First I brought you NW Indiana at the top of the state and now I bring you to the bottom of the state of Indiana and a couple others that surround it.
We went to Evansville Indiana to the West side nut club fall fest and do some serious eating this past October. I was lucky enough to have a friend who worked down there in Marion, IL and it was the perfect time to go down and pay a visit. Well I got down there and did some SERIOUS eating. Here is a summary of my two days in Southern Illinois, Kentucky and Evansville, IN. Yep this is what I ate in two days.
The first order of business on Thursday morning was to head over to Evansville for the West Side nut club fall fest. I have posted many a picture on my site and here a few for now. Yes I really ate this much in a two day period, there were a few of us but this was no joke.
WSNC fall fest in Evansville-IN, Pig is king there, pork tenderloin sandwich, the only thing I cant remember on this whole trip.
Onion Rings, Burgoo and chocolate bacon
Walking taco (too funny), Brain sandwich's, frog legs, monte cristo
http://chibbqking.blogspot.com/2008/11/thee-food-fest-of-middle-america.html More pics
I didnt know there was a place where you could get real bbq pork sandwich's as good as those in the Carolina's and in this same area you will find BBQ sauce as good as anything in Kansas City but it doesn't end there, some of the best rib tips in the state of Illinois (land of the tip) and along with those sandwiches and sauce you will find the best ribs in the entire world including Memphis. I had been told by my buddy's that you could find all of this was all together in Southern Illinois of all places. I had no idea that Southern Illinois was so rich in BBQ. You can find pit's in every town and everyone has a place they go to and eat and chat and enjoy the country life.
Pig is king in Southern IL
Before we went to the fall fest we actually stopped for breakfast around 10a at a place I have praised on here for having the best BBQ sauce I have ever had. Johnson's Southern Style Barbecue. Rupert Johnson is a fourth generation BBQ'er who has perfected the art of the sauce.
Johnson's BBQ (Harrisburg, IL)
As mentioned above the pig is king down south and one of the locals favorite ways to enjoy it is "a barbecue." The popular lunch item for folks of the area are smoked pork sandwiches with the places signature BBQ sauce. They are available at different pits all over the area. Rupert uses the best fresh pork he can get his hands. Him and his people rub the butts all over with their secret rub and then proceed to cook it low and slow on one of his mammoth pits using just charcoal. Johnson's serves their amazing barbecues sliced instead of chopped or shredded and the pig combined with his top notch sauce is one heavenly combo.
Mr. Johnson gets the coals ready for the days 'que
This was a mighty fine sandwich and maybe the best breakfast I ever had
John John's BBQ (Colb, IL)
The best "barbecue" we had down there was from John John's in Colb, IL. JJs is all in the family. John is the pitmaster and helping him run the show are his mother who you know can cook, his brothers and his little nephew Andrew provides the customers with entertainment putting a smile on everyones face. The food here will keep that smile on your face all day long. The star of the show is the best barbecue sandwich I have ever had. JJ uses hickory to slow cook the house spice rubbed pig and they top off the perfectly smoked meat with yet another amazing BBQ sauce I found on my trip down there.
So So Good.
The result is perfection-both crispy and juicy pieces of pulled pork with perfect smoke flavor and BBQ sauce that compliments it all. This family takes great pride in their cooking as I was told by one of JJ's brothers and it sure does show. JJ's brother does up rib tips that are as good and probably better than anything I have found. I would have liked to have tried moms fried blue gill which you just know is good. There will be a next time, thats for sure.
Rib Tips
If your driving down to Memphis to eat ribs, then you better stop here if you want some of the best.
If I told you the best ribs in the world were on I-57 you would assume im talking about Memphis, a place known for their ribs across the world. But these ribs are in a small town in Illinois a few hours before Memphis along 57 and the home of the Michael Jordan of BBQ. Mike Mills is a legend in the wide world of BBQ. The Murphysboro native is the three time "Memphis in May" world BBQ champ.. In fact Mike and his team won so many times that they asked him to become a grandmaster judge. Mr. Mills has perfected and I mean PERFECTED the art of the rib. Unfortunately I didnt get a chance to finally meet Mr. Mills b/c he was in Vegas maintaining his spot there.
Full slab of the best ribs in the world from 17th St bar & grill (Murphysboro, IL) I know some on here prefer spare ribs and I do too. These were still perfection.
close up of pink perfection.
http://chibbqking.blogspot.com/2008/10/hog-heaven.html Southern IL BBQ round up with more pics
Both JJ's and 17th were done on day two. However after stuffing our faces at the WSNC fall fest we crossed over to Kentucky and made a trip to Owensboro to eat at the Moonlite BBQ. When we arrived we were told that the buffet wouldn't be ready for another 30 minutes so in a food coma we kind of just assumed that we were now eating the buffet. So we stepped outside and went to a good looking hamburger place next door called The big dipper. This burger wasn't good and the chili wasn't great either but the shakes were really, really good.
All in all this was a fun experience in Kentucky. I dint care too much for the mutton at the buffet but I also didnt think it was bad either. Everything else was just ok but nothing was bad. The catfish and catfish nuggets along with the dessert selection were the best item's of the buffet. If you get there remember that the country ham isnt in the buffet and you should try and order it in one of their sandwiches at the to-go counter if you do go the route of the buffet.
The moonlite buffet at $12.97 is a bargain in my book
Whats a trip though the old midwest without a stop at a 75+ year old Maid Rite? I forget what small town this maid-rite was located in but they sure were old school.
On day two it was time for a little change of pace from the BBQ...but not the pork. Louie's P&R deli in Herrin, IL is a local treasure that has been supplying the locals with their one of a kind salameats and amazing homemade sausage and sandwiches for over 100 years. To my best knowledge the salameat is a old family recipe that they use. They stuff salami and other meats in natural casing creating a very memorable sausage experience.
Sidewall of P&R
salameat served on fresh baked bread with mustard and onions (standard sandwich at Louie's)
This sandwich isnt on the menu but its their famous salameat wrapped in pepperoni and prosciutto covered in homemade red sauce and served with a slice of provolone and peperochinni's. Call it the "Don Barzinini"
Herrin had a real Italian presence and was my favorite little town on our trip. There were a couple pizza shacks that looked like they had been around forever, real old school looking and I just kind of knew they were good and I havent even been...yet.
One of my buddys on the trip is a pizza/donut expert and when he says that someplace has good one of them im listening and trying. No pictures of the pizza but Mackie's down in Southern Illinois serves up a very respectable Chicago tavern style.
Dixie cream donuts has the best donuts I have had. Although I dont eat many donuts, these were so light and tasty I couldn't stop eating and only stopped at three because there were no more left. Im not driving up to Aurora just to go to Sonic but I will stop to get my beloved chili cheese tot's when I see one on the road. It was indeed a great two days, I really need to just sit still and watch football the last couple of days just to let it all soak in.
Johnson's Southern Style Barbecue
700 e. Walnut St.
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 252-0477
http://www.johnsonsbbq.com John John's BBQ
103 N Mayor Caliper Dr
Carterville, IL 62918
(618) 985-2781
http://www.johnjohnsbbq.com/ 17th St. Bar & Grill
32 n. 17th St.
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-3722
http://www.17thstreetbarbecue.com/ Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
2840 W Parrish Ave
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 684-8143
http://www.moonlite.com/ Louie's P & R Deli
120 E Walnut St
Herrin, IL 62948
(618) 942-3394
http://www.nutclub.org/ http://www.maid-rite.com/ Dixie-cream donuts (locations throughout the area)
