Baseball is over for a while so I am at Patrice’s mercy for the next two plus weeks. Today she wanted to visit the Mud Island River Museum (hmmm, can I read my book there?). The museum is a short walk from the hotel and IT IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS! A little reprieve for me, even if only for one day. On our way back to the hotel we found that Memphis has a Fire Museum (see below). The museum houses a series of exhibits including old firefighter equipment, videos and a wonderful memorial to the 343 firefighters who died in the 9/11 tragedy. Some of the information made me wonder about the intelligence of the people living in this town (notice the 911 information sign below). Like most museums you exit into the gift shop so I made myself an honorary member of the Memphis FD (see below).
After a brief rest at the hotel we met our guide for the Barbecue Tasting Tour provided by http://www.Tastinroundtown.com. Tours are limited to 12 people and the idea of being carted around town eating BBQ cuisine sounded like fun. We arrived promptly at the meeting place but wondered if we made a mistake since no one else was there. Our guide, Lance, welcomed us to the tour and told us we were the only people who had signed up. We had our personal chauffeur and tour guide. Lance is Italian and originally from New York and got to Memphis 6 years ago via Indiana and Chicago. He certainly could have made me believe he was a native from Memphis since he was a cornucopia of information about Memphis history and culture. He filled us in on the subtle differences between the various BBQ offerings in the city and how they differ from what we would encounter in Kansas City, Texas and other places. Not only was he informative he was quite funny. That’s him pictured with us below.
After the BBQ tour we went back to the hotel to work out and to see if we could break even for the day caloric wise (not a chance of that). Feeling much less guilty now and wondering were we might find some pecan pie.
Robert
Robert Reiss Travel Blog and Other Ramblings 
You didn’t describe each of the BBQs you tasted! How come?
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In order of appearance:
1. Blues City Cafe: Pork Ribs with meat so tender it fell off the bone. We were told that some experts would consider this overdone.
2. Pig on Beale: Pulled pork sandwich, trying to pace ourselves we shared one.
3. Central BBQ (the one near the Civil Rights museum, not the original on Central). One pork rib each. Their style is to have the meat stick slightly to the bone. Both styles received high marks from me and both are far superior to anything I have ever eaten in Los Angeles. We also had BBQ Nachos here. I could not stop eating the nachos. I think that is what did me in.
4. Double J Smokehouse and Saloon: BBQ Egg Rolls – sounds gross but they were fantastic. Double J has smoked Texas style BBQ. Our guide scoffed at the idea that Texas could compete with Memphis in regards to BBQ. I asked if he had heard of Franklin’s in Austin (a place that has been recommended by a number of friends). Lance had not heard of it and said something funny that I don’t recall exactly and will probably mess up, “Austin is not Texan is just happens to be located in Texas”.
5. A&R BBQ: Beef ribs – This place is located in a part of Memphis you will not see recommended by most tour guides or hotel concierges. In fact Lance said he usually picks up stuff from this place and brings it to the hotel. I forgot why that wasn’t going to work out but I am much happier that we went to the place. It was great seeing all the locals come in and realize this wasn’t just a tourist trap.
6. BBQ Shop (aka Dancing Pigs): BBQ Spaghetti – Don’t knock it until you have tried it. I was truly ready to bust when we went there. I was just going to have a taste. All I can say is that I am glad they gave us a small plate.
In summary, I think this tour ruined me from ever going for BBQ in Los Angeles again. I think it also guaranteed a return trip to Memphis.
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