Hank Lihn — July 08, 2009
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Galahad had his holy grail, Lombardi had his trophy, and now, in the tradition of the pursuit of perfection, the quest for glory, El dorado, and a little place called Salon, AlwaysHungry furthers its epic sojourn:
The Pilgrimage for the Perfect Pig- nothing less than god’s work, and the meek need not apply.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has made some serious noted contributions to our fellowship of the pig through their cross-style BBQ practices, with flavored sauced-up dripping Jumbo Mango Tango Wings that do to flavor what Robyn Bird did to teenage masturbation, all the way to the 24 hour spice rub slow pit smoked ribs (soft, dry, and tender to the lips’ touch). Granted these two are the must haves, but we at AlwaysHungry demand the exploration of the space. Always.
Start with a few wings as an app and then choose a combo platter. The value is not only incredible, but if you share two platters among three people plus 13 wings you have more than enough food. The “Tres Hombres” is a pure meat no poultry powerhouse reminiscent of the first time I tried pancetta, or scores: the explorer’s boundless sense of an undiscovered country before me. Consisting of ribs (A), brisket (B- as they were tough this one time), and pulled pork (tender and delicious, though not game-altering), with two sides (Coleslaw if you are seeking fresh Carolina feel, Mac & Cheese if you’re Krafty, Beans if you’re sloppy, and Syracuse Salt Potatoes if you want something covered in butter and garlic deliciousness), this combo is formidable. An accepted variation is the Ode to Elgin, a combo that subs out pulled pork for one of the most famous sausages in the country: laughter, joy, and beautiful tragedy in a beef casing.
After some inspired negotiation you are now able to order the “Inner Fat Kid” (Ribs, Pork, and Sausage): go big, stay hungry, and remember we are only as noble as our pursuits.
Though deep uptown, this is also the favored haunt of Columbia students on weekends, particularly during football season, coinciding nicely with oaths taken on Wednesday nights — the confluence of fat girls and inner fat kids is awe inspiring to some, a lifestyle to others, and a lesson to us all.
