Ah, southern comfort food. Slow cooked savory barbeque. No trip below the Mason-Dixon line can be called complete without a taste. So, on a recent adventure to South Carolina, my first meal (and first stop): BBQ for lunch.
even offered a bit of Margarita Madness...
I scheduled a lunch with an old friend Tamara and she recommended Jim N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, a centrally located restaurant on King Street. But, if I knew it was a chain restaurant with locations in six southern states (and even Colorado) I might have asked for a change of venue. Glad I didn’t know.
I tend to keep a few simple rules in restaurants with one being, “order the special or the specialty.” Here it was about the latter – the specialty. Big bold letters pointed my eyes and stomach to the “JNN original.” Decision made. The rest of the time waiting I looked over the menu simply for amusement.
Then when the waitress took my order I only had three main considerations with the original; choice of meat – pulled pork, choice of side – “Mac the Cheese,” and what to drink – sweet tea. Yes, I ordered a southern style trifecta.
the original with one cheese biscuit on the plate.
My friend ordered a similar plate and the feast began. And although I did leave impressed with the sandwich, a sloppy, delicious, moist pork delicacy, bread left the biggest impression. Not the sourdough, but the cheese biscuits. These hush puppy style warm cheese goodness were simple, comforting and addicting. No surprise my friend’s doggie bag included the left over biscuits from our second serving. She said they were for her family, but I wonder if they ever made it home. I tend to doubt it.
Tip: Make sure you adjust your order to consider the cheese bread – biscuit. Apparently, it is a reason some people even choose to dine at Jim N Nick’s to begin with. And after one taste, I can see why. You will go back for another serving, or two…
Stay adventurous, Craig
This is the first installment of the Culture Through Cuisine – Restaurant Week Series. This is the first of five on Charleston. Bon Appetit!
