McClure's BBQ (2 Viewers)

[PinkydaPimp]

Tipsy, do you take CC? i will be in NOLA in about 2 weeks and plan to stop by Dante's for dinner, but also want to stop by for lunch.

Yep. See ya then!

great. i am looking forward to it!

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Brainstorm with me: How do I directly market to Tulane, Loyola, Ochsner, and the Corps of Engineers. Go

advertise in the free local rags/ student newspaper. All the kids read these in class when the are bored/at the coffee house etc, and they are pretty likley to be stoned too. Prolly a lot cheaper than the big boys, but will hit a lot of people who are too lazy to cook.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Or better yet send them invitations/gift certificates to come to you so they get the whole Family Style experience. College kids love free food...just gotta find the ones that will spread the word.

10% off w/ student id or "free rib or sweet tea etc  with order" type things are great. Maybe even something where you offer the coupon, but to get it they have to add you on FB/Twitter and can 2x the value of the coupon if they post/retweet something for the store while in line with a pic of the shop/food etc.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

mmmm smoked butter...

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

And the smoked butter we did yesterday is killing it on the brunch special today @ Dante's. Tasso studded sea scallops on a bed of smoked grits topped with a poached egg and a tomato basil cream sauce. The smoke is not overpowering and almost a sweet effect. oh ...and....WHO DAT!!!!

I a huge bbq fan, but aren't you going to miss tackling items like this to focus on fattening up the rednecks? I realize building a business is the ultimate goal and takes a whole different set of talents, but it sure seems like another set of talents will have to be put on the back burner.

I've never been a chef. I've cooked a little bit professionally, but mainly I have be a GM for the last 17 years or so (wow..time flies) and only had to cook in a pinch. The skill set I have used the most in my career is not cooking or being creative..it has been crunching numbers, keeping things running, and being able to talk with guests better than 99% of the chefs out there. It just so happens I am a fairly good recipe cook...I've perfected some things but I have NOT recreated the culinary world with anything of my own invention. I have great cooking instincts, a wine drinkers palate, and if my knife speed were faster I would be able to be a prep cook for any kitchen on the planet. I chose not to pursue cooking professionally mainly because unless you become a chef in a really big house, you will not make the money your labor is worth. But also I am not a "creator" of new dishes. I didn't come up with that dish yesterday, I just smoked the butter & milk for chef after they had a food meeting. And now...I get to use my talents on both ends. I've perfected what i am doing food wise so it doesn't give me an stroke every day. I now how to do all the other parts of running a restaurant including the non tax time accounting. I also am fully versed in being "the guy" @ the business and quite good at it when i want to be. But my best asset as a restauranteur is surrounding myself with quality people. Staff is what makes it all work. Hire the wrong people and its a pain in the butt. Hire ones you trust to help you, and don't work them to death or treat them like "the staff".Off to run another Dante's brunch. I cannot wait till I don't need to pick this shift up for cash again. As if a 72 hour week last week wasn't enough.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Now we are smoking some Venison as a test, as well as some pork belly, and back ribs (all for Dante's). Never let good smoke go to waste!

How did the Venison go? After enjoying some pulled pork that I smoked, a friend has asked me to smoke an Elk Roast for him. Any advice for smoking Venison/Elk/Etc.?

It was terrible. It was a shoulder or something...all muscle...like eating wookie steak (a little chewy)

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Another good review!

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Another good review!

"It's just some really, really, happy-making, good food.".

 

[regularguy]

Awesome stuff. Love reading the early AM tweets too when I wake up many hours later. We're hoping to make it down in April to check it out.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Reading all of these reviews gets me pumped for Friday

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Now we are smoking some Venison as a test, as well as some pork belly, and back ribs (all for Dante's). Never let good smoke go to waste!

How did the Venison go? After enjoying some pulled pork that I smoked, a friend has asked me to smoke an Elk Roast for him. Any advice for smoking Venison/Elk/Etc.?

It was terrible. It was a shoulder or something...all muscle...like eating wookie steak (a little chewy)

In college on of the guys in my frat killed a deer and cooked it up in steaks. They were all like eating hockey pucks imho. Apparently there is a trick to doing venison right (or that people who claim its done right like eating gamy/chewy meat)

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Another good review!

I'm bringing Tom over there on Monday- we both have the day off and I checked, Neil will be open and slinging the 'cue. Join us! We'll probably get there between noon and 12:30. It is going to be hard not to eat here every day for lunch.

awesome. I am jonesin' for some Q now. What a nice little reveiew (and you know that chick has 1000 FB friends/blog followers)



Living the Dream!

 

[Guster]

Another good review!

Sorry to hear that things aren't working out or you. Maybe next time Seriously though, your passion is obvious in this tread here and it's awesome to see things working out for you. I wish the best for you, your family and McClure's. Looking forward to the point where you branch out to mail-order BBQ. In the meantime, I'll be following along here and rooting for you

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

This is awesome btw.

There is something primal about sitting around the fire & slow cooking fatty animals that just speaks to me. I have to do this. I have been practicing my craft for a while now, and spent countless sleepless nights tending the fire and making all of my wife’s clothes smell like barbecue. One of my kids teachers told me they get hungry every time I drop them off…she actually said salivate….because of the new cologne I seem to be permanently wearing now. Even the inside of my car smells of smoke and pork fat….

And I couldn’t be any happier.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

at this comment.

Tell eric to start the testimonial section with this one.

the hard wood that neil uses to smoke his meats gave me some hard wood the moment I bit into one of his juicy, succulent, moist, toothsome smoke-kissed ribs. The meat had enough bounce back that it didn’t fall off the bone in a gooey mess nor did it stick between your teeth. Good thing he served it family style because I had about three rounds of savory bones in one of his five hand-crafted regional barbecue sauces. I spent half an hour debating the merits of his rare white sauce, only common to certain parts of Alabama, to his new orleans style sauce which had just that right abmount of seasoning and bite to make the sweet stuff even more sweet. The sides were no slackers either and I had to fight my tablemates for several. Forks were flying after they hit the table and stringy cheese was stretched to each of the four corners as our forks sunk into it and attempted to shovel as much in our direction as possible. Once I got those out of the way and had my first round of ribs I went back to mop up the puddle of sauces all now mixed deliciously together with a nice slice of dense cornbread which he thickens with sorgum molasses and browns just perfectly so that it is sturdy enough to do the job. Another round of ribs and i needed a little more tang this time so I moved on to some seriously crunchy delicious cole-slaw. Not too heavy and shredded to the perfect textural thickness. Before I went for my third round of ribs I took a deep breath and went for the brisket. The owner, Neil McClure looked over my shoulder intently nodding and smiling after seeing how much damage I had already done and said “Wait til you try the brisket”. Booooom It was the bomb! Smoke ring was evident, sliced to the right thickness to show just how good the quality of the meat was and the little layer of smoky fat they leave on top is…. well, words can’t describe it on a family website. It was the perfect foil for the fork tender, nicely spiced new potato salad and with the baked beans for a kicker If I hadn’t eaten a man vs. food. challenge portion already I would have got me two pieces of wonder bread slapped some brisket on there and slather it with my favorite sauce, toss on the remainer of the cole slaw and had me the best sammich ever! But there was still chicken to try. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Another good review!

Sorry to hear that things aren't working out or you. Maybe next time Seriously though, your passion is obvious in this tread here and it's awesome to see things working out for you. I wish the best for you, your family and McClure's. Looking forward to the point where you branch out to mail-order BBQ. In the meantime, I'll be following along here and rooting for you

The word is getting out. But I will have to do better than spending an average of 45 minutes per customer of my labor

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

at this comment.

Yeah...that is the former partner here @ Dante's and I have worked with him basically since I was 19.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Fwiw you should link all the reviews in a section on your site/homepage.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Another good review!

Sorry to hear that things aren't working out or you. Maybe next time Seriously though, your passion is obvious in this tread here and it's awesome to see things working out for you. I wish the best for you, your family and McClure's. Looking forward to the point where you branch out to mail-order BBQ. In the meantime, I'll be following along here and rooting for you

The word is getting out. But I will have to do better than spending an average of 45 minutes per customer of my labor

Just had an idea about the 'leftovers' issue. You should box up the daily leftovers in take out containers with a menu and just drop them at bars on your way home. If you get the bar tenders to love/crave the food they will tell the customers/tourists where to go. Plus it may start getting you more free drinks around town!

 

[glumpy]

Now we are smoking some Venison as a test, as well as some pork belly, and back ribs (all for Dante's). Never let good smoke go to waste!

How did the Venison go? After enjoying some pulled pork that I smoked, a friend has asked me to smoke an Elk Roast for him. Any advice for smoking Venison/Elk/Etc.?

It was terrible. It was a shoulder or something...all muscle...like eating wookie steak (a little chewy)

In college on of the guys in my frat killed a deer and cooked it up in steaks. They were all like eating hockey pucks imho. Apparently there is a trick to doing venison right (or that people who claim its done right like eating gamy/chewy meat)

Was going ask how that went. There's definitely a trick involved, because venison is total lean. My best ever was grilled. Once. Had an outside built in brick grill and had a really young deer shot by accident. Cooked it straight up, on applewood and charcoal. I was doing some other stuff having just moved into the property and after testing it out told someone to pull it off and cover until I got back. 10 minutes later and it wasn't pulled. Too late--it was totally dried out. When I asked why the *#@*#@#** not he said he "didn't think it was done enough". Come to find out later he liked all his meat cooked hard. Other than that we always had best success with stews or chili. Venison is so dry it either needs to be really young or really stewed, imo.

Backstraps are an exception and they'll broil pretty well. Frequently I've seen beef cuts added for fat content. A couple times I butchered some for steaks which were alright but usually it's cubed meat; does are better than bucks. All this is past tense now because since moving the neighborhood doesn't offer so many chances as before!

eta--guess my point is that I'd never think to smoke it unless I was making jerky, and for that I prefer a dehydrator. Venison is so dry it more lends itself to wet cooking unless you've got some young steaks rare.

 

[culdeus]

If it is a doe older than 2 years or a buck of any age there are only really 3 cuts worth having. Tenderloin, Backstrap, and Sirloins.

The rest really is only meant for the grinder. Cooking the tough cuts longer doesn't really improve anything.

 

[BassNBrew]

If it is a doe older than 2 years or a buck of any age there are only really 3 cuts worth having. Tenderloin, Backstrap, and Sirloins. The rest really is only meant for the grinder. Cooking the tough cuts longer doesn't really improve anything.

It's more about what the deer are feeding on. In Iowa where they're almost exclusively feeding on corn, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between venison and beef. If you feed cows acorns or catus, they've be grinder material too.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Is mixing Red Bull, Iced Coffee, and 5 hour energy drink dangerous?

 

[glumpy]

Is mixing Red Bull, Iced Coffee, and 5 hour energy drink dangerous?

Saw your question and googled it. They don't think you can die from it but that's sure not recommended. Didn't even get to adding the coffee to the mix. Have you got anybody helping you tend the grill and smokers? It can get pretty tedious every night mostly just staring at the cook for 8-10 hours.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

I am not trying to be a drama queen here, but I am freaking scared to death now and knew this would happen @ some level eventually...

I just saw a pick up truck stop a block away, back up slowly and two guys jumped out to run in between two houses (my old neighbors actually...lived on that block for 5 years). I ran..like an idiot...towards them to get a better look and maybe scare them off. Dude yells "WHAT" in a rather aggressive sounding tone, so I back tracked towards the dantes property and called the cops. The guys took off and I didn't get a pic or look @ tag of truck cuz of my huge key chain, but that could have also saved my life. I have that rush in to danger problem cuz I hate seeing bs go down.

Cops came out, even got a captain of the district and made the report. Now they know I am here...the cops...and the bad guys. I am a bleeding heart liberal and never been a huge fan of gun ownership, but I think it is time I get both a loud dog and a loud pump action shotgun for more warning shots than anything. My wife is gonna freak, but it is funny...i almost went to the sports store yesterday to buy one without telling her (keep it here only). She is way more anti gun ownership than i am...i even used to hunt a little, but realized everyone having a gun in this country is a terrible idea. But here i sit, alone for over 6 hours every night in a terribly crime ridden city. I even have an old friend that was killed in her restaurant by some thug back in the 90's..which seals it now that i think about it again. (see louisiana pizza kitchen murders)

Damn. This is kind of a bummer on my bliss.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Is mixing Red Bull, Iced Coffee, and 5 hour energy drink dangerous?

Saw your question and googled it. They don't think you can die from it but that's sure not recommended. Didn't even get to adding the coffee to the mix. Have you got anybody helping you tend the grill and smokers? It can get pretty tedious every night mostly just staring at the cook for 8-10 hours.

I have plenty to do all night. At least on Mondays. And the rest of the week i have an air mattress for quick naps, a blu ray & big screen, this computer, and a new business to do the accounting for & all the other things on my list. And i am not drinking all that...don't worry.

 

[glumpy]

Definitely Do it. The gun is necessary imo; if I remember rightly you're at the end of a block? Small but effective would be my inclination--you don't need to be encumbered with a shotgun. You'll have to get a permit to carry, and not bad to get one concealed. The dog could be some help for the tedious early morning hours as well as protection. Be safe. Glad the cops are on to you as well--do they know your schedule? When running restaurants I always cultivated a relationship with them. No bribery--it only went so far as free coffee--but knowing your resources on a personal level helps in a big way.

eta-- I was responding to your previous post and missed the one regarding caffeine.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

I have a lot more experience with a shotgun, and a good blast of one of those should scare anyone off. Boom stick = gtfo. I only intend on keeping it here and not carrying a gun...i have kids and will not have one in my home...just a choice. I also live in a safer neighborhood than this.

 

[NCCommish]

I have a lot more experience with a shotgun, and a good blast of one of those should scare anyone off. Boom stick = gtfo. I only intend on keeping it here and not carrying a gun...i have kids and will not have one in my home...just a choice. I also live in a safer neighborhood than this.

Nothing says leave like the sound of racking one into the chamber of a pump shotgun.

 

[simey]

Definitely Do it. The gun is necessary imo; if I remember rightly you're at the end of a block? Small but effective would be my inclination--you don't need to be encumbered with a shotgun. You'll have to get a permit to carry, and not bad to get one concealed.

when i took my ccw (carry conceal weapon) class last year, there were 3 restaurant owners and one bar owner in there getting theirs.

 

[Treynwreck3]

Shotty

Strictly for self defense, you cannot go wrong with one of these, and you can't beat the price.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Shotty

Strictly for self defense, you cannot go wrong with one of these, and you can't beat the price.

Exactly where I am getting one...thanks for the recommend.

 

[glumpy]

Shotty

Strictly for self defense, you cannot go wrong with one of these, and you can't beat the price.

Exactly where I am getting one...thanks for the recommend.

Nice one!

 

[[icon]]

I am not trying to be a drama queen here, but I am freaking scared to death now and knew this would happen @ some level eventually...I just saw a pick up truck stop a block away, back up slowly and two guys jumped out to run in between two houses (my old neighbors actually...lived on that block for 5 years). I ran..like an idiot...towards them to get a better look and maybe scare them off. Dude yells "WHAT" in a rather aggressive sounding tone, so I back tracked towards the dantes property and called the cops. The guys took off and I didn't get a pic or look @ tag of truck cuz of my huge key chain, but that could have also saved my life. I have that rush in to danger problem cuz I hate seeing bs go down.Cops came out, even got a captain of the district and made the report. Now they know I am here...the cops...and the bad guys. I am a bleeding heart liberal and never been a huge fan of gun ownership, but I think it is time I get both a loud dog and a loud pump action shotgun for more warning shots than anything. My wife is gonna freak, but it is funny...i almost went to the sports store yesterday to buy one without telling her (keep it here only). She is way more anti gun ownership than i am...i even used to hunt a little, but realized everyone having a gun in this country is a terrible idea. But here i sit, alone for over 6 hours every night in a terribly crime ridden city. I even have an old friend that was killed in her restaurant by some thug back in the 90's..which seals it now that i think about it again. (see louisiana pizza kitchen murders)Damn. This is kind of a bummer on my bliss.

What they're all saying. Shotty is the play here. Dog isn't a terrible idea if for no other reason than to alert you when an issue could be forthcoming (not to mention they make a pretty solid deterrent as well. Most amateur thieves just don't like messing with them.

 

[Tiger Fan]

not a gun guy either, but would be getting one if I was in your situation

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

The most amazing thing is I think my wife agrees with me on this. She is very anti gun.

 

[NCCommish]

The most amazing thing is I think my wife agrees with me on this. She is very anti gun.

Probably more pro living husband than anti gun.

 

[mr roboto]

The most amazing thing is I think my wife agrees with me on this. She is very anti gun.

Probably more pro living husband than anti gun.

One's anti-gun idealism can go out the window when a loved one is in danger.

 

[glumpy]

The most amazing thing is I think my wife agrees with me on this. She is very anti gun.

Probably more pro living husband than anti gun.

One's anti-gun idealism can go out the window when a loved one is in danger.

 

[Abraham]

There is a difference between anti gun and anti personal safety. I'm not a big gun person in the home, but your situation warrants it.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Plus, you can shoot stuff that comes over the levee and throw it right on the smoker.

Win/Win!

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Officer that was first to show up yesterday just stopped by to see if I was ok over here. Scared the ever living snot out of me...had just walked out of kitchen with the briskets and heard that gate click open and gave my best impression of scary big man voice WHO IS THERE. I think I scared her too. lol.

I hope she has a crush on me too.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

The Food Show with Tom Fitzmorris featuring "ME" and some fellow food guys today from 3-6.

 

[Tiger Fan]

The Food Show with Tom Fitzmorris featuring "ME" and some fellow food guys today from 3-6.

How did you originally get contacted by him?

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

The Food Show with Tom Fitzmorris featuring "ME" and some fellow food guys today from 3-6.

How did you originally get contacted by him?

Someone mentioned me, he said he didn't trust popups, he heard holy heck about it on twitter n such, then his wife remembered me from our meeting a few years back before he wrote us up for Dante's and me trying to get an overhaul for him on his website.

 

[tipsy mcstagger]

Nobody listening?

 

[otello]

Ok. I want you to use the word "intestines" during conversation. I'm listening.

 

[[icon]]

Nobody listening?

The URL you requested has been blocked. URL = click.andomedia.com/b/2/157587

 

[otello]

Great job! That host sure likes to tell lame jokes.

 

[Todd Andrews]

I am not trying to be a drama queen here, but I am freaking scared to death now and knew this would happen @ some level eventually...

I just saw a pick up truck stop a block away, back up slowly and two guys jumped out to run in between two houses (my old neighbors actually...lived on that block for 5 years). I ran..like an idiot...towards them to get a better look and maybe scare them off. Dude yells "WHAT" in a rather aggressive sounding tone, so I back tracked towards the dantes property and called the cops. The guys took off and I didn't get a pic or look @ tag of truck cuz of my huge key chain, but that could have also saved my life. I have that rush in to danger problem cuz I hate seeing bs go down.

Cops came out, even got a captain of the district and made the report. Now they know I am here...the cops...and the bad guys. I am a bleeding heart liberal and never been a huge fan of gun ownership, but I think it is time I get both a loud dog and a loud pump action shotgun for more warning shots than anything. My wife is gonna freak, but it is funny...i almost went to the sports store yesterday to buy one without telling her (keep it here only). She is way more anti gun ownership than i am...i even used to hunt a little, but realized everyone having a gun in this country is a terrible idea. But here i sit, alone for over 6 hours every night in a terribly crime ridden city. I even have an old friend that was killed in her restaurant by some thug back in the 90's..which seals it now that i think about it again. (see louisiana pizza kitchen murders)

Damn. This is kind of a bummer on my bliss.

Sad, but thats New Orleans, even Uptown. When I worked down Maple at TJ Quills everyone carried guns to close the bar, even the hot 21 year old female bartenders. Not cool to be alone in a business at 4 am with potential cash/equipment. I would recommend something very simple like a small frame short barrel .357 magnum. Ruger makes a good pretty inexpensive one called the Sp101 (2.25 length barrel).You also may want to consider a hammerless .357 like the Smith & Wesson 640 or 642. Benefit to hammerless is it fits snugly in your pocket with no hammer to catch when taking it out of said pocket.