It was my dad's birthday over the weekend, so the kids and I drove out to his neck of the woods to wander around Old Sturbridge Village for the afternoon. You know how much I love those old-timey reenactment places. They have to drag me out of Plimoth Plantation every year. It's embarrassing for everyone.
But first we needed lunch. My dad's a meat and potatoes guy, so I thought it would be a good time to check out B.T.'s Smokehouse for some true barbecue. I've been hearing murmurs about it, paranoid whispers really, so I figured it had to be good. The place is easy to miss, seemingly tacked on to the back of a gas station, but you can smell it as you drive by. Even with the windows up, there's no mistaking the smoky scent of succulent meats. If you're lucky, you'll bank a hard right turn and squeal into the parking lot without incident.
We all got the pulled pork. One of us maybe should have gone with the brisket, but none of us wanted to miss out on the pork. I stand by my decision. I didn't even apply any barbecue sauce. The pork was so good on it's own, it didn't need a thing. Barbecue perfection as far as I'm concerned. The fries were delicious, too, lightly spiced, and the coleslaw was feral with vinegar. That North Carolina-style tang worked well with the rich meat, I thought. The meal was so good.
If you're headed to western Mass. or New York or wherever you people go in your free time, you'll want to stop by and get yourselves some barbecue for the road. Seriously. You do NOT want to find yourselves starving in the middle of nowhere with no other options than a fly-infested McDonald's inside of a Walmart. Trust us. You will not be sorry. Just head west on the Pike and take one quick exit on 84. Or, if you live nowhere near here, why not try making your own? Crockpot pulled pork is never the same as real barbecue, but it'll tide you over.
B.T.'s Smokehouse, 392 Main St., Sturbridge, 508-347-3188