Posted By Whitney Harper
on
10/16/2009 11:09:00 PM
We discovered this gem thanks to a casual conversation with a seat companion on the plane into Nashville. We told him that we were coming to Tennessee to eat, and he said that Scott’s BBQ was the best BBQ, full stop. This was a challenge we weren’t willing to let go untested, so we found ourselves in Lexington, TN about halfway between Nashville and Memphis.
When driving through Lexington, make sure to keep your eyes peeled as the restaurant is a bit difficult to spot. Also, they tend to sell out and then close shop for the day, so you may want to call first. We were nervous when we arrived and saw a “Closed” sign on the door, but we managed to get the last servings of the day.
The menu is simple: pork and a few sides. We ordered pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw (vinegar), potato salad, and beans. The owner’s son was nervous that we didn’t have enough to eat so he brought us out a side of pulled pork as well. This is the juiciest, most tender pork that I have ever eaten. The flavors are simple, perfectly seasoned pork with that good smoky flavor. Perhaps this pork is more about what it lacks than what it contains; there are no gamey, liquid smoke-y, artificial flavors. The pork is juicy with just the right amount of fat to tenderize the meat, without making it hard when it cools. The beans also have left over bits of the pork, which means they get a touch of that pure porkiness.
As we were the last customers of the day, we had the chance to meet Ricky Parker, the owner, and he graciously gave us a tour of his facilities, demonstrating why his pork really is unique. He is one of the few people still doing slow-cooked (typically 24 hours) pork. He has multiple pits; he puts the half carcasses on over low coals to slowly barbcarm (barbecue and caramelize). Definitely worth a major detour; words just don’t give it full justice.
Perfect bite: pulled pork sandwich with some coleslaw vinegar and a dab of baked beans.
