Jake D, convinced to prove KC has the best ribs in the country, sent me some Gates original, spicy and sweet BBQ sauce. I'm putting Gates original up against Pierce's original tonight. The ribs are marinating and within hours we'll see who has the best.
I gotta say, the sauces couldn't be more different. Gates has just a hint of sweet with vinegar and red pepper, while Gates is not sweet or vinegary, and has more of a cant-put-your-fingeronit spicy flavorness. Both are good tasting out of the bottle.
It's gonna be fun to see which wins :mrgreen: the battle of the original sauces. Phase two is the battle of the sweet sauces :mrgreen:
there's a place in Charleston called Sticky Fingers.... they make a great rib sause.
They sell "Sticky Fingers" sauce in one of my local markets. I agree, great sauce, especially the "Carolina Sweet".
The point is:
If it isn't from KC, then it really isn't BBQ sauce!
Everybody else is just banging rocks together while we play the violin. And I'm not trying to be cocky about it. It is just the way it is.
OK the results are in.....
Pierce's original has a hint of vinegar and sugar with a hot pepper flavor. Very tasty right out of the bottle.
Gates hada non sweet non vinegar flavor. It has a more spicy flavor and a heat thet sneaks up on you, and maybe a hint of smokeyness. It's tough to describe, but it's good. Not as good raw out of the bottle.
Both pork ribs were prepared the same way and cooked at the same time. They were both liberally slathered on the grill to give them the burnt grill flavor.
Though it was a tough desision, and both were fantastic, we both agreed that the KC sauce won the competition. When Gates sauce was on the meat it just tasted good. It's something we couldn't put our finger on, but the scales tipped in KC's favor.
So Gates KC sauce wins! I'm not saying Pierce's wasn't delicious -it was! It's just that if we had a choice we'd go woth the Gates. If you like sweet and tangy then Pierce's is the way to go, it just lost in the head to head competition.
Jake is right. KC seems to have the best BBQ. I admit it. He wins.
A wonderful exercise. I'm glad I could assist in the debate.
We should use John to settle all manner of regional conflicts.
For example:
Best Pizza - Chicago v. New York (go New York).
Best Clam Chowder - Seattle v. Boston (rah Seattle).
Best Chilli - Cinncinnati v. whomever.
Best Tai food - Seattle v. Thailand.
But, it is good to be BBQ King! Thanks for playing, Carolinas. Who invited you, Texas? What do you call that, Memphis?
Chicago vs New York?????
Ever have a REAL Chicago deap dish.... mmmmmm
I actually have had Chicago Deep Dish in Chicago. It was wonderful.
But then I went to New York and had New York style pizza. It is hard to describe how wonderful that was. Such warm crispy crust with a dusting of corn meal on the bottom, and the perfect balance of toppings. I was blown away. But that is a debate for someone else to carry forward.
I've fought my battle and won.
Or as "Cadillac" Williams said during the 2005 NFL draft, "He won the war, but the battle ain't over yet!"
the sicilian style pizza i had at some little storefront place in New York has to be the greatest pizza ever.
cheers,
will
Quote from: indestructiblemanthe sicilian style pizza i had at some little storefront place in New York has to be the greatest pizza ever.
cheers,
will
Ditto. I've never had anything like. I've tried to recapture that feeling. But can't.
I've often had this discussion with my Chi-town friends. The conclusion that we came to is that you really can't compare the two. They're so different that it's not really a fair comparison. I've had great Chicago Pizza (which I loved), but I prefer my hometown style just as a matter of taste.
i actually make a pretty good psuedo-sicilian style pizza.
it's not the real thing though.
What is LA known for? I've been to LA but I don't think I ate the whole time I was there except maybe a burrito at Huntington Beach or Seal Beach.
ooh ooh! best chitlins?
Best Pizza? BOSTON :thumb:
Quote from: johnBest Pizza? BOSTON :thumb:
digiorno!
*goes to sit in the corner*
Boston?
That boy is wicked smaht.
He used da pahk his cah in hahvad yahd too
:mrgreen:
Quote from: Jake DWhat is LA known for? .
Mass-producing and marketing inferior rip-offs of everyone else's stuff.
Or did you mean their particular culinary expertise?
Quote from: Jake DBoston?
That boy is wicked smaht.
Oh yea? You're a wicked loosah. :lol:
You're such a dohk. You've been drinking too many beeahs and now you're wicked trashed.
Oh yea, they love it when i put on my thick Boston accent out here in AZ. Ironically, I have to try to "do" the accent seeing I was raised in Cali, before moving to Boston.
OK I;m wicked tiahd, I'm goin to eat suppah and go to bed.
Quote from: Jake DWhat is LA known for?
blonde's with boobs.
Quote from: indestructiblemanthe sicilian style pizza i had at some little storefront place in New York has to be the greatest pizza ever.
cheers,
will
there's a little italian/argentine market that serves up the closest thing to that this side of manhattan...I'll try to remember where it is and what its called. Somewhere in Alhambra or some other odd out of the way place (temple city?)...
Okay, this thread is back!
John was kind enough to send me a bottle of Pierce's Barbeque Sauce (thank you very much, sir). I tried it last night. And was I surprised!
I don't think that I've ever had anything like it. There is nothing in KC like it. From KC Masterpiece, Arthur Bryants, Gates, Jackstack, Oklahoma Joe's, and the rest, this sauce was totally unique.
As a matter of fact, if pressed, I don't think a person from KC would even identify this product as BBQ Sauce. Like comparing mustard and pickle relish.
But it was good!!! I enjoyed it. It has a sort of festive flavor I can't figure out. A good Christmas sauce. Like nutmeg or some odd spice.
What is that flavor, John? I can't place it and it's driving me mad.
So props to Tennessee or Virginia, or where ever that stuff is made.
I have had carolina barbeque sauce, more a mustard/ apple cider vinegar based sauce, is it anything like that? I am intrigued.
YES! Thank you! It tasted like spiced apples! Can't believe I couldn't figure that out on my own.
Destro, it is unlike anything I've ever had.
It felt odd. Like cheating on my girlfriend (edit: except I've never cheated on my girlfriend - CYA).
Yea, like I said it's totally different. A vinegar, spicy, sweet and yes a mystery spice flavor. I found it best used in pulled pork. Beef ribs come out OK, but I think Gates is way better on beef.
Hmmm...apple? Maybe, but the nutmeg guess may be closer, or a hint of clove maybe :dunno: Anyway, render off some country style ribs, bake, grill then shred -add more pierces and try it on a bun with slaw(I just buy a tub at KFC). Trust me, you'll see what this sauce excells at. A buddy of mine ate 4 -yes 4 pulled pork sandwiches in one sitting it was so good, he had to lay down he was so stuffed :lol: , but he said he couldn't stop eating it :lol: :thumb: