Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. Been busy here at BOLC II. (Basic Officer Leader Course) It is a course that the Army makes all LTs of all commissioning sources, regardless of branch (Infantry, Intelligence, Medical, etc.) go through to get a baseline of knowledge. In theory it is a good idea. But the course is being cancelled and I am in the third to last cycle in the history of the army. It is out here in Fort Sill, OK. I drove out here from Ft. Knox. I stopped in Memphis for a night, funny story which I will tell in a sec.
If driving through West Virginia looks like this? /\_/\/\/\_/\ = very mountainous. Driving through Oklahoma and Arkansas looks like this ____________________. Flat. Kind of boring. I got the feeling when I was driving through Arkansas that people pass through there, and aren’t from there. And then for about 45 minutes I began thinking why are Kansas and Arkansas pronounced differently? Shouldn’t it either be “Can-Saw” for Kansas if Arkansas is correct or “Are-Can-Sas” for Arkansas if Kansas is correct? Weird. It was so flat in Arkansas that I could see the welcome to Oklahoma sign the moment I got into the state. No not really, but close. I could definitely see Little Rock from about 100 miles away.
On the way out there I stopped in Memphis TN. A place I had heard a lot about and seen several things on the Food Network about. I had to check it out. My mother’s Deli is famous for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, which is a Carolina style BBQ. Memphis style BBQ is a dry rub seasoned rib which is slow cooked. I thought I would give it a shot.
When I got into the city I found a parking garage and asked the kid at the garage, “Where is a good place to grab a bite around here?” He replied, “You lookin’ for dry rub ribs? Right ‘der is where you gotta be. Rendezvous.” He pointed down an alley about 300 feet to a little hole in the wall restaurant. I thought to myself that this place looks pretty local and is probably good. But being my first time in Memphis I didn’t want to be that tourist that walks in and gets shunned by a totally local crowd. So I walked down to where all the action was in the city, Meade Street I believe it was called. Walked around saw some cool things and then headed back. Everything else looked over the top commercialized so I thought Rendezvous would be good.
I walked in the door and an older black gentleman greets me. “What can I do for you tonight, partner?” I replied, “Looking for some dinner, heard this place was the place to be.”
“People meeting you here?” he asked. “Nope, just passing through” I answered as honest as I was I think he was skeptical. “Table for One?” he questioned. I immediately saw the irony in requesting a table for one at a restaurant called ‘Rendezvous’ “Alrighty then partner, follow me there might be a seat at the bar.”
No dice. Bar was full. Mostly of couples. I was given a small table, with three seats; I put my sweatshirt in one and took the other one. I put my sweatshirt in one to distract those passing by; I wanted them to think at first glance my partner for the evening had gone to the restroom or something. I thought this was a good plan until I realized that when there is one glass of beer and one plate of food in front of me my ruse would be compromised. Oh well. Luckily after I got my menu two seats at the bar opened up and the bartender called to me, “waiting for anyone?” “Nope, can I sit up there?” “Sure, friend come on up.”
I moved to the bar and planted myself. I began looking at the menu, until the guys next to me, face covered in BBQ, and fingers drenched in dry rub says, “Full order and a beer.”
“What’s that?” I asked not sure if he was talking to me. “That’s all you need to know man. I have been coming here since I was 6. Get a beer, and a full order of ribs. Can’t go wrong.”
“What kind of beer do they have?”
“I don’t know, Amsteel light? Bud Light? It doesn’t matter, the ribs have the taste and the beer isn’t good enough to outdo them.”
When the bartender came back I said “beer and a full order please.” The bartender knew and said got it before I finished the word ‘full’.
My order came and I ate it. It was pretty good I must say. Definitely a dish I am glad I had. I went back and found a motel room and turned in for the night. Woke up early and drove on for Oklahoma. Just a quick little story about getting a table for one at a place called ‘Rendezvous.’
If driving through West Virginia looks like this? /\_/\/\/\_/\ = very mountainous. Driving through Oklahoma and Arkansas looks like this ____________________. Flat. Kind of boring. I got the feeling when I was driving through Arkansas that people pass through there, and aren’t from there. And then for about 45 minutes I began thinking why are Kansas and Arkansas pronounced differently? Shouldn’t it either be “Can-Saw” for Kansas if Arkansas is correct or “Are-Can-Sas” for Arkansas if Kansas is correct? Weird. It was so flat in Arkansas that I could see the welcome to Oklahoma sign the moment I got into the state. No not really, but close. I could definitely see Little Rock from about 100 miles away.
On the way out there I stopped in Memphis TN. A place I had heard a lot about and seen several things on the Food Network about. I had to check it out. My mother’s Deli is famous for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, which is a Carolina style BBQ. Memphis style BBQ is a dry rub seasoned rib which is slow cooked. I thought I would give it a shot.
When I got into the city I found a parking garage and asked the kid at the garage, “Where is a good place to grab a bite around here?” He replied, “You lookin’ for dry rub ribs? Right ‘der is where you gotta be. Rendezvous.” He pointed down an alley about 300 feet to a little hole in the wall restaurant. I thought to myself that this place looks pretty local and is probably good. But being my first time in Memphis I didn’t want to be that tourist that walks in and gets shunned by a totally local crowd. So I walked down to where all the action was in the city, Meade Street I believe it was called. Walked around saw some cool things and then headed back. Everything else looked over the top commercialized so I thought Rendezvous would be good.
I walked in the door and an older black gentleman greets me. “What can I do for you tonight, partner?” I replied, “Looking for some dinner, heard this place was the place to be.”
“People meeting you here?” he asked. “Nope, just passing through” I answered as honest as I was I think he was skeptical. “Table for One?” he questioned. I immediately saw the irony in requesting a table for one at a restaurant called ‘Rendezvous’ “Alrighty then partner, follow me there might be a seat at the bar.”
No dice. Bar was full. Mostly of couples. I was given a small table, with three seats; I put my sweatshirt in one and took the other one. I put my sweatshirt in one to distract those passing by; I wanted them to think at first glance my partner for the evening had gone to the restroom or something. I thought this was a good plan until I realized that when there is one glass of beer and one plate of food in front of me my ruse would be compromised. Oh well. Luckily after I got my menu two seats at the bar opened up and the bartender called to me, “waiting for anyone?” “Nope, can I sit up there?” “Sure, friend come on up.”
I moved to the bar and planted myself. I began looking at the menu, until the guys next to me, face covered in BBQ, and fingers drenched in dry rub says, “Full order and a beer.”
“What’s that?” I asked not sure if he was talking to me. “That’s all you need to know man. I have been coming here since I was 6. Get a beer, and a full order of ribs. Can’t go wrong.”
“What kind of beer do they have?”
“I don’t know, Amsteel light? Bud Light? It doesn’t matter, the ribs have the taste and the beer isn’t good enough to outdo them.”
When the bartender came back I said “beer and a full order please.” The bartender knew and said got it before I finished the word ‘full’.
My order came and I ate it. It was pretty good I must say. Definitely a dish I am glad I had. I went back and found a motel room and turned in for the night. Woke up early and drove on for Oklahoma. Just a quick little story about getting a table for one at a place called ‘Rendezvous.’
