Jackson's and Smithfield's

collards, yams and fried okra

bbq plate

Brandon with bbq sandwich - slaw included

With a limited time schedule, Sarah and I had to start eating BBQ fast. Hungry or not! In between Joan's chili, Grandma's breakfast (pork chops, eggs, sausage, toast,  grits, orange juice, and don't forget the chocolate milk), and Deb's hotel pan of lasagna we had to complete our mission. After breakfast, we headed over to Jackson's Big Oak BBQ. It's been in its current location since 1984. However, it's legacy begins with  the legendary Skinner and Daniels in the 1940's. Jackson's is owned by a grandson, and he continues the BBQ tradition in his own restaurant in Wilmington. This Carolina style BBQ house is classic. You can feed a family of five, like we did yesterday, for around thirty bucks. The texture was perfect though we did need a little sauce. I like mine a little spicy. This one had baskets of hush puppies for the table to share and tender sweet collards.

Right after eating BBQ at Jackson's, we were fortunate enough to pass a Smithfields. Smithfields is an old BBQ name, but they have modernized and formed a little chain. So, for atmosphere in this particular new outpost they don't get many points.  However, I am willing to give the food a chance. I was glad to see the smoke stacks on the new roof even though it looked like a McDonald's. There just might be some cooking going on here after all! Since we had only eaten about ten minutes before we just ordered a small BBQ plate to share. Classic BBQ plate: BBQ and slaw; nothing else. This pulled pork had a nice strong flavor, no sauce needed. But the slaw was not to my taste. Too "mayonaissey", too stringy, and not much flavor. In their favor though, they did have a sink by the entryway which is a classic southern tradition. It allows you to quickly wash up before and after those messy ribs and sandwiches. That old-fashioned touch does make me smile.
As part  of the afternoon, we stopped in at my #2 dad's house to see my brother and his kids. Sarah and the children enjoying kayaking in his backyard. I, on the other hand, grabbed Ira's last Pabst Blue Ribbon. It only could had been better if I had been eating BBQ with it. But, my dear reader, classic southern BBQ houses and liquor licenses don't usually appear together.