Brisket and Gravy at Sloppy Hogg's

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Brisket and gravy on corn bread with potato salad and coleslaw. I need a nap. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #yegfoodie #yegdt #barbecue #bbq

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@apaulagetics) on May 18, 2019 at 1:43pm PDT

Memphis Blues BBQ

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My first trip to Memphis Blues BBQ yesterday. Huge brisket sandwich. Funny signs too. #yeg #yegfood #millwoods #yegfoodie #yegeats #bbq

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@apaulagetics) on Jun 15, 2019 at 8:47am PDT

Brisket at Sloppy Hogg's

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I ate half a cow for supper. At least, that’s how it felt, in the best possible way. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #yegfoodie #yegdt #edmontonfood #brisket #barbecue

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@apaulagetics) on Dec 12, 2019 at 8:05pm PST

Brisket Sandwich & Hush Puppies at Sloppy Hoggs (9563A 118 Ave.)

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An incredibly hefty brisket sandwich with fries. The meat is really tender. And so plentiful we didn’t need the hush puppies and gravy, although the corn fritters were addictively crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the gravy being one of the best I have ever had (a mix of chicken and beef). #yeg #sloppyhoggs #bbq #brisket #yegfood #yegfoodie #nofilter

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 6, 2018 at 1:59pm PDT

An incredibly hefty brisket sandwich with fries. The meat is really tender. And so plentiful we didn’t need the hush puppies and gravy, although the corn fritters were addictively crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the gravy being one of the best I have ever had (a mix of chicken and beef).

Quarter Chicken Plate at Fired Up BBQ

Quarter chicken, potato salad, beans, and corn bread. #yegfood #bbq

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 14, 2017 at 11:43am PDT

I haven't been to Fired Up BBQ in a while, so when the opportunity came up this past week to go there for lunch, I grabbed it. I decided to try the chicken for the first time. My quarter chicken was tender and full of smoked flavour. I can't really say much else about it other than it was excellent. For my three sides I chose the bean medley, potato salad, and corn bread. I think corn bread goes really well with chicken. A hearty lunch overall.

Brisket Platter at Fired Up BBQ

Trying out some BBQ #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 21, 2016 at 3:49pm PDT

Everyone knows I loves me some barbecue. A friend of mine has raved about Fired Up BBQ several times. I finally had the chance to check it out, and loved the cozy place with Blues music playing overhead. The menu basically consists of brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and chicken, with a variety of side dishes. I had the brisket platter, which had about a quarter pound on it, probably more, and I chose corn bread, coleslaw, and potato salad as my three sides. All three were house made and very fresh. The meat was lean and juicy, with a sauce that was not overpowering. Prices are reasonable, if not slightly lower than other BBQ places in town. I was impressed.

More Meat at MEAT (A Review in Verse)

Last night I went to MEAT
Had lots of things to eat
Had the brisket again
And had some with a friend
The chicken was divine
Moist and juicy - it was fine!
Rosemary yam mash was sweet
A true delight to eat
With bread and a pickle
Since I am very fickle
Bourbon was my drink
Smooth and clean, I think
I look forward to my next visit at MEAT
Because the place is such a treat!

More Brisket at MEAT

I was planning a return visit to MEAT since I went there for the first time over the weekend, but did not realize the opportunity would arise so quickly. Earlier this week I had supper there, and as I already decided, had the half pound of brisket with a small side of vegetarian baked beans. The meat was divine. I did not even need a fork to cut it. The beans were also excellent in texture and flavour in a rich, tomato sauce with beans that were firm - sort of like the bean equivalent to al dente pasta. However, the beans were also loaded with jalapenos and as such, were extremely spicy. Even with half the amount of jalapenos, it would have out my mouth on fire. It was spicier than the spicy barbecue sauce (which I quite liked). I have more plans to try menu items at MEAT, but I am thinking I may skip the side and just order more meat.

Edmonton Blues Festival

Thanks to one of my social media friends, I was able to score tickets to this year's Edmonton Blues Festival. I am a big blues fan, and Blues On Whyte is one of my regular weekend hang outs.I loved the variety of Blues presented at the festival, and the fact that the performers were from all over the world. You can read my blog post about the music over at Inside World Music. The band pictures above is MonkeyJunk, my new favourite!

The food was as diverse as the music! Of course, I had to have a Fat Frank because hot dogs and the Blues go so well together. There was also a Vietnamese vendor offering both freshly-made vermicelli bowls and wraps, as well as fries and onion cakes. I had one of the onion cakes, then later had a brisket sandwich from Smokehouse BBQ - talk about east meeting west!

The choice of beer was also quite diverse - everything from Molson Canadian to Newcastle to Corona, a few coolers, and Strongbow. At $7 per drink ticket it was slightly pricer than other beer tents I have visited, but large cans were being served (the 473ml variety) so the portion size fit the price.

Great music, great food, and great atmosphere - the Edmonton Blues Festival is definitely worth checking out for any serious music fan.

Celebrating Old Strathcona

On July 7, I stopped by the Old Strathcona block party organized by Blues On Whyte. 103 and 104 Streets were blocked off, two stages were filled with music, vendors sold unique items, and, of course, there were food trucks.

I had lunch while I enjoyed some live music and started with a brisket sandwich from Smokehouse BBQ. The slightly sweet, fresh bun was filled with chunks of brisket. The meat was lean, with just a tiny bit of sweet fat to make things rich. The sauce was not overpowering, and the spoonful of coleslaw on top made me glad I grabbed a fork - things could have gotten messy!

I had a snack later on, and went for a vegetarian samosa from Naanolicious. It was interesting seeing the street food truck right there, when their physical location was right nearby! The samosa could have been a little warmer on teh inside, but the outside was satisfyingly crunchy. I also wanted something sweet, so tried an order of Can-naandians, which are pieces of naan bread in the shape of maple leaves in a maple sauce. They were almost like soft cookies in a sauce.

Although the weather did not fully cooperate when I was there, I had a great time hanging out on Whyte Avenue and celebrating the culture the area has to offer.

Capital EX 2012: Barbecue Brisket Sandwich

Capital EX 2012, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

One of the attractions at this year's Capital EX, is a showcase of competitive barbecue teams. I decided to give the brisket sandwich from Smokin' Babes a try. The meat literally melted in my mouth. The excellent smoky flavour was highlighted with a tangy barbecue sauce. My only "beef" was the price. $10 seemed a little steep for a small sandwich with no side. However, food is pricey in general at Capital EX, so this was no exception. I really hope I have the opportunity to enjoy the Smokin' Babes' cooking some time again.