In case anyone was wondering, eating barbecue for lunch every day isn't taking a toll on me. My stomach is made of steel (even if my belly is considerably softer than that).
However, I'm reminded that I've eaten barbecue ribs the last two days every time I scratch my nose. Every time I touch my upper lip, whatever I was pondering is replaced by the memory of barbecue.
With the celebration of Independence Day this weekend, I'm assuming the smell of all things barbecue and barbecued will be with me for the foreseeable future.
Today the tour of local barbecue joints landed on Mama and Papa B's, where a sign on the front door promoted "FREE!!!" That meant I received a free can of soda with the purchase of a three-meat plate. I had my choice of free cake or free soda or free chips. I chose soda.
Upon paying $9.75 for my meal, I was instructed to select my own "soda water" from the cooler. It was worth $9.75 to hear someone say the words "soda water" without irony. I believe the last time I heard that phrase was 1982.
Anyway, Mama & Papa B's is one of those places that's legendary in its own neighborhood. For people who work and/or live near downtown, Mama & Papa B's represents awesome barbecue in a convenient location. When I worked at the Waco Tribune-Herald, many of my coworkers frequented this little barbecue joint and I could smell it from across the newsroom whenever anyone stopped by there.
For my three meats, I chose sliced beef, sausage and ribs. Big surprise, huh? I took them to go, but realized on my way home that I probably didn't have any barbecue sauce in my fridge. Not to worry, though, the three meats were lightly doused in the type of runny-tangy-sweet sauce which manages to saturate the contents of a styrofoam to-go box. And that's okay because potato salad is irresistible when it has a little barbecue sauce on it. Am I wrong?
One day left in barbecue week. I'm considering mixing things up by going for barbecue breakfast burritos at Rudy's in the morning. However, it would be a shame to leave out Uncle Dan's, Michna's and Tom's Smoke House among others. Perhaps BBQ Week will have to be extended to Saturday.
