The flashing neon lights can be seen down all of Broadway. The smell of pork entices one to enter. Jack’s Bar-B-Que is a dive BBQ restaurant in the heart of Nashville, TN.

Being a novice in the large world of barbeque, I expected to enter Jack’s and to be mesmerized by a large menu selection. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. At Jack’s, there are only six items on the menu (including Tennessee Pork Shoulder, Texas Beef Brisket, Smoked Turkey Breast, St. Louis Pork Style Ribs, and Smoked Chicken), along with a few delectable side dishes.

For the past few days, I have had a strange craving for a pulled pork, so I went for the Tennessee Pork Shoulder sandwich. Being a New Yorker, I expected (and wanted) there to be a spicy sauce on-top, instead it was just pork, and you had the option of putting sauce on yourself.

I took a bite, and I was simply blown away. It was the most tender pork I have ever dug my teeth into. It was also very tasty (even without sauce).

Jack’s Bar-B-Que is a must-visit establishment for any barbeque enthusiast traveling through Nashville.

Jack’s Bar-B-Que
216 Broadway
Nashville, TN

Max Murphy, host and producer of Mac News Weekly, is on a 3000 mile road trip with his dad and brother, Sam. On the road he is BBQ blogging for Carnivore and making us all really hungry!

Dave Peterson asked for a lesson on Sweet Tea. I can explain it, but you really have to taste it in the South on a hot Summer day to understand it.

The two syllables in the phrase “Sweet Tea” should be pronounced quickly. It rhymes with BB, as in BB gun. There is no pause between the word sweet and the word tea. It’s also called Baptist Tea and Potluck Tea because that’s often where the best stuff is served from repurposed, gallon milk jugs.

Sweet Tea should not be confused with sweetened tea. Sweetened tea is an abomination and should never be discussed in polite conversation. Sweet Tea is served cold, usually over ice and the ratio of sugar to tea and water is significant.

The preferred brand of tea bags is Luzianne, but Lipton is okay too.

To make a jar, you need 3 family size tea bags, 1 1/3 cups of sugar and a jar (or pitcher). Boil 3 cups of water. Add the 3 tea bags. Stop the heat and let the tea steep for 15 or 30 minutes. Dump it in a gallon jar (or pitcher), dump in the sugar and the fill up the jar with cold water. Put it in the refrigerator and keep it cold.

A person might add lemon, to their glass, but if the lemon juice is added to the jar, it isn’t Sweet Tea. Â

Chicken ‘n’ Dumplins aren’t really a carnivore thing at all. It’s basically dough soaked in Chicken stock, so it’s carbolicious. Mama’s Daughter’s Diner in Dallas sells southern cooking in the most non-pretentious setting you can imagine.

I’m writing about the Dumplins because they’re too good not to write about. I compare them to my memory of my grandmother’s dumplins and that’s very different than comparing them directly. My grandmother’s dumplins don’t live up to my memory of what they were like when I was little. I don’t know if it’s a white-washed memory, if my grandmother has lost something along the way, or most likely, has just changed the recipe.

Mama’s Daughter’s Dumplins live up to my MEMORY of my grandmother’s, so I just had to share.

Mama’s Daughter’s Diner
2014 Irving Blvd.
Dallas, Texas

214-742-8646

M-F 6am-3pm Saturday 7am-3pm SUNDAYS 8am-3pm
Breakfast served all day on Saturday and Sunday!Â