Split Tree Barbeque (Alvaton, KY)

Bike:  Honda CBR1000RR Repsol - Limited Edition

Route:  Google Maps (Split Tree is at Checkpoint B, even though Google Maps thinks it is somewhere else.) 

It's true that Split Tree is less than one mile from my house. But with a pre-lunch trip to the gas station and a few miles of post-lunch back roads, this trip filled up my lunch break nicely. And it was perfectly timed as I just beat the storm home.

Obviously I'm a sucker for pictures that feature a good fence row.

Split Tree Barbeque.

This is what a BBQ joint should look (and smell) like. There is only one cash register, so the line easily backs up to the door if you get there at the wrong time. Those are business cards on the walls, left by patrons over the years.

I prefer to eat in the glassed-in patio area. There is an obvious hunting motif at work here.

Sliced Pork Sandwich & BBQ Beans.

The legendary House Special. Under all those BBQ Beans is two Corncakes topped with BBQ Pork.

VERDICT:  When I think BBQ, I think Split Tree. Jerome's pulled pork (which they served "Chopped" or "Sliced") is the standard by which I judge all others. It has a perfect smoke flavor and while it's not exactly moist, it is certainly not too dry. Whether you order it chopped or sliced, the texture is perfect. The product at some other places is so finely shredded and so moist that I'm left wondering what kind of machine created it. But here you can watch them slice or chop your order, so there is no mystery.

The house BBQ sauce is a rather thick and slightly sweet tomato & vinegar affair with just a bit of spice. I like it with the ribs or chicken, and I often order extra sauce to take home for other uses. But the pork is so good that I prefer it without sauce. If you order a sandwich, ask for the sauce on the side so you can decide for yourself.

They keep everything simple here by concentrating on just three things: Pork (chopped or sliced), Ribs, & Chicken. Everything is smoked over hickory (only hickory) and the smoker is running seven days/nights per week. The quality is remarkably consistent from one visit to the next.

Of course they offer the typical side items: Potato Salad, Coleslaw, and BBQ Beans. But there is nothing typical about the beans! They contain plenty of pepper, pork, and something else. Magic, maybe? Sweet, sweet, wood-fired magic? I quit trying to figure it out. I just mix a little of the house sauce with these beans and it's a meal by itself.

Located less than ten minutes off I-65, this place is most definitely worth the short detour if you're ever passing through.

Pretty ladies in minivans like BBQ, too.

Speaking of pretty ladies... More about this one in the next ride report when we take this sweet thing to her homeland to sample a different style of BBQ.

I'm also a sucker for the White Church + Cemetery pics.

Y. Why, why, why?!?

Nice fence!

A wide berth.

A storm.

Very similar to my MotoUSA Picture of the Week, probably because it is the exact same section of road.

I know... I know...

I set my childhood bicycle speed record on that hill. Said record has not been surpassed in adulthood, 'cause I don't ride bicycles.

Racin' the storm. Headin' home...

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UPDATE:  When I ran out of time to fire up my own grill for dinner, I went back to Split Tree to grab some more BBQ. Is that wrong?  I was hoping to get some chicken, but I got there after closing time and they were all out. Having overdosed on pork in the past and not wanting to do that again, I didn't actually eat more for dinner. But I did take the opportunity to snap a couple more pictures. Update II will show the BBQ Chicken. Soon.

Jerome. He's the man with the BBQ plan. Make sure you say hi.

1/2 pound orders of Spare Ribs, Chopped Pork, & Sliced Pork sans sauce. Nice smoke ring, huh?

UPDATE II (7/13/11):  I had to grab some take-out for lunch from somewhere today, so here's the BBQ Chicken. I ordered two Chicken Halves, and they were just ready to come off the smoker. I'm a white-meat guy, and I was surprised how moist the breast was. And you don't need a fork & knife, as the meat is already falling off the bone.

Whole BBQ Chicken, Arnold Palmer, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, & Corncakes.

So, there it is... the whole Split Tree menu in two days! That was fun.

UPDATE III (12/10/11):  Christmastime Test Ride for BBQ.

Bike:  Honda CRF70F

Route:  Google Maps

It's not quite Christmastime yet, but in a couple weeks somebody in our house is getting his first motorcycle as a surprise gift. It's not brand new because if things go well we'll probably outgrow it next year and be ready for something bigger in 2013, anyway. It just had some engine work done at a local shop and it should be ready to go for Spring, and of course I wanted to give it a quick test ride before I hide it in the neighbor's garage. So, since it was around lunch time and my napping wife was unable to stop me, I present...

The shortest Countryside Food Ride ever!

Trying not to get arrested, I did have to break Rule #3. No worries -- that's a soft rule, and this was fun! And if it's fun for someone running about 80 pounds over the weight limit, it should be a lot more fun for the one about 40 pounds under...

That sign does not concern me today.

Turn signal.

Serious Lean Angle I. 

So the bars are a little bent and the brake lever is partially snapped off, but that's just fine for now. I should be able to fix that stuff before Christmas.

Almost there...

Serious Lean Angle II.

Split Tree BBQ.

Christmas Present.

Now THAT is a sandwich! Chopped BBQ + Slaw.

High Five! I mean, Thumbs Up!

Serious Lean Angle III.

Serious Lean Angle IV.

Headin' home, looking forward to Christmas morning...

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UPDATE IV (12/23/11):  Now time for my Christmas present -- a Split Tree Smoked Turkey! I can't tell you how good this place smells while 30 turkeys that just came off the smoker are waiting to be picked up...

Split Tree's Holiday Smoked Turkey (limited number available for Thanksgiving & Christmas).

UPDATE V (4/1/14):  No April Fools joke...

Sunset at Split Tree.

Follow @BaasPro

The Country Bakery (Austin, KY)

Bike:  KTM Super Duke R

Route:  Google Maps 

This is a great Food Ride. It's the kind of trip that is fun on a bike, but it's also fun to throw the family, the neighbors, and the appetites in the minivan and go for a nice Saturday morning drive (at least to Checkpoint F and back -- the rest is motorcycle fun). You can get to the good stuff a lot faster by taking 231 & 31-E from BG, but that sure is boring.

For me, the highlight of this trip is the aptly-named Country Bakery. But there are several other fun stops on these roads such as Ranger Bob's, Paradise Point Marketplace, The Berry Batch, & Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese.

Left.

Left.

Left.

Right!

Ranger Bob's is a fine place to buy a meal, but a poor place to buy gas. They don't have the good stuff.

Right back at ya, darling!  But with slightly less enthusiasm...

I stopped at Paradise Point for a pre-pizza hot dog. Why?  Because I can't not stop at Paradise Point for a hot dog.

From the hot dog cart outside the front door, Dr. John serves the best franks around. Plenty of toppings are available inside including several gourmet mustards, and they sell a lot more than just hot dogs. I think I could sit on this porch all day listening to music and snacking. I've heard the weekend breakfast is great, so perhaps we can do a long ride in the future where we start out with breakfast and come back for lunch.

Huh.

Speedo Number of the Day I.

Here's The Country Bakery. It would be easy to miss if they didn't have that there sign right next to the road.

It's a small place, even though they have doubled the size since we first started coming.

They have a few seats inside now, but just a few.

Is it wrong to visit a bakery for the pizza?  Not if it's this good. As you might expect, they do make their own dough. The toppings are plentiful. This is the 8" Meat & Veggie Supreme.

VERDICT:  This place is outstanding!  As good as it gets. I come here for the pizza, but I'm not the only person in my neighborhood who's made the thirty mile drive to get the wife some donuts. The breads, pastries, donuts, pizza -- everything here is worth the drive. It's a fun and friendly place, and of course it smells great. On a previous visit, the girls behind the counter spontaneously burst into song. I thought I was in O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

It's only six or seven miles away from the Barren River Lake State Park entrance. If you're ever in that area and you don't drive the extra ten minutes to visit The Country Bakery, you are doing yourself a disservice. If you call 15 minutes before you arrive, your pizza will finish up just as you're walking in the door. It'll still be hot when you get it back to the beach. If they ever re-open the beach.

This is The Berry Patch. You can pick your own assorted vegetables and berries. They also sell wooden furniture and they have a neat gift shop, from what I recall. Kids dig it.

The area around the Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese farm is picture-perfect rolling KY farmland.

Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese has a shop at the farm where you can buy any of their products. The prices are cheaper than what you'll pay at retail stores. The best reason to visit is that you can sample almost everything they make.

Speedo Number of the Day II.

Straight. Way too straight.

Better.

Flippin, KY.

Fountain Run, KY.

Scottsville, KY.

Speedo Number of the Day III. Headin' home...

TEASE:  After today's ride, I picked up a new bike for the next ride. She's a real beauty...

Speedo Number of the Day IV.

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UPDATE (8/27/11):  The Country Bakery saved the day after my first Food Ride Fail and a wrong turn.

UPDATE II (9/29/11):  The Country Bakery has moved.



UPDATE III (8/15/12):  The Country Bakery is back!!!

UPDATE IV (4/27/13):  The Country Bakery has closed forever. Sad day. Thanks for the donuts, the pizzas, and the good times...

Last donuts. Last pizzas.

Follow @BaasPro

Little Red Corvette

Bike Car:  Corvette Z06

Route:  Google Maps

This post violates every rule I made up. I played with the GPS, I hit the Interstate, I ran the same section of road four times, and I broke the two most obvious and unspoken rules:  1) Ride a motorcycle, and 2) Eat somewhere neat.

Luckily, when you make the rules you can break the rules. So when a buddy who is currently working in Afghanistan asked if I'd like to take his Corvette out for the day and get her some exercise, I couldn't say no. He said funny things like, "Be careful with the rear end getting light on Old Scottsville Rd -- it'll definitely step out on you!". And my favorite, "For the record, tire smoke and red-line shifts are not abuse!"

I replied with the standard, "Oh, I wouldn't drive somebody else's car like that."  And I meant it. I really did. Right up until I turned on Old Scottsville Rd. Holy crap this thing is fun!  It's a 500 horsepower go kart!  No frills and no way to drive slow -- it won't let you!  

Of course, he was right about everything. Her rear end does like to step out on you! She does love red-line shifts! From what I can tell, she loves everything except going slow. And I love her. She's gorgeous and she's got a beautiful voice. I think she loves me, too, so I can't wait to spend more time with her [hint hint, old friend].

Happy Fourth of July!  God Bless America...

Cute butt. I told y'all she was pretty.

Dig the rear-view reflection.

I could get used to this.

Slightly edited just in case Mom is watching.

OK USA!

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