On Sunday. at the close of a weekend to incredibly screwed up schedule, I did a second trip to The Pit Stop because I owed them a True Cue window sticker, and tried their pork while I was there. They cook it over direct heat, and you can taste the difference. Wow! This is the best pork in the area. The ribs are very good, too.
Fortunately, I was too early for the fried sausage, and that seductive huge piece of cake was gone and I forgot about the banana pudding.
I was so proud of my virtue that I drive out to Gilbert’s Corner and gave Arno’s a try. Swoon. A post is up on the Pit Stop. https://johntannersbbqblog.wordpress.com/2023/09/20/the-pit-stop-sterling-virginia/
Tip – go to Sterling for the barbecue to avoid the line, then go to Gilbert’s Corner for the pastries, etc.
John, amazing post on Pit Stop. You have guaranteed I will be getting to Sterling posthaste. And thanks for the tip on the sweet rib sauce. I’m not a fan of sweet cue either.
Also: can you please put me in contact with your SoPo correspondent? My brothers and some friends are Mainiacs (at least in the summer) and SoPo is one of our favorite eating towns.
Finally, glad you enjoyed Arno’s. His wares are fabulous and he is a great guy.
Bob, Well, they aren’t really correspondents, just friends who moved to Maine when they became grandparents. They send stuff now and then that I turn into a post. Jon and Nancy Breul – you can search them in my blog, or search Maine and you’ll find them and a bunch of posts I did when we went up there to visit them. Lots of good places there.
Send me your contact information and I’ll pass it on.
I’m glad you like the Pit Stop post.
Thanks John — pm coming!
100%, not 1005
Heritage Smokehouse in Baltimore has outstanding smoked meats and even better rotating seasonal special plates
HA! I forgot to click REPLY
I’ve posted my 2023 Best Barbecue in the Washington Area list. Since there are a lot of places, I’ll take the liberty of simply posting a link.
https://johntannersbbqblog.wordpress.com/2023/09/25/the-best-barbecue-places-in-the-washington-dc-area-2023/ okay, one picture
Suggestions and brickbats welcome
fivealive, thanks for the tip! That looks greater and they do a lot of things that no one else around here does. I’ve got to get up there!
and welcome aboard! A home run in your first at bat! The Hoyt Wilhelm of the Hungry Onion!
Have you tried their black pudding – and if so, how heavy is the iron flavor in it?
If you limit yourself to places that cook with wood, that sort of thing doesn’t happen nearly as often. I can only think of a few
Yum! where?
I believe Heritage Smokehouse.
I made my annual trek to the Middleburg Film Festival and stopped by Gilbert’s Corner for Pit Stop and Arno’s. I got a big apricot tart and a small caramel tart from Arno. Hint: He does not display all his wares on the counter.
The caramel tart was very creamy and was gone before I knew it. Funny, it didn’t look that small… the big tart is for a gathering of people, eight slices easy. It looks amazing, and tastes very good, but not as amazing as it looks. How could it?
Then I got a half pound of chopped pork from Pit Stop. It was ok. Kinda boring. I thought about it a bit, and then I realized that it was more shredded then chopped, and none of it was bark, not a shred, despite the fact that they really stuffed the container. It was a lot of meat. I was all moist, but not much flavor, no richness from rendered fat, and no smokiness. I will try the ribs next time.
That was the morcilla stuffed duck neck special(picture was taken in May) at Heritage Smokehouse.
Carless DC resident. Best recommendations within metro or bus distance for brisket and jalapeno cheddar link?
None of my top ones are recent recs: The very easiest location is Hill Country. Must ask for fatty brisket. Although not a recent rec, was righteous when it first opened. Next easiest is either 2Fifty Texas at Union Market or Texas Jack’s in Arlington.
You’ll have to ask about the sausage varieties.
Some very sad news. Ms. Ella Jane Scott, the owner of Scott’s Bar-B-Que in Hemingway, South Carolina, has died. She’s best known, I imagine, as Rodney Scott’s mother. After Rodney’s departure to starts own place some years ago, it remains one of the best barbecue places around. You can’t beat the atmosphere.
I have a blog post up one her.
I plan to go to Hammerdown BBQ in Aldie tomorrow, arrival at 11:30 am
I’d love to be joined by others
Tomorrow being Saturday April 27 (blush)
