Y’all may have to bear with my long windedness (sure, that’s a word) here… but I have strong feelings and they need to come out.

Growing up in the South, there are a few things we love. One may automatically think sweet tea and biscuits but today we are talking about another part of our soul… BBQ. If your mind goes to a grill and burgers… get outta here. That’s grilling. Go find a chain that has shenanigans on the wall or commercials about having “the meats.” You are not worthy. Just kidding, but seriously bless your heart.

We have been searching for years to find a spot with amazing BBQ. Some have been ok, some have had decent pork, and some have just been downright soul crushing. Today my soul has been refreshed and BBQ has been redeemed! Praise the Lard! Where may you ask? A little place in Athens, Ga called Pulaski Heights BBQ. We have been eyeballing this place for a while but our kids are pretty much generic food snobs. If it’s not a cheeseburger and fries… they ruin our joy. Today we had time for a lunch date and I don’t think we really talked about anything other than the food. It was that good.

First impression, honestly made me a bit nervous because it seemed “too nice” to be good. You know what I mean if you have ever entered a joint where a screen door slams behind you and it just felt right. However, I then noticed a guy bring a white Kitchen Aid mixer out to the bar and knew something good was going to happen. Behind him, containers of sauce that was far from coming out of a box with a bar code. There was pride. There was sweat. There was experience. There was gold. Carolina Gold to be exact (one of their 4 sauces housed in glass bottles with hand written labels like you are part of a great experiment.) There was also a Kool Aid flavor of the day. Oh, yeah.

We decided to go for the ultimate test. We tried the things that are hard to master and easy to mess up. We shared a combo of pulled pork and brisket with some collards and mac & cheese. We practically licked the paper off of the metal trays.

First off, let’s visit the Mac. Solid side choice. Cheesy, creamy, not from a box and doesn’t tase like a block of processed cheese. Good. Comforting. Solid back up dancer to the meaty stars.

Next, collard greens. Folks, these are not something you just want to eat in hopes of riches in the coming year. They had flavor! The consistency was in itself money and they needed no extra pizazz- or even salt. However, being the sauce queen that I am I could not resist pouring on a little of their carefully crafted Spicy Vinegar sauce. In the vast world of culinary ideas- this was an excellent choice. Basically, just shut up and do it.

Now the stars. The meats! There are knives in their silverware, but I am really not sure why. The pulled pork is the perfect combination of bark and bite. Exactly what one would want in Dawg Country. Not dry or fatty, doesn’t even NEED sauce. You will WANT sauce though. It’s good stuffs. The brisket looked like a dream. A Smokey bark encrusted dream that I didn’t want to end. Cut so perfectly that you are better off tearing in like a bear because a fork takes too long. It took a long time to find, but this was worth the wait. This is a relationship that needs to last, Pulaski Heights is no one night stand. You will walk out that door with pride and accomplishment, sauce stains included.

This is the Homecoming Queen of smoked meats. You respect her.

Speaking of sauce stains, here is the line up that PHBBQ offers. I basically ended up mixing them all together in a hodgepodge tastebud tingling tincture. The Asian sauce made me wish I had a big, slurpy bowl of noodles- which I noticed is one of their daily specials. Count us in!

I could go on, but I don’t want to keep you from greatness any longer. You deserve more from your day- go get it! After all when they sell out, they slap a sign up and head home!

Cheers, Pulaski Heights BBQ! You deserve to be celebrated!

-C

PS. Practice this pose for plate protection and don’t be afraid to horse collar (or your preferred personal foul) anyone who tries to take your victory. The world is negative enough as it is.