Places to Go:
Head for the South f
By Katy Walls Editor American Roads
Southerners love their BBQ! Here are a few of my favorites:
Calhoun’s is famous in East Tennessee for its BBQ ribs. When I visited their newest location in Oak Ridge, located on the greenway overlooking Melton Hill Lake, I had to sample their special. It was a pretty afternoon so we chose to dine at the fire pit area overlooking the lake. As an added treat, we got to watch spring training for the rowers, a popular competition here. My ribs came with a generous helping of baked beans and fried apples. The sauce was a nice combination of sweet and spicy. The ribs were cooked to perfection and fell off the bone. The desserts were equally delicious; choices were Strawberry Shortcake or Chocolate Cake topped with ice cream. The first Calhoun’s opened in west Knoxville in 1982. Soon they headed for The National Rib Cook-Off in Cleveland, Ohio and came away with top honors, a first place ribbon and the right to call their ribs the “Best Ribs in
masters. Her sauce is her specialty
Caloun’s Special of the day: BBQ Ribs, baked beans and fried apples, above. Enjoyed outdoors at the fire pit area, left.
America.” They continue to do ribs and BBQ very successfully as the Oak Ridge location is their ninth location.
Helen’s BBQ in Brownsville,
Tennessee is on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to showy location but her ribs stand tall and proud; some the best in the South. Helen can prove this by being named on Southern Living’s Barbeque hot list. She has received numerous other honors for those tender juicy ribs drenched in her secret sauce. Helen Turner one of just a few women pit
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she does a sweet version and a hot one. “It’s not written out just in my head.” Helen’s BBQ Joint is small so when we visited she set up a tent in front for our group. She took us back into her screen porch smoke room. It made my eyes water but Helen just kept stirring her fire and checking her meat. She cooks shoulder whole and then she can slice or pull it depending on what the customer