Blues Brothers BBQ - Frederick, MD

Blues Brothers BBQ
5822 Urbana Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
Phone:(240) 674-5805
http://www.bluesbbqco.com/

Blues Brothers BBQ may be hard to find, but its worth the effort to get there. A food truck stuck in a back yard off of a main road in Frederick.  It's easy to miss.

They've got Memphis Pulled Pork (slow cooked in a tangy BBQ sauce), Carolina Pulled Pork (served with an apple vinegar sauce), Smoked Brisket, Pit Beef, Pit Ham, Grilled Chicken Salad, Breaded Buffalo Chicken, Baby Back Ribs and more.  In fact, the rest of it reads like a barkers menu at a state fair. Fried Pickles, Fried Mac & Cheese, Fried Donuts and multiple versions of a Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich with other fried things on it.  They also have fries, onion rings, collard greens, white & pink beans, hush puppies and more.

 I had the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich.

Now common with the Carolina style is to put the cole slaw right on the sandwich. It's not for everyone but they do it well here.  The pulled pork was clean and tasty.  The apple vinegar really pulled out the flavor of this sandwich.

So if you have the time to find it, I recommend it as they do make a good pulled pork sandwich.

Mission BBQ - Columbia, MD

Mission BBQ
6270 Columbia Crossing Cir
Columbia, MD 21045
http://mission-bbq.com/

Mission BBQ has a casual but clean barbecue dining experience with down home sides while displaying memorabilia that honors our military and first responders.  It's no coincidence that they opened their doors on Sept 11, 2011.  They maintain quality product, have seasonal changes to the menu and honor our national heroes every day.  They are a strong part of their community and both honor America with their BBQ and our protectors with their message.

   
Walking in you find a very positive energy with people busy and happy to work there and happy to enjoy the product of their craft.

There are plenty of options in their Meat Market with signature sides galore. The menu includes oak smoked brisket, pulled pork, lean & mean turkey, chicken, sausage (original, jalapeno & cheese), salmon, baby back ribs and spare ribs.  For sides there are mac & cheese, baked beans with brisket, green beans with bacon, cole slaw and french fries.  Don't forget to ask about their season sides and deserts.

I guess about the only thing on my sampler plate that wasn't meat or didn't have meat in it was the cornbread and it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't sneak a little pork in the somewhere.

While the sausage is firm and flavorful, the ribs are smokey bones of goodness and the pulled pork is mighty fine, I think it's the brisket that stands out.  Pulled from the fire at just the right time, it's tender yet doesn't fall apart and the smoke is not too heavy.  The baked beans and green beans are just what the doctor ordered and the cornbread is sweet crumbly perfection.



And I guarantee you that you won't leave because of a lack of sauce.  They have 7...yes 7 different barbecue sauces.  Texas Twang, Smokey Mountain, Memphis Belle, KC Classic, Bay-O-Que, Tipelo Honey Heat and their house NC Vinegar. Frankly if I have any criticism, it's that the offering of sauces is a bit over the top.  I don't find that any of them really stick out as outstanding. What it does do is tell me a lot about their research and barbecue cultural references just from the naming and locations of these sauces. 







While they are a chain, you can generally find a good lunch at Mission BBQ.  I definitely recommend stopping by and grabbing a plateful.  You'll be glad you did.