After breakfast we checked out and headed north for Memphis. Lunch was just a few gas station snacks along the way, since there really wasn’t much between NOLA and Memphis. We got checked into our suite at the Holiday Inn at Memphis University, (a really good hotel and quite affordable) and prepared for dinner. Last time we tried to eat at Central Barbecue there were lines outside the building. This time we had no problems getting in, getting a table and having their ‘Que.

 

My wife and daughter had the 1/2 slab rib plate and my son had the brisket. I had the Combo Plate Ribs, with pulled pork and brisket, sided with beans and greens. The pulled pork was great. Light and tasty, it went really well with their mustard sauce. I recommend it highly! The brisket was no great shakes and was a bit tough. Not very flavourful, either. The ribs were nice and meaty and well smoked. I got them half and half (half dry/half sauced). The only issue I really had with the ribs, which were pretty good, was that their rub was far too hot on the spicy scale. It certainly triggered my daughter’s spice reflex. Relying on heat rather than a usual Memphis style rub is a bit of a failing, for me. They were good ribs, mind you, just too far into the heat range. There are better ribs in Memphis. I’m glad we got to try Central BBQ, but it’s a one and off for me. The beans and greens were really great, though! I recommend them!

 

 

Next day, after coffee, hot chocolates and pastries at a nearby Starbucks (sorry, WJ. We’re fans) it was off to the zoo. We had missed the zoo in NOLA but my wife and I wouldn’t miss our childhood favourite zoo, this time, (she’s from Memphis and I used to live up the road in Millington).