Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Smoking Steve's - Scott
A few notes right out of the gate; Gregg takes a great photo, he comes across as vibrant, youthful and happy most every time. Second, Dan is a professional and never messes himself. So much so he wears the nicest, sharpest dress shirt to every dinner club, even if it's finger-lickin'. Well done, both of you.
Ok, it was my turn to pick for Dinner Club this time and I had some making up to do. Some of my previous picks were Johnny P's (just ok) and Elmers (ok). I'm a food guy and expect much more from myself. For this round, I chose a venue right in my backyard. Smokin' Steve's BBQ Joint started life as a catering company that eventually opened as a storefront operation with very limited hours (lunch only on weekdays). Their success has compounded and now it's a regular restaurant with normal hours. Now we have a few BBQ spots in Simi, good ones at that, but this is a true blue honest-injun smoker place, not the grilled/sauced variety (there is a big difference). Not sure if you can make it out in the photos but they have a huge, almost walk-in size, smoker behind the counter. You can taste the air when you walk through the door, it's .
Elise and I have tried Steve's before on a to-go basis so we had a good idea of the quality. The meats are tender, flavorful and everything is freshly prepared. They've got all the Southern favorites and we tried a smattering of each: Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs and even some Tri-Tip. These guys make their own sauces right there in house and deal the whole mess up on pie tins in hearty portions. There was good smokey flavor in every bite and it's safe to say we all enjoyed our meals. Some of the side dished included Collared Greens w/ Bacon, Mac n Cheese, Tri-Tip Chili and over-achieving Baked Beans. I'd have been fine with just my sandwich (Pulled Pork served Memphis Style with the cole slaw on top) but managed to take down some of the Ribs and Brisket too. About the only thing we didn't try was the Sweet Tea but if you're into that, I'm sure it's good. These guys have done their homework and have true Southern Q down to a science. I hit one out of the park with this pick, people. It meets the high standard of what our Dinner Club is all about.
ps An expansion into next door, a liquor license and Beef Ribs are in the works to make this place even better.`
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