Friday, October 7, 2011

Porky & Beth's BBQ/Bedner's Farm Fresh Market



Price: $
Atmosphere: 2 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5

I’m an equal opportunity restaurateur. I can slum it in the dives, hole-in-the-walls and grease pits. I also clean up real nice for the establishments (fancy word for ‘pricey eatery’) that require a jacket, tie, reservation and a third mortgage.

 Truth is, if the food is top notch, there is no pro or con to either type of food spot. Sometimes you need the homey feel of a small time restaurant, and sometimes it’s a special occasion and you want to play dress up.

Today’s subject is almost in a category of its own: The Food Truck. Although I’m pretty sure it lives on campus at the wonderful Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market in Boynton Beach, FL. (more on that in a minute), it’s still in that convenient portable design. You’ve seen them before: The lines outside a little window, with 1-3 people inside taking your order as you make new friends in line waiting for your meal to be fresh prepared.

In my opinion, food trucks are the Facebook of the world outdoors. Everyone’s waiting to eat and slowly but surely they begin to bond over their delicacies to come, discussing their order and what they love about this place. And Porky & Beth’s BBQ has plenty to love I assure you.

My wife and I went to Bedner’s one day with a friend to do some shopping. If you’ve never been, then shame on you for eating less-than-the-freshest produce and paying twice as much for it through chain grocery stores. Bedner’s has it all: Homemade ice cream, freshly made pickles, just-picked herbs, unique fruits (I’ve had the blackberry plums and mango nectarines; both are delectable) and when in season, a U-Pick strawberry farm. During the fall, they deck the place out with haunted houses, pumpkin patch rides (and by that rationale, a U-Pick pumpkin patch).

Ok, so why bring this up, you ask? I thought this was about the ‘Que? My friends, I’m getting there, but you need to understand one to appreciate the other.

Porky & Beth’s uses (the day I was there, at least) a nice cut of hickory wood to perfectly smoke their meats. I ordered the rack of ribs with cole slaw and baked beans, and my wife had the chicken and sweet corn. Since it’s my blog, well…me first.

The ribs were fall-off-the-bone material, with that beautiful smoke ring encompassing each tasty one. Very lighty sauced, and as I’m a big sauce person I can say honestly that the way they were served up was just the right amount.

The baked beans were nicely done as well, with those notes of brown sugar coming through every other bite, as almost to switch up your taste buds. The cole slaw wasn’t the sweet processed stuff you buy at the commercial stores, and here’s why: That market we talked about? Yeah. Fresh, on-the-premises ingredients.  It was a lovely, creamy slaw with raisins thrown in the mix for that sweetness this side dish requires. It was crunchy, it was delicate, it was refreshing.

Now my wife’s chicken had that beautiful pink color you get from a perfect smoke, and it remained juicy all the way through. The corn…oh my. I’m sure you’ve had sweet corn before, but let me tell you: This was like nothing else. It didn’t need a thing. Straight out the husk, smoked a little, and have at it. It tasted naturally buttered, and I thought about getting a few for the road (we did go back in and buy a few for the house however).

The best part of all this? The smoke stays on your fingers for hours. The drive home was like being in a car made of that killer ‘Que, and it followed me in the house. Bedner’s is worth the trip regardless, but the on-location BBQ they’re cranking out is no joke either. And hey, while you wait you can even get your car washed.

So pack up the family and head down to Bedner’s, and hop on line for Porky & Beth’s BBQ. It’s truly just a nice day outdoors, and you’ll definitely remember the meal.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.