No matter how you spell it, barbecue, barbeque, BBQ, Bar-B-Q, Bar-B-Que, if you eat meat, it can be one of the finer things in life.  As with most things, there are various schools of thought about how it should be done.  If the Democrats and the Republicans can’t find one square inch of common ground on even trivial matters, how do you expect South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Missouri to agree on something as visceral as barbecue.  Furthermore, it is remarkable easy to do badly.

There is a tiny shop in Valley View Plaza in the Delta Center, Delta, Colorado that pays no attention to the debate, but fights mediocrity with every fiber of beef, pork and chicken they put out of the huge, competition-style smoker parked behind their building.  The Wilson Bar-B-Que and Bean Co. is one of those little places where the owner does much of the work, and closely oversees the rest.  A place where half the customers know, and are known by their first names.  A place where there is no such thing as mediocre food, or small portions.  If you want South Carolina, or Memphis style, this is not the place.  If you crave tender, moist, smoky meat, and the owner’s own special sauce, you will need to drive a long way from Delta, Colorado to find it anywhere else.  My wife, who is as opinionated as any barbecue aficionado, summed it up; “I think Famous Dave’s brisket is in trouble.”

Tags: bar-b-q, bar-b-que, barbecue, barbeque, BBQ