Every couple of years or so some buddies and I pick out some part of the USA
to do a Baseball & BBQ pilgramage. Usually we go to areas where there is an
abundance of good BBQ and we go to mostly minor league baseball games (though
sometimes major league if there is a major league team near good BBQ --
Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston being the examples for us on
previous trips I can remember off-hand). Needless to say, these trips are a
blast for us! (Also, needless to say, we've got very understanding wives!)

This year, for the first time, we are going to take in spring training games
in Florida. We'll be ranging from Sarasota to Orlando for games over a 4-day
period in March. With most of our previous trips, we've been well-stocked
with tips on BBQ places through books like "Real Barbecue" (our Bible), books
specific to different states (NC, TX, GA for example), and other books. But
I haven't been able to find too much in the way of print information about
Florida BBQ places.

So I'd appreciate any tips you might have about good BBQ places in Central
Florida. Address and/or phone number information for recommended places
would be extra appreciated.

TIA!
Mike

> wrote in message
st.giganews.com...
> Every couple of years or so some buddies and I pick out some part of the
USA
> to do a Baseball & BBQ pilgramage. Usually we go to areas where there is
an
> abundance of good BBQ and we go to mostly minor league baseball games
(though
> sometimes major league if there is a major league team near good BBQ --
> Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston being the examples for us on
> previous trips I can remember off-hand). Needless to say, these trips are
a
> blast for us! (Also, needless to say, we've got very understanding
wives!)
>
> This year, for the first time, we are going to take in spring training
games
> in Florida. We'll be ranging from Sarasota to Orlando for games over a
4-day
> period in March. With most of our previous trips, we've been well-stocked
> with tips on BBQ places through books like "Real Barbecue" (our Bible),
books
> specific to different states (NC, TX, GA for example), and other books.
But
> I haven't been able to find too much in the way of print information about
> Florida BBQ places.
>
> So I'd appreciate any tips you might have about good BBQ places in Central
> Florida. Address and/or phone number information for recommended places
> would be extra appreciated.

Mike,
Here's a link to the Florida BBQ Association's website. There are bbq
contests every weekend in March. There's also a page with BBQ Joints in
Florida. Enjoy!
http://www.flbbq.org
[Florida BBQ Association]

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 14:58:18 -0500, wrote:

>So I'd appreciate any tips you might have about good BBQ places in Central
>Florida. Address and/or phone number information for recommended places
>would be extra appreciated.
>
>TIA!
>Mike

Here are a couple of great non barbecue places in St. Cloud and
Kissimmee. Neither are tourist places. I have a vacation home in St.
Cloud and enjoy both of these places when visiting. Both are casual
dress and relatively inexpensive.

The Catfish Place
2324 13th Street
St. Cloud, FL 34769
(407) 892-5771
Outstanding catfish, great hush puppies, onion rings, and coleslaw.
Well worth the visit for lunch or dinner. Also have turtle, frog legs,
perch, and gator, etc.

Pounder's Fresh Fish
1213 N. Central Ave
Kissimmee, FL 34741
(407) 846-8980
Is like a Maine lobster joint. Great seafood, sort of rustic, not
fancy, fresh fish cooked to order in whatever way you want.
Inexpensive. I think they are only open for lunch.


Bruce

On 21-Feb-2004, wrote:

> So I'd appreciate any tips you might have about good BBQ places in Central
>
> Florida. Address and/or phone number information for recommended places
> would be extra appreciated.
>
> TIA!
> Mike

Alright. Tampa is the winter home of the Yankees. Their stadium is right
across
from the Buccaneers(sp) stadium (Raymond James Stadium) North Dale Mabry
Hwy.
Have to try is First Choice Southern Bar-B-Cue at 10113 Adamo Dr Ea,
(813-621-7434)
and Robert's Meat Co, Inc. 3435 S. Westshore Blvd. (813) 832-3584. Real
wood, real
smoke, real meat.

M&M
--
M&M ("The most remarkable thing about my mother
is that for thirty years she served the family nothing
but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."
Sam Levinson)

As a Central Florida native and barbecue lover, I would like to make
a few suggestions. The reason you're having difficulty finding
references to good Florida barbecue is because it's a rarity.

First, keep in mind that good barbecue is rather scarce in Central
Florida. Probably because so much of the state is populated by
f*$#ing yankees and immigrants (although all f&^%ing yankees are by
definition immigrants, but that's a different topic entirely).

Second, for many people in the Central Florida area, mass marketed,
chain franchise, corporate-que is all they know because they've not
been exposed to good 'que. When places like Smokey Bones can sell
sauce covered drek and make money off of it, you know you're in for a
hard time.

That being said, there are a few within driving of Orlando that do
'que well.

1. Charlie and Jakes located in Suntree. Just north of Melbourne
and a short hop to Vero Beach (Dodgers).

2. Jack in Minneola. A short drive from the Braves camp in Orlando.

3. Kings Taste in Eustis. About an hour north of Braves camp.


On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 14:58:18 -0500, wrote:

>Every couple of years or so some buddies and I pick out some part of the USA
>to do a Baseball & BBQ pilgramage. Usually we go to areas where there is an
>abundance of good BBQ and we go to mostly minor league baseball games (though
>sometimes major league if there is a major league team near good BBQ --
>Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston being the examples for us on
>previous trips I can remember off-hand). Needless to say, these trips are a
>blast for us! (Also, needless to say, we've got very understanding wives!)
>
>This year, for the first time, we are going to take in spring training games
>in Florida. We'll be ranging from Sarasota to Orlando for games over a 4-day
>period in March. With most of our previous trips, we've been well-stocked
>with tips on BBQ places through books like "Real Barbecue" (our Bible), books
>specific to different states (NC, TX, GA for example), and other books. But
>I haven't been able to find too much in the way of print information about
>Florida BBQ places.
>
>So I'd appreciate any tips you might have about good BBQ places in Central
>Florida. Address and/or phone number information for recommended places
>would be extra appreciated.
>
>TIA!
>Mike

Hungry Harry's

3116 Land O Lakes Blvd
Land O Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 949-2025

Best Q in the Tampa area.

BKahuna wrote:
> As a Central Florida native and barbecue lover, I would like to make
> a few suggestions. The reason you're having difficulty finding
> references to good Florida barbecue is because it's a rarity.

True.

>
> First, keep in mind that good barbecue is rather scarce in Central
> Florida. Probably because so much of the state is populated by
> f*$#ing yankees and immigrants (although all f&^%ing yankees are by
> definition immigrants, but that's a different topic entirely).

LOL! I'd never have thought to put it that way.
>
> Second, for many people in the Central Florida area, mass marketed,
> chain franchise, corporate-que is all they know because they've not
> been exposed to good 'que. When places like Smokey Bones can sell
> sauce covered drek and make money off of it, you know you're in for a
> hard time.

Smokey Bones...boil all the taste out of the ribs, bake in sauce. MMMMmmm (NOT)
>
> That being said, there are a few within driving of Orlando that do
> 'que well.
>
> 1. Charlie and Jakes located in Suntree. Just north of Melbourne
> and a short hop to Vero Beach (Dodgers).

Personally, I like Charlie and Jakes in Indian Harbour Beach better. Maybe it's
because I go there with my Dad, and he's a regular and the service is better.
But yes! BOTH Charlie and Jake's in the Melbourne area. (Why do I always
forget about them?)
>
> 2. Jack in Minneola. A short drive from the Braves camp in Orlando.
>
> 3. Kings Taste in Eustis. About an hour north of Braves camp.
>
>

Don't forget all four Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ locations in the Orlando area.

North towards Ocala, in MacIntosh, don't forget about Big Jim's Place.

BOB

"BKahuna" > wrote in message
...
>
> First, keep in mind that good barbecue is rather scarce in Central
> Florida. Probably because so much of the state is populated by
> f*$#ing yankees and immigrants (although all f&^%ing yankees are by
> definition immigrants, but that's a different topic entirely).
>

Hey, bigot, back to the swamps.

pavane

BOB wrote:
> North towards Ocala, in MacIntosh, don't forget about Big Jim's Place.

Yup... don't get no better.

How did I forget to mention Bubbalous?!?!?!

The one on Lee road is awesome. I'm gonna have to head there this
weekend to pay for my sin of omission!.

I think I like the Charlie and Jakes in Suntree better because of the
microbrewery and because it's a closer to my house.

But yet, Bubbalou's, and I thing the old original one, is probably the
best in Orlando proper.

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 01:28:40 GMT, "pavane"
> wrote:

>
>"BKahuna" > wrote in message
.. .
>>
>> First, keep in mind that good barbecue is rather scarce in Central
>> Florida. Probably because so much of the state is populated by
>> f*$#ing yankees and immigrants (although all f&^%ing yankees are by
>> definition immigrants, but that's a different topic entirely).
>>
>
>Hey, bigot, back to the swamps.
>
>pavane
>


Swamps are nice. Got pigs in the swamp. Ain't no almondine
foo-foo citified food.

But with all due respect, them yankees sure know how to sling a mean
quiche!

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question about Central FL BBQ joints.
Lots of good siggestions. The FL BBQ Association's list of BBQ joints is
also a big help. We won't go hungry, that's for sure!
Thanks.
Mike