Dixie's
is located in a garage. |
Here
is this Saturday's adventure - a visit to Dixies BBQ in Bellevue,
Washington. The parts below in plain text are my words, and those
in italics are taken from this
article by E. Eibel in "Seattle Dining", May/'99.
"Take
a family of southerners, transplant them to Northrup Way, and
convert an auto-repair shop into a first rate barbecue restaurant,
and you have Dixie's.
The
Porters moved to Seattle by Gene's father's request in 1963. Gene,
an auto mechanic, and Dixie, a nurse, brought with them professional
skills and a desire to make people happy. In 1994, they decided
they could do this by opening a restaurant in Gene's garage. Daughter
L.J. helps out, making Dixie's a total family affair.
|
|
For
the past five years, folks have been meeting "The Man"
Gene Porter's high-octane special sauce at Dixie's.He roams the
dining areas with a pan of it, serving it directly onto patron's
food by request. "We can't serve it on the side or separate,"
notes Dixie Porter, "it's either on the meat or not at all."
I asked her what's in this mighty barbecue and she says simply
"it's a secret." Whatever it is, it packs a mighty punch
as well as the powerful flavor of southern barbecue.
The average lunch wait can be as long as an hour. Even with an
hour to think about the food, Dixie explains, people can't decide
on a meal, "People start smelling the food, their mouths
water, and they can't decide what they want."
|
In
go Tim and Tom. |
The
wall is very entertaining while you wait. |
Lining
the walls are accolades from many Northwest dining guides and
travel magazines, as well as an autographed interview with Seahawk
Cortez Kennedy-who just can't go without Dixie's Barbecue.
The
food is made of the highest quality cut meats and the sauces
are the perfect complement.Though no expense is spared in making
the food, it is still apparent that patrons are eating in a
garage. This may sound unusual, but instead the cleaned and
restored garage is extremely warm and friendly. The diners act
as though they are all enjoying a family picnic-- and many have
befriended the Porters in the process. "
|
|
click
Tom and Sharon
decided on the BBQ Pork Dinner, Tim had the Combo and I went for
the BBQ Chicken Dinner.
As well as a massive serving of barbecued meat (or, in Tim's case,
every meat which was served), we had salad, red beans and rice,
corn bread and lemon cake for dessert.
|
Sharon
gets organized. |
Now
that's what I call MEAT! |
Too
good to waste a morsel. |
Ready,
set...go! |
And
oh, it was fabulous. The meat was soooo tender and the barbecue
sauce was wonderfully tangy and delicious, as was the corn bread
and the cake. We enjoyed every mouthful.
There was so much food that each of us brought some home for dinner,
and in one case for breakfast too :)
|
Here's
the part that Tim and Tom had been waiting for - meeting "The
Man".Gene Porter is a good-humored, gruff and funny man who
teases, goads and dares everyone to "meet the Man". It's
very difficult to refuse him :)
Sharon and I were brave enough to try it too.
|
"C'mon
Babydoll, meet 'the Man'".. |
We
survived! |
It truly was the hottest thing I have ever tasted - I thought
the inside of my mouth would be blistered and the burning feeling
lasted for ages. I think most of us had streaming eyes and runny
noses after tasting just the tiniest drop of this potent sauce.
Tim, of course, thought it was great and bought a jar.
|
Tim took
a lot of teasing for his reddening face afterwards. We'll definitely
be going back - it's our kinda place. Sharon and I would like
go on a Tuesday, for the BBQ Catfish dinner.
As
the article concluded, "The
bottom line, entering Dixie's is entering the Porters' home.
They take pride in their work, have wonderful senses of humor,
and big hearts.
Even if "The Man" overheats the palate, eating at
Dixie's is a fun, delicious experience."
We all agreed with that.
|
More
please! |
|
