St. Louis is about blues, baseballs and barbecue – elements that fit together naturally, especially on a warm summer’s night. While Kansas City is synonymous with great barbecue, don’t shortchange its cross-state rival – the two cities are decidedly different places. St. Louis sports its own signature sauce and way of doing things. It’s not as thick as the KC concoction, and has a bit of a bite about it.
If you revel in ribs rubbed just right, in brisket that’s been babied, here are a couple of St. Louis barbecue emporiums you’re going to want to check out:
- Pappy’s Smokehouse is an institution in this city. It specializes in Memphis-style barbecue. First, of course, comes the meat. Pappy’s smokes it for four-hours-plus over apple or cherrywood. Then it’s time for the sauces. Note we employ the plural here. Pappy’s Original is tangy, with a bit of a kick. Sweet Baby Jane is just as the name implies – sort of sweet. Holly’s Hot Sauce is for the adventurous, a Texas-style hot sauce with some fire. The lunch special is perfect fare to refuel you for the day: a pulled pork or pulled chicken sandwich, a side and drink for $6.38. You may get your order quick, but there’s nothing fast about this food.
- PM BBQ believes in its brisket. So should you after you put a fork to the slow-smoked (12 hours) beef. PM is also a disciple of Memphis-style barbecue. If you’re not big on beef these folks do an award-winning pulled pork and a really juicy pulled chicken, which has racked up kudos in its own right. Sweet corn makes a good side, so too sweet potato fries. Finish it all off with a Fat Tire brew and the world is wonderful.
(Image: stlbites.com)
