Big Country

Big Country

Remember the band Big Country?  " In a big country dreams stay with you...." 
The beauty of this country we live in is that we are free to roam where we want, settle down for a while and if we feel like it, pack up and move along. 

The Bone Bag is like the roaming gnome, only a lot bigger with an insatiable appetite for smoked meats, so it was a no brain-er when I heard about these people from Texas who decided to bring Southern Smoker Magic from the plains if Texas to the Seacoast of New Hampshire.  Thus this morning we set of in search of @ Goody Cole's Smokehouse and Catering Co. in Brentwood NH.

The first thing you will notice is this awesome sign proclaiming Goody Cole's Roadside BBQ Joint.  I ask you, how could you not stop at a place that freely and openly calls themselves a BBQ Joint?  This is not no Restaurant (were the hell did that u come from anyway) or "Boutique" shop, oh no....this is a Joint.  And who doesn't like a good joint now and then (OK just a play on words, i get high on wood smoke and meat grease).

My dreams from this trip will stay with me for a long time.

This place is the dream of a Texas women and her "Southern by Marriage" husband who decided to chuck the corporate world a try their hands at smoking some meat.  The southern taste has been brought to life here on the sea coast of New Hampshire and they even mix in a little Cajun twist with sides of Jambalaya.  License plates from around the country (and Canada) cover the walls and slants of the restaurant, red and white checkered table cloths cover the inside tables and a really nice out door seating area is placed along side the road, as an added incentive to pull over now!

The food starts on a massive cooker able to hold over 1,200 lbs of meat at one time.  Stoked with

only hickory wood, it is the first thing you smell when you exit your car and the aroma leads you by your nose straight to the giant chalk board the proclaims the days smoked delights and practically screams at you to try everything!  The meat is smoked for 12 hours, the southern way, low and slow and all of the sides are made fresh in house.  This joint is the joint that all other joints want to be like.

My meal consisted of 3 huge St Louis Style dry rubbed ribs and a 1/4 pound of the most amazing smoke turkey you will ever have.  Take a look at the picture, they slice this bird about 1/4" Thick...you think they are afraid of the bird being dry?  Not a chance, no thin slices here, you get the real deal and every bite is bursting with hickory smoke flavor.  My sides were baked beans and jambalaya.  For those of you who know me, my heart belongs to New Orleans and any place that sells jambalaya has got to be good, right?  I have to admit, this was a first for me, I have not found this offered as a side at any BBQ place yet and you will be so so happy that I did, because when you go, you simply must try it or some bad voodoo Cajun shit with fall
upon you.

My partner in smoke had a beef brisket sandwich with a side of mac and cheese.  How do I know that here meal was great, when I saw her toss the bun aside and dive into the meat I knew we had something here.  This brisket was so moist and juicy that it needed no sauce at all.  Have you ever had burnt ends?  This sandwich was filled with the burnt ends as well as the moist meat.  It simply was the best tasting brisket we have had in a long time.  On a score
of 1-100 I would give them a 150 on the brisket!  They also have on the menu, brisket chili, which means I will be back, just not on a hundred degree day!

On the wall by our table was a story of Goodwife Cole, a three times accused Witch from New Hampshire.  Not sure if this is where the name came from but since we mixed in some Cajun spice I guess it fits that the place "could" be named after an accused witch.  She was never convicted but the story tells of her death and subsequent burial ( I wont ruin the story for you, look it up, but it would have been more fitting if she was burned at the stake above hickory logs).  She wasn't, alas but you will be forever dreaming of smoke and brisket after a visit to @ Goody Cole's Smokehouse and Catering Co. in Brentwood, NH.

Please continue to send us suggestions on places to go and try via our Facebook @ The Bone Bag or Instagram @bonebagmatt  pages.
Smoke you next week!