Curtis Neeley of Jay Bee BBQ showing off his ribs.

                               The members waiting around for our Q to arrive

View Neil's pics here:

Slideshow