Curveballs: Sweet & Smokey Down the Barbeque Trail (a travelogue trilogy Book 1) by Tim Yearneau

Author:Tim Yearneau [Yearneau, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: COOKING / Methods / Barbecue & Grilling, TRAVEL / Essays & Travelogues
Publisher: Tim Yearneau
Published: 2015-05-16T21:00:00+00:00

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There is something about theme-based trips that lures the soul and won't let go. It morphs into an irresistible addiction. In one case, a co-worker was a mere four states away from realizing her lifelong dream of visiting all 50 state capitols. Only North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Louisiana stand in her way.

In another case a co-worker recently returned from the Four Corners area, where Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico meet. He owns the moxy and praxis of common sense. He's a literal encyclopedia of something about something. Earlier in the summer he and his family motorcycled the banks of the Mississippi River exploring hole-in-the wall restaurants. Another idea he proffered, that others have done, is to travel to the highest point in all 50 states. Hearing about these trips charges me up.

Of course the theme-based Mr. Y. BBQ Tour worked its way into our conversation in a major way. Full of bubble, he cited an article entitled Best Barbeque, in the July, 2010 issue of Minnesota Monthly magazine.

The author, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, had compiled a top ten list of the best BBQ places in Minnesota. I got pumped up and made contact with her via Facebook. She told me she had visited 40 different barbeque places throughout Minnesota. Her number one choice was Bob's Smoke Stack Ribs in Elgin, just outside Rochester.

Holding off as long as possible I scooted down on a bright, beautiful summer afternoon. Taking highway 52 seventy miles south of the Twin Cities, then east 15 miles placed me in tiny Elgin.

My search for Bob's Smoke Stack Ribs ended stuck at a T in the road. To the right, open farmland. In front, a strip mall. Making a left and then another left a short block later, downtown Elgin extended open arms. Parking the car and marching into the nearest door, I said, "Excuse me, I'm trying to find Bob's Smoke Stack Ribs. Do you know where they are?"

"Yes," the lady at the desk said. "Go back down the road in front to the first stop and make a right. It's a short ways further down on your left." Being the City Clerk, she would know.

Following her directions, Bob's was exactly where she had said it would be. I'm not quite sure how I missed them when my car had faced straight at them at the T. For some mysterious reason, the large black smoker sitting next to the huge BOB'S SMOKE STACK RIBS sign by the street wasn't enough. I hadn't had my eyes checked in a couple of years ….

On the way into Bob's, in the parking lot with camera in hand, I started out, "Hi, this is Mr. Y. at Bob's Smokestack Ribs in tiny Elgin, Minnesota …"

Small, homey, and clean, with Nascar memorabilia populating the walls, the tables were covered with red and white checkered table clothes, creating a picnic like neighborhood atmosphere.

Prices were more than reasonable. A mere $6 for a Quarter Rib Plate. Nice. The plate of ribs looked delicious.

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