I was caught a bit off guard when asked to write a review of Wes Berry's The Kentucky Barbecue Book for the local paper, and I was honored when they actually published it on one of the best days of the year, no less -- Indy 500 day!
Read it here: The Kentucky Barbecue Book Review
Thinking it would be smart to take notes, I decided to highlight favorite quotes/passages and mark the pages with sticky notes. Great idea, but it didn't help much after every other page got highlighted and stuck...
When we got back from Florida I discovered that I had marked up the wrong book -- this one was intended for my youngest brother. Whoops! Time to buy another book.
Funny how words look different in print than they do on your laptop. I ran afoul of the suggested word count, and I'm glad they printed it anyway...
Could you tell I liked it? A little back story...
I started this blog hoping to explore semi-local back roads and visit neat out-of-the-way eateries via motorcycle. It didn't take long to develop an appreciation for the local BBQ joints, and when I tried to do some research on BBQ in this part of the world I couldn't find anything. (Try doing a Google search for Monroe County BBQ, for example.) So I decided to spend a few winter months visiting local BBQ spots to sample their goods, learn what I could, take some pictures, and put together my SoKY BBQ Guide.
I thought I was finished after profiling 19 places, and then I heard about a WKU prof who just finished writing a book on BBQ spots across the whole state! Of course, that was Dr. Wes Berry. I shot him an email to show him what I had been doing and he suggested I visit a place just a few miles from my house. That 20th BBQ joint ended up being one of my favorites -- they certainly smoke my favorite ribs, and I went back two days in a row. I've been looking forward to the book ever since.
The book did not disappoint. In addition to profiling 111 BBQ spots and providing some sought-after recipes, it describes and documents the various styles of Bluegrass BBQ as never before done. When it was finally printed early this year I bought several copies to give as birthday presents, and Wes kindly signed them all.
I started this blog hoping to explore semi-local back roads and visit neat out-of-the-way eateries via motorcycle. It didn't take long to develop an appreciation for the local BBQ joints, and when I tried to do some research on BBQ in this part of the world I couldn't find anything. (Try doing a Google search for Monroe County BBQ, for example.) So I decided to spend a few winter months visiting local BBQ spots to sample their goods, learn what I could, take some pictures, and put together my SoKY BBQ Guide.
I thought I was finished after profiling 19 places, and then I heard about a WKU prof who just finished writing a book on BBQ spots across the whole state! Of course, that was Dr. Wes Berry. I shot him an email to show him what I had been doing and he suggested I visit a place just a few miles from my house. That 20th BBQ joint ended up being one of my favorites -- they certainly smoke my favorite ribs, and I went back two days in a row. I've been looking forward to the book ever since.
The book did not disappoint. In addition to profiling 111 BBQ spots and providing some sought-after recipes, it describes and documents the various styles of Bluegrass BBQ as never before done. When it was finally printed early this year I bought several copies to give as birthday presents, and Wes kindly signed them all.
After using the index to find some recipes and check profiles of my own favorite joints, I actually read the book on our Spring Break trip to Florida. While down there I realized it is more than just a book about Kentucky BBQ; it is a book about Kentucky itself.
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| Alabama's Big Bob Gibson's is favorably mentioned throughout the book, so we stopped by for dinner on our way south. Glad we did! |
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| Homework. Not hard work. |
Thinking it would be smart to take notes, I decided to highlight favorite quotes/passages and mark the pages with sticky notes. Great idea, but it didn't help much after every other page got highlighted and stuck...
 |
| 750 words? Hmm... I think that's 750 sticky notes. |
When we got back from Florida I discovered that I had marked up the wrong book -- this one was intended for my youngest brother. Whoops! Time to buy another book.
 |
| Sorry, Juice... I'm keeping this one. |
Funny how words look different in print than they do on your laptop. I ran afoul of the suggested word count, and I'm glad they printed it anyway...
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| Thanks, BG Daily News. |
Get your copy by contacting the author at his website or BBQ Facebook page, or by visiting your local bookstore. Or here.
