– First things first: I haven’t watched the wedding episode of “The Office” yet. I KNOW. But it was late when we got to Memphis last Thursday night, and by the time we ate supper and got settled, we missed it. I’m just sick about it but hoping to get caught up via DVR tonight or tomorrow.
– The reason I haven’t written a “real” post here today is because I used up my allotted daily sentence quotient over at AllAccess. It’s a post about something I learned this past weekend in Memphis.
– Melanie and I watched this video Saturday afternoon and bemoaned the fact that we weren’t in college when “Hey Ya!” was popular because it’s one of the best dance songs ever. But unfortunately it would have been unseemly for us to carry our newborns into a frat house back in 2003 just because we wanted to break it down to a little OutKast.
Edited to add: here’s the OutKast video.
Anyway, I know the video is a few years old, and I know half the world has seen it. But still. It’s a YouTube classic.
– I visited Corky’s BBQ not once but twice this past weekend, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST. Corky’s puts (delicious) sauce and cole slaw on their BBQ sandwiches, and it’s my absolute favorite. Melanie had never eaten slaw on her BBQ sandwich before, and I think it’s safe to say that her life is forever changed.
I’m SUCH a Corky’s fan, but I realize that BBQ is a very personal preference. What’s your favorite?
i’m a born and raised Memphian now living in Birmingham. it is a MUST for me to have cole slaw on my bbq sandwich. and now i’m a little homesick. i miss corky’s!
I went to a BBQ contest in Kansas City (the home of really good BBQ!) where they served “sundaes”: Plastic cups with meat on the bottom, baked beans next, topped with cole slaw. It was heavenly goodness served with a spoon!
Must have coleslaw on mine. I’m in NJ now and let’s just say the pizza is fab but the bbq pretty much non-existent. I do have kids in college in SC and inlaws in TN so that is where we get our bbq fix. I’m intrigued by the bbq sundae a commenter mentioned…that sounds awesome and I may have to try that at home.
Since you’re a Hey Ya fan, go to iTunes and look up Obadiah Parker’s version. I think you’ll get a kick out of it.
And then get your priorities in order and watch The Office already.
you have the evolution of dance linked twice…. can you share the “hey ya” video?
Corky’s! Oh, you bring back happy memories. I was fortunate enough to travel the south on a five cities in five days tour for work with actual Southerners who talked up Corky’s all week before we got to Memphis. It did not disappoint. Mmmm. Haven’t thought of those guys in a while…thanks for the happy memories, even if it’s a reminder that there isn’t a real authentic BBQ around here. (Though believe it or not, there is a place in Wilmington, DE that is closer than anything else I’ve seen or tried. Roadtrip may be in order There’s a tip for your Jersey friend too!)
Corky’s…I didn’t know about the famous sandwiches!!! I’d have gotten it instead of my uncooked potato. =/
Guess I’ll just have to get back!
corky’s catered my rehearsal dinner.
‘nuf said.
Outlaw BBQ (supplier of official Superbowl BBQ!) serves the best Carolina style barbecue I’ve had since moving here 20 years ago. When we go home to Louisiana, we get Podnuh’s, which is Texas style, but just as good. However, I always have to request that no cole slaw come within ten feet of my sandwich here, or I get it by default. Yuck!!
Hey Ya will always and forever be the dance my 5 year old did at All-Sports Camp at the University of Michigan on the last day Dance-off for parents. They each got their very own Polaroid Pick-chaaah to shake, shake shake shake it like.
We have nothing of the Corky’s type here, but I have a love for Swenson’s. It is a drive-in burger joint that has the most. delicious. hamburgers. on. earth. A double cheeseburger, ketchup only and an order of potato puffs. If I’m really in the money, I’ll order myself a Florida. YUM!
Right now it’s Five Guys Burgers and Fries! Love that place and I don’t see it being replaced from the #1 spot on my list anytime soon.
My favorite BBQ is Sonny’s BBQ :)
Mmmmm, Sonny’s BBQ for me too. Don’t have one close by, though. :-(
I live in Memphis. Corky’s is good but it’s a chain restaurant. Memphis locals (myself included) love Central BBQ (the original location in a hole-in-the-wall on Central Ave across from Christian Brothers University). Wet ribs and BBQ nachos – mmmmmmm….!
I tried will all my might (and by that I mean I left Melanie a comment with ALL CAPS and BOLD letters) trying to tell her to go to the Rendezvous in Memphis while y’all were there.
Sadly, it didn’t even occur to me to comment you also (since you know we connected over the whole Bojangles cinnabiscuit and all). Sadly, if you didn’t go to the Rendezvous in Memphis, you’ll just HAVE TO GO THERE NEXT TIME. It’s super yummy.
Now that the Hubs and I are transplanted to NC, we miss our Memphis BBQ like nobody’s bidness. In fact, my mother-in-law gives us Corky’s BBQ sauce every year for Christmas. All 6 bottles usually get us through February.
I’m heading that way at the end of October and I may just have to buy my own bottles and smuggle them home in my carry on. That’s after my trip to the Rendezvous.
I’d like to give a “high five” to southern BBQ. It’s because of you that I gained almost 30+ pounds the 2 years I was in graduate school.
Granted, I’ve now lost that 30+ pounds (whew!), but oh…how I miss southern BBQ. There just isn’t anything like it up north. *sigh*
Israel Houghton has a song called “Just Wanna Say” that I love, love, love, and it always makes me think of Hey Ya. A Christiany version of course.
Oh my – I loved that video. I had never seen it! I sure wish I had half that guys talent! He was good!
You bless me.
My favorite BBQ is Costa’s in Birmingham.
I’m sure that a large part of that is not necessarily the taste, but the memory of visiting my grandparents in Birmingham as a little girl. At some point in the visit, we would always go to Costa’s and get a big styrofoam container of BBQ, a styrofoam container of their sauce, and a package of cheap hamburger buns. We’d bring it all back to Mamaw and Papa’s, assemble our plates, eat together around their kitchen table, and talk about the next time we’d be coming back for a visit.
I love Corky’s. We ate there this past summer on a weekend trip to Memphis. Memphis is a great town for a mini-vacation. (I’m enjoying your blog.)
you are right, there is NOTHING like coleslaw on your BBQ!
The Rendezvous, hands down. Love it!
Were you at the game Saturday? Sad. Just sad.
Corky’s all the way! We lived in Memphis 18 years and now live in SC. We have not been able to find a BBQ that beat it, although my husband would say Interstate BBQ in Memphis is the best. We had to go out of our way when we went to East TN recently to go eat at a Corky’s there. YUMMY!
I was so sad that I did not get to go to Corky’s with you guys. The group I was with stopped on Beale Street and ate at
Pork with an Attitude. The ribs were great.
I was so glad I got to hug your neck and meet you for the first time at the conference.
Teresa
Texarkana, AR
It’s cuz Melanie’s from Texas…they don’t put ANYTHING on their BBQ. I totally grossed my husband out during a trip to a BBQ joint when I piled coleslaw, pickles AND fries on my pulled pork sammy; mmmmmmmm now I’m hungry.
I’m a Memphis girl at heart (well, kinda) (Hi Y’all!) and Corky’s is heaven on a bun. I have taught my children to put coleslaw on their bbq sandwiches out here in Southern California. Some things are too good to be messed with.
Thank you SO much for linking to that Evolution of Dance video! I’ve seen it several times, but had forgotten just how hilarious it is – I was laughing out loud at him dancing to “TubThumping”!
I agree, newborns in a frat house would be just a tad unseemly! :)
Also, I commented over at Melanie’s…I adore slaw on my bbq sandwich and everyone in my family thinks I’m crazy.
When we lived in NC, we were in the eastern region. Bless their hearts, I don’t care for their BBQ. I had Corky’s BBQ shipped to us from Memphis for Hubs’ birthday. Now you can buy it in some grocery stores. Memphis style BBQ is the best on earth.
Amen.
Love that Evolution of Dance video! It’s definitely a classic! And off the subject, what did Martha think of the weekend with Beth Moore?! I’m just dying to hear if Beth wore a “Darlin’ Plus 3/4 sleeve jacket from the Steinmarts!”
Corky’s ROCKS! Best barbeque ribs I have ever eaten (and I’m a Texas girl who knows barbeque!)
Corky’s is very good, it’s true, but you really should have gone to The Germantown Commissary for the best of Memphis BBQ. Next time, right? ;)
Corky’s and Outkast- girl you are living the high life! Happy Monday!
For BBQ, as in pulled pork, Corky’s is great, as is Costa’s, Dreamland and others. I LOVE piling everything on….nothing beats the whole meal, with all the necessary food pyramid components, being held right in your hands!! :)
However, I also just did a post today of my Dad’s chicken halves….which are out of this world, I could tell you the family secret, but…..he won’t even let us in on it yet!!! When my husband says he’d like to do the chickens for a function (church or school or work something) my Dad tells him the ingredients to purchase and then has him drop them off. Wherein my Dad mixes his rub with no one looking and puts it in the canisters to be shaken, then calls for us to come pick it up!! :) So funny. We southerners and our barbecue.
Corky’s is awesome. Jim and Nicks is pretty good too. But I tell you – the grocery store here in my little one-horse town has started carrying this pre-packaged barbeque called “Cades Cove Barbeque” from the real Cades Cove near Gatlinburg, and it comes in either vinegar sauce or red sauce (THE RED SAUCE) and let me tell you, it is some kind of good. And you don’t have to leave home if you stock up like me when its on said and stash it in the freezer!
sale, not said. Got excited there about the barbecue
I’m a Corky’s fan too!
I saw your pic on my pal Ginny’s facebook profile. I hope you had a blessed time @ Beth Moore!!
Lil’ Dooey’s, my friend! Hands down!!
We do love us some Corky’s! Guess we take for granted that we live within 5 mins from one. We also love Whole Hog…they’re both delicious!
Corky’s -is- great as is the Germantown Commissary, however, our absolute favorite Memphis-area BBQ sandwich is at Bozo’s in Mason, TN (just east of Memphis on Hwy 70). It was rated one of the top 10 BBQ places in the country by the Wall Street Journal a couple of years ago and has been mentioned in Southern Living, too. It’s been around for over 80 years and the BBQ is so tender. Factoid: a scene from “Walk the Line” was filmed there… :)
Dear Boo Mama – Dreamland ribs…..DELICIOUS!! The end.
I was never a fan of ribs, UNTIL I ate ribs at Corky’s. Oh sweet mercy. We became like cave people gnawing on the bone, and grunting.
haha! It was my huband and his friends favorite song to have dance parties to :)
Shake it!
Sadly, brisket seems to be what they like here in Texas. Whenever I go home to see the family, I have to have me lots of Lil’ Dooey’s.
Lexington,NC …. we are BBQ critics and this is truly Pig Heaven!!!! and being from NC, you always put slaw on your BBQ. YUMMMM we must make a run.
we love Corky’s…but Sonny’s is my husband’s all time fave. They catered our rehearsal dinner, and the groomsmen were quite rude about being first in line!
We ate at Neely’s Interstate BBQ in Southaven after LPL this weekend. I sat there with my sweet mama and put down a plate of ribs. If my Michael had seen it…he’d rise up and call me blessed.
It was so fun to meet you Saturday morning. Thanks for not making me feel like a big old weirdo. My friends are all jealous now…which is never really a problem. :)
Mmmm.. BBQ. I love it any way I can get it. With coleslaw… without…. dry rub…sauce…ribs…chicken…brisket.
YUM
You are going to LOVE the office wedding episode! It was hilarious – and there were some “aww” moments with Pam and Jim.
Vandy’s BBQ in Statesboro GA! My daddy owned it for the first 22 years of my life and let’s just say I might as well have had BBQ sauce in my bottle as a babe. We heart the pork, let me tell ya.
While in Memphis, Caroline and her fam took me to Rendevous. Oh my word – it was the jam. And I had never done coleslaw on my sandwich either but you know what they say…When in Memphis….
SO good!
Haven’t seen the wedding episode either. I was too busy shopping at the Stuff Marts after a meeting, and I was too distracted that I left a bag of stuff at the store, so I had to get back in my car and go get it, all the while Hubs was reclining at home watching and laughing and awwwing at Jam.
Memphian here…living in Maryville, TN now.
Oh how I am wishing I had some memphis BBQ now. With slaw!!!
However the BBQ nacho’s are whispering sweet nothing’s in my ear right now!
You know they ship their BBQ right?
I just read this post as I’m sitting here uncomfortably full after a dinner at Whole Hog Cafe in North Little Rock, Arkansas. It was some pretty good BBQ. But, if you’re ever in the Great and Blessed State of Texas, Rudy’s BBQ is the best there is and you can get it in both Austin and San Antonio. (although I’m a little biased to the Austin locations). I feel a little homesick just writing about it.
Love the Corky’s. Love it to pieces.
But have you ever been to The Bar-B-Que Shop? If not, the next time you’re in town, by all means, GO! It just might change your life…inasmuch as barbeque can, of course.
Corky’s yummmmmm so good! We use to go there when we were going to Ole Miss. There’s no Corky’s here in Guam, but at times when we’re traveling we’ve seen Corky’s at some airports. yummmmm!
Kelley
The Office episode is perfection. If only you had some Corky’s to eat while watching…..
I was in the half who had not seen that Evolution of Dance video before, so THANK YOU for my daily laugh! I hope he does a third version featuring Beyonce’s Single Ladies, because I just can’t get that song out of my head. Thank you Glee for that.
Oh, my. Corky’s IS fabulous! Here in Little Rock, we also have Whole Hog Cafe. Scrumptious! And I’m with you…the day I first tried cole slaw on my sandwich was a day I’ll never forget. And I certainly never did (and never will) go back to plain jane bbq sandwiches!!
The Corky’s was so yummy…once we found the joint! My local fave is probably Full Moon. But I buy Costa’s sauce to use at home (the label w/ the green on it, not the yellow). Have you seen the Neely’s BBQ sauce at the WM? Who am I asking? Of course you have!
(Loved meeting you by the way–definitely one of the highlights of a highlight-filled weekend!)
Oh, and I shake it like a Polaroid picture every stinkin’ chance I get! :)
As you can see, anyone who has lived in Memphis has their own favorite. Goes right along with the “Memphis’s best BBQ” sign that is in the window of EVERY BBQ place!
My personal favorite is Neely’s…mainly because of the BBQ nachos and BBQ spaghetti. Can get a decent sandwich in Chattanooga (with slaw, of course!!), but spaghetti? Never seen it anywhere else…
Ahh…the food-related Memphis memories…Burgers at Hughey’s, Thursday-night Mexican at Margaritas…yum!…will have to wander down memory lane with hubby tonight!
Have you been to Moe’s BBQ on Rocky Ridge in Vestavia? Ooohhh my. I love their pulled pork and their sides are quite delicious. My mouth is watering thinking about it. I’ve lived in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa for 20 years now and there isn’t anywhere as good as this place.
I miss good, southern pulled pork BBQ so much. We have lived in southern california for a little over a year now and I miss all things southern….but especially the food.
OH how you make my laugh!!! I thought I was the only crazy mom who just loved that song!!Oh how I embarrassed my kids!! Love it, HEY YA!!!
Commented on Big Mama’s post too….but Corky’s has to rank right up in this native Memphian’s heart….I served it at my wedding reception. Yes, the reception not the rehearsal dinner….Hubs got tired of all that finger food at the 50 or so weddings we attended when all of us were getting married back in 94 and 95…so he wanted some REAL food for our reception. Corky’s did it up right! BBQ and spaghetti in a white dress….what fun memories!
Hope to meet you one of these trips you make to M-town! Certain I saw you taking pictures of Travis during the Southern Gospel singing on Saturday. I was one of those 13,300 meeting with the Lord too! What a wonderful weekend it was!
I have a soft spot in my heart for Corky’s. I went to school in Nashville. One year my dad came down and we road tripped to Memphis. We saw Graceland and Mudd Island and then my dad started asking everyone where the locals went for BBQ. Of course the answer was Corky’s. We had an awesome dinner and then hit the road back to Nashvegas. Good times.
i LOVE corky’s. and ONLY with the coleslaw on top. but they closed the corky’s in my husband’s hometown so now we just get latham’s. have you had that? it is ALMOST as good.
we won’t be there until christmas but i’m trying to figure out if i can use my pregnancy as an excuse to get my mother-in-law to send me some…because, let me tell you, there is not a decent bite of barbecue to be had here in chicago and i think i am going to go mad with thinking about it (thanks for reminding me again how much i miss it by writing this post all about it–melanie wrote about it too so i’m in double trouble now).
We too were in Memphis on the weekend of the 9th for my 20th HS reunion. You can bet your bottom dollar that Corky’s came home with us in a cooler bought just for the occasion.
Oh, and I introduced Mr. Right to those perfect BBQ sandwiches (Memphis style as it is called) 18 years ago and he says there is no better way to eat BBQ and insists that we always have slaw on the buns when we’re lucky enough to have great BBQ. That boy… he’s a sharp one!
Corky’s catered my wedding. No lie, and it was GOOD.
I agree about “Hey Ya” being one of the best dance songs ever–and I’m WAY older than you!!! Anyway, I thought you & your son might enjoy this Charlie Brown-version video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGnYw-OuCnI&feature=related