I think nearly any American expat living in France would offer up the same response when asked the question, “What food do you miss the most from home?” The answer would be: Mexican. Or more specifically, Real Mexican Food as yes, Old El Paso can be bought even at my local grocery store in Arles and that isn’t even food let alone authentic. My Mom knows this and so whipped up her crispy quesadillas with tomatillo salsa within an hour or so of my arrival in the States. For that, not to mention the glass of wine that was immediately placed in my hand, I thank her. I am also grateful for her truly infallible food radar, one that the military would covet if only they could figure out how to transform it into say, a heat-seeking missile.
So when she kept suggesting that we take a road trip down to Detroit (not even 45 minutes from Ann Arbor) for BBQ, I listened. In the realm of expatatia, great BBQ is beyond what one can even hope for and so is often left off the list. And yet somehow before we knew it, my trip was almost over. But my Mom is a wily one and nothing will stop her from good food even if she has to take a personal day off from work to get it (shhh). This is after all, the woman who said that I had a dentist appointment one day when I was in high school so that I could attend a traditional Indonesian luncheon at India Joze in Santa Cruz, California (rightfully feeling that I would learn more from the experience that I would that day in school). So soon, off we went, barrelling down the highway with her companion, Leonard in his big Lincoln that we affectionately call “the Boat.”
Later, when folks would hear that we went to Slows Bar B Q, they would immediately ask, “How long was your wait?” Turns out, Slows is famous. But it also just so happened that luck was on our side. Even though it was already past 1:30pm when we heaved open the heavy front door, we were initially told by the hostess (who is heading to Paris next April) that it would be 45 minutes but to come back for our beeper (ah, only in America!) in fifteen. Back in ten as it was too cold to wander, we were seated straight away.
It says a lot about “the what” we were about to dive into that the beer menu in the bar area suggested to “Buy a six pack for the kitchen” for $5.95. Well, they do have to smoke and roast all of the meats on the menu for hours–hence the name Slows–I suppose they could use a little encouragement from time to time. That there were four different types of sauce, including the vinegary North Carolina style (David Terry, are you listening?) on the table also had me curious.
Heather wow that mac and cheese. Everything looks great! We DO have some great Barbeque here in Kansas City as well!
2012 Artists Series,
xoxo
Karena
Oh, Heather…..
I haven't been exactly "listening", but I have been reading (in addition to rolling up and packaging three small paintings that will, tomorrow, be shipped off to you and Remi "Mr Britches in the House" Benali…..let's all pray to our various gods that they arrive at your house within the next thirteen days).
that said?….yes, I know full-well about North Carolina "Style" barbecue, and all the various, disorientingly INTENSE feuds about the various styles…..Texas, Chicago, North Carolina, etcetera. I'm good friends with John Shelton and Dale Reed (well-known food writers you might know of, who recently published "Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue"….a wonderfully interesting sociological/"foodie" book that delves deeply into the overwrought division between Eastern Carolina barbecue "style" AND Western North Carolina barbecue "style").
Who knew that folks could so intense (the only term for it) over danged BARBECUE??????…and let's not even get into Texas versus Kansas City "style" versus chicago "style", etcetera.
Of course, this (North Carolina) is the state in which folks will argue for HOURS AND DAYS AND YEARS over the rivalry between Duke and UNC basketball. The two campusses (sp?) are about twelve miles apart….and the two different "styles" of barbecue are, insofar as I can figure, differentiated only by the fact of one's adding tomatoes or not. all in all, I don't tend to involve myself in the fuss.
Still?…..folks will argue about these matters FOREVER. My good guess (I should emphasize that I couldn't care less about either basketball or barbecue) is that folks invariably and eternally need something to argue about.
As for "Slow's"???…..
I'll go to their website, but I doubt I need to do so to confirm my instant-assumption…..the restaurant was started (so to speak) by Southern blacks who moved up North sometime after 1940? I took one look at the "sides"….and I can promise you that, whoever the owners were, they came from west of Nashville before ending up in Michigan (or, for that matter, Chicago….this is quite like listening to a chicago blues-man and KNOWING instantly that his grandfather came from Mississippi). this is food that came up from the Delta, perhaps took a stop-over in Cincinatti or St. Louis…and then ended up being duly (if sentimentally) loved in a place like Detroit or Chicago. You might enjoy the website for the Southern Foodways Alliance.
It's the same with Indian restaurants…..whether they be in London or New york……you can (if you know your stuff) do nothing more than simply read the menu…..and you KNOW from where the owner's grandparents emigrated.
Advisedly yours as ever,
david Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Mmmmm – I can't believe I had to miss this!! It looks crazy delicious and worth all of the fuss – I've got to work out a trip to Detroit sooner than later! Miss you, foodie sister!
… and of course this… ahem… feast, was followed by a two-hour long [energetic] walk even though dear old Ben was not there to keep you company?! 🙂 That is the only way I could have fallen asleep that night, or even for the rest of the week… Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Your Mum sounds like a real foodie and knows just the right food for the right occasion …I am not familiar with Mexican food but it sure looks a treat and I'm sure if I were ever anywhere near Detroit I would be certainly programing my GPS to "Slows BBQ"
Hello Heather – I can just see you motoring down to Detroit in your big lincoln. This all looks delicious. Mike was born in Windsor, Ontario, just across the bridge/tunnel from Detroit. Next time we visit, I shall be crossing to visit Slows BBQ
Now you have me craving Mac-n-cheese.
Helen xx
There is nothing like the comfort of home and the familiar. As Dr Seuss says. "life is a great balancing act" ………… especially when you have 2 homes on different continents with different languages. Enjoy. Bisous
Is there anyone who doesn't like Mexican? For us, it's Tex-Mex & I could eat it everyday. Love you !!
Ohhh forgot to say that the beer for the kitchen is a great touch, but I wonder how alcohol and cooking go together? hahaha…I should know.
Yummy! That's all I can say. Food looks so delicious that now I'm craving Miami's famous Shorty's BBQ where you can prepare to stand in line outside for over one hour on a good day!
Food and family…nothing beats that, right?
Keep'em coming
🙂
Sylvia S.