Continued from previous post.

First up, how does Mayor Al spell BBQ?

I usually spell BBQ ” Barbecue”.

Like most of us, picking one favorite just isn’t possible, but Mayor Al likes Moonlight Bar-B-Q Inn in Owensboro because of it’s closeness to home and it’s a great place to take visitors, or just visit when the urge for Mutton or Burgoo attacks.

There are a number of good BBQ stands in the Louisville Metro Area that we enjoy. Out of this area I would Place the Kansas City BBQ Community, and the BBQ Belt around the Austin Texas area at the top of my “Best BBQ” list. Memphis and the Carolinas are there too…but further down our list.

Mayor Al isn’t averse to searching out new Q either. Last year he went to Mobile, AL and found the Brick Pit and he gives their BBQ high marks.

Is Mayor Al an expert when it comes to barbecue? He says no, others (me) probably disagree.

I do smoke my own Pork and Beef at times, and love to sample various kinds, types, and styles of Barbecue from around the country. I like ‘Outside Chunkie’ Pork as opposed to finely chopped pork that one finds in many Carolina Barbecue locations. I do NOT care for the Yellow Mustard sauces used in some Carolina BBQ. I guess you could say I know what I like and what I don’t care for and will go quite a distance (to Texas) to find some good BBQ now and then!

Find yourself wanting to hang out with Mayor Al and other Roadfoodies? Try joining the Roadfood Glee Club. This is an informal group that meets over President’s Day weekend in an area warmer than Louisville and known for it’s BBQ. The Roadfood Glee Club has met in Memphis, Austin, Mobile, and Charleston is on the agenda for 2010. The Roadfood Glee Club even allows some seafood to sneak into their gullets on these trips.

Roadfood.com fans pass through Louisville on a monthly basis, and Mayor Al likes to treat them to local favorites: Lynn’s Paradise Cafe, Genny’s Diner, Bootleg BBQ, Ollie’s Trolley, Rocky’s Italian Grill, Moonlite BBQ, Claudia Sander’s Dinner House, and several others. Louisville has NO shortage of good food available !

Mayor Al likes to keep his Kentucky Q quest focused in the area along the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Paducah and the area between I-75 and I-64…

Mayor Al has made the round of barbecue competitions and isn’t a big fan. He says they are great for the competitors, but have little to offer the observers. He’s been to Memphis in May, International Barbeque Festival, W C Handy Blues and BBQ Festival and the Madison (IN) Ribberfest.

We won’t go back to the Memphis show. It is huge and there is very little for the casual observer to do. The competitors have a wonderful time, but the observers are not involved. Owensboro is a busy place, but actual eating of BBQ is limited to a small area with a huge crowd. Not a fun thing for us. We go to the Henderson KY Blues and BBQ festival every Year!! We buy BBQ from the vendors (not bothering to go on the competition days) then sit in the city park enjoying the free concerts and eating some good local BBQ!

The Madison Indiana Ribberfest is a pretty good competition. In addition to the ‘Big-Team’ cookoff there is an area for locals and amateurs to do their BBQ Magic. These ‘Backyarder’ must be willing to give-out samples as part of the low-level competition. It is a real fun time to talk to the teams and sample their BBQ, then enjoy the evening musical event. Usually held in August it is a real good BBQ Outing!

Does Mayor Al like all the cooking shows on televison? Not really, except for the Travel Channel Paradise series and Anthony Bourdrain “No Reservations” he isn’t a fan of the short video segments and loud music and host chatter.

Mayor Al’s other love is watching and photographing railroad operations during his travels. His buddies in “elected” him Mayor of the Town of Cajon, a former railroad community in the middle of the Pass that bears it’s name. . At the Cajon Pass, near where he used to live in California, rail fans from all over the world visit to watch the intense activity.

Hence, since I am the Mayor, and since no-one lives there, I can never be voted out of office!
To this day we love to combine our roadtrips into dining experiences on or near points of rail activity, especially out West !

Roadfood.com is lucky to have Mayor Al and other volunteers who share their love of food and are willing to give their time to maintain forums like Roadfood.com.