I stand corrected. It was Bob Evans- but smells just as good under any name…

"BOB EVANS" there in New Car., PA. Mr. SeafarerJohn … an Ohio Company(Jackson,O.)that’s been doing swell since they started out there in that very small town doing sausage’n eggs Breakfast as there Signiture Item. Now known famously as "Bob Evans Farms", located on 100’s of acres, and a tourist attraction, the Patriarch began in the pork business many years ago. It was his son who grew the business to what it is today…with nearly 200 locations mainly in the midwest. They give like-minded competitors a "run for their money" in all segments of the Restaurant Business…Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner. Yep__, I’m from Ohio,and still here. (…had a date, once, with one of the Evan’s clan; TGI Fridays l975 – Columbus, O.)

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Spent a few days last week in the Ashville, NC area and ate a a couple of places that are worth a mention.

First, i wanted to get to the BBQ Inn in Ashville and to get up to Lexington for their famous BBQ, but things just did not work out.

We had very good chopped pork sandwiches at Boni’s in Black Mountain. They smoke the butts right behind the restaurant with wood- we watched them firing it up. Our sandwiches were a nice mix of outside brown bits and succulent inside white. They serve four suaces with the pork:their "original" dark brown with a lot of mustard, a more vinegary sauce, a heavy tomato sauce, and a hot sauce. I thought they were all good, but preferrd the mustard. It is part of a regional chain, the service was good and friendly, and the dining room comfortable.

We had fried catfish and trout at the Coach House in Black Mountain.
I , at last, again connected with whole fried catfish – they were super along with a baked sweet potato and cole slaw. The place is a bit of a joint, the service started off a litttle rocky but improved as the meal progressed, and we enjoyed the meal.

Driving home we stopped at the BBQ Ranch in North Harrisonburg,VA.
It is a local joint, very busy, excellent service, friendly staff ( apeared to be an all female operation) and good BBQ. TheQ was almost ground to a fine texture and served with only one sauce – a quite hot one. It was a bit too hot for my wife, and I thought it overpowered the flavor of the pork. But I would definitely go back if we find ourselves in that neighborhood again.

Near Carlisle, PA we had lunch at a Bob Edwards. I’ve seen them all over the South, but never tried their food. I was pleasntly surprised with a "skillet" that was an open omelet filled with sausage, home fries, and country gravy. Very good, good service and a comfortable dining room.

Anytime.

There are alot of places in South Central. I bought mine at "Sweet Daddy’s". It is a hole in the wall on Century Boulevard a little East of Hollywood Park Casino and Racetrack, but West of the freeway. It is on the South side of the street, and there will be 4 or 5 BBQs out on the sidewalk to lure you in. There are 3 sizes. I bought the middle size, which was $130 but now I wish I’d gotten the large one.

I recommend you make a day of it. Go to Bertha’s Soul Food at 1714 West Century (closed on Tuesdays). They are so friendly, and the food is so intense that you may feel like all other soul food up until that point was just a pale imitation. If you are adventurous, they have chittlins, neckbones, and oxtails, which you don’t see much in L.A. But I HIGHLY recommend the pork chops. They can direct you to Sweet Daddy’s.

Sweet Daddy’s only takes cash, and you’ll need to bring your own blankets or tarps and ropes. Also, don’t be disconcerted that the salesman/cashier is like 8 years old…Sweet Daddy only comes out to help you load and give you instructions.