The Shed (Hattiesburg, Ms)

Mississippi and I had a bad year when it came to barbecue. After a near death experience at Stricks, I vowed that Mississippi ain't a BBQ state. However, just recently I caught singer/songwriter Grayson Capps singing a song referencing 'The Shed' called 'Coconut Moonshine.' Any BBQ establishment that has a song written about them deserves a try.

Other than the fact that the spare ribs were all fat with a chewy bone served on a plate overflowing with over tangy "bbq" sauce, this place wasn't half bad. The baby backs were perfect, the sides were incredible, and they have live music. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that as of now... The Shed is the best place to get BBQ in Mississippi.


Side note: There is an interesting relationship between Mississippi and Louisiana. Both these states are always competing against each other to not have the worst public schools, worst cops, most obese state, most illiterate state, worst crime rate, etc... I feel that worst BBQ can be added to that rivalry list. The Shed definitely helps Mississippi put itself as the 49th best state for BBQ giving Louisiana an even 50th best (worse) state in the USA for BBQ.

The Shed should be proud as it does all of its Mississippi residents a service by pulling the slack for places like Stricks.



The Shed will be receiving a score of 4 out of 5 stars.



Here is a video clip of Grayson Capps singing 'Coconut Moonshine.'

Barbecue: A Texas Love Story (DVD Review)

My previous BBQ Blog entry was our inaugural book review by Dr. BBQ. I'm pleased to announce that this current blog entry will be our inaugural DVD review.

When I told my friends that I watched a BBQ documentary they all laughed. What they fail to realize is that there is a history, diversity, lineage, and culture behind the broad subject of BBQ. A BBQ documentary sounds just as absurd to any jazz musician as a jazz documentary is to a BBQ enthusiast. What my jazz musician friends also fail to realize is that more people like BBQ than Jazz music (I know that sounds sad but true).

This 45 minute DVD is narrated by no other than former Governor Ann Richards. The DVD takes us from Houston to Dallas to the BBQ belt of Central Texas. The highlights of this documentary are the interviews with Kinky Friedman, the UT BBQ students, and seeing some black owned BBQ establishments getting some press; I often find that Black owned BBQ establishments are often overlooked by a majority BBQ publications in Texas. The only downside to this documentary is how dramatic they try to make it at the end. I recommend this to DVD to every Texan or BBQ enthusiast.

Overall this documentary was inspiring and makes me proud to be from Texas.

Barbecue: A Texas Love Story will be receiving a 5 out of 5 stars.


Here is the trailer below.