1-24-2013 Smokin Mo's

First of all, I'm at a loss on how to start this. For all practical intents and purposes the BBQ Hunter has been put out to pasture. I could make all kinds of excuses for the laziness I've felt over the last 4 1/2 years (EGADS......yes, I am that lazy!) but the bottom line is that health (diabetes) and running out of things to say has got the better of me. The person you can blame for this blog entry (WOOKIE) requested it as a personal favor that I write about todays experience.

 

It all started with some idle chit chat on Facebook and I threw down the gauntlet, "What? Smokin Mo's?". Sure he said, I'll be there in an hour. 1hour 15 minutes later, Wookie and I sauntered in the front door for a great lunch. I asked the waitress if Tom or Mo were in and the answer was yes. Tell 'em the BBQ Hunter is here. In no time flat out comes Tom. It was very good to see him again. Frankly, the whole time he was out at the golf course was a sad time for the city of Shelton and for the BBQ Hunter. I went out there twice and it was......well....lets just say it was disappointing, at the very best. It had to have been hard to run a BBQ joint out in yuppyville. I can picture Ted Knight, as the judge on Caddy Shack, saying "We don't serve BBQ in Bushwood".

 

Taste: When Tom asked me what I wanted I said surprise me. Wookie changed his mind from the brisket plate to a 2nd order of surprise. "You hungry?" Tom asked. Fair to middlin' I said. Minutes later he brings out 2 heaping platters of food. I hope I can remember all it right. Pork ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, cold slaw, beans, black eyed pea salad, mac & cheese, corn bread and 4 different kinds of sauce. Wow, maybe I have to reconsider not having anything left to praise Smokin Mo's about. The chicken was smoky and moist, the ribs were falling off the bone and seasoned to near perfection, the pulled pork and brisket were tender and kissed with the right amount of pit smoke. If I had to say anything bad about it, maybe I could put forward the claim that the brisket was ever so slightly, itsy bitsy, dry. But, that would be nit-picking because a small drop or two of sauce and it was as close to moo nirvana as it could be. The black eyed pea salad was incredible, with just the right amount of heat. I all but ignored the rest of the sides because I was too busy being a carnivore. Gonna give you 9 stars for todays effort.

 

Value: Just south of $40 for all of this. WHAT!!!!!! you say. 40 bucks for lunch, you gotta be outta you mind! Nope, I'm not. If you have read my entire blog you will know that good BBQ is a labor of love. Its not the McRib, its not a plate of prepackaged crap you buy from WalMart. Its what is served here and its not 2nd best. 2 Andrew Jacksons for this mountain of food was worth every penny. 10 stars.

 

Staff: What can I say? Seeing Tom again and his exuberance about the restaurant. His story about the Chamber of Commerce welcoming Smokin Mo's back (to a standing ovation I believe). Nothing less than 10 stars would be a crime.

 

Ambiance: I gotta give Tom and Mo a lot of credit here. They took a old bank (the building is on the historical register), scraped up an old carpet, put some pigs on the ceiling and created a nice place. They even had a bucket of peanuts on each table. Other than that it was pretty plain.  You get 7 stars for the blank canvas you have to work with.

 

Friends: I would and I most certainly will do my best to promote Smokin Mo's. I hope that you will too. 9 stars.

 

Overall Smokin Mo's gets a must deserved 9 stars out of 10 for today. Its good to have another choice for local dining. Its great to see Tom again (you have been missed). Its great to have Smokin Mo's back! Welcome back you two. Keep up the good work.