Trailheads are ordinary men who walk the walk of everyday people. And so, in a show of solidarity, two of our crew (Roy and Guy) decided to get the popular Omicron variant of COVID and experience it for themselves.
The other four Trailheads (Brad, Patrick, Steve, and George) gathered to hike in honor of our fallen compatriots. But there was a problem–– who would lead us? Guy has always been our keeper of the trails, and he was absent (as was Fio), but George bravely stepped into the leadership void (he does big boy hikes in Oregon for crying out loud!).
Elvis hiked solo. He missed his Fio.
And so, we began our journey on the Vickery Creek Trail at Oxbo Road in Roswell, a virgin trail for us. It is a beautiful hike with well-kept paths, good elevations, and enough beautiful sights to make the senses of smell, taste, touch, and hearing envious. We had a spirited conversation no one would have mistaken for a moving Mensa meeting and enjoyed an incredible journey through the scenic woods on a cool winter day.
Happily, no men were lost along the way. General George was triumphant in keeping his troops intact, and all were famished.
Patrick manned the Yelp app and searched for a nearby barbecue joint. He found one with a four-and-a-half-star rating called La Sierra BBQ. Patrick punched in its coordinates and discovered it was an 18-hour drive. The fool forgot to specify Roswell, GA. La Sierra BBQ is in Roswell, NM. Too bad, the place looked fantastic.
Perhaps there's a roadtrip in our future.
So, we went to the nearby Spiced Right Ribhouse in Roswell, GA, where Patrick had been with Roy and Guy after an earlier hike (here’s the earlier review). What would George, Steve, and Brad think of this place?
George got the brisket platter. The meat portion was not generous, but that was just as well since George thought the meat looked undercooked for his preferences. He said the slaw was good and the Brunswick Stew exceptional. We all agreed on that point. The stew is the star of the show with a vinegary punch.
Patrick got the brisket sandwich. It’s on a toasted bun. Hooray for that, but the meat didn’t have a savory smoked flavor. The onion rings were tasty but limp. Not crispy. Wah! Patrick likes everything to be extra crispy.
Steve thought the pulled pork was very good thanks to the spicy sauce. The pork itself was okay, but the sauce lifted the pig to new heights. Proof that pigs can fly with the right sauce.
Brad ordered the signature ribs, forgetting to ask what kind they were. He thought they would be baby-back ribs. They were not––Brad got St. Louis-style meat and bones. We forget that everyone doesn't know and anticipate our preferences. When is there going to be a psychic barbecue joint? Ask before ordering next time! It's the new Trailheads Way.
Brad said these big boys were fatty, and he longed for his babies! The mac ‘n cheese was a bit too creamy for his taste, lacking that wonderful crunchy roof of toasted cheese goodness that he adores. But Brad was thankful his lunch was much closer than an 18-hour drive.
We’re hoping to have all six Trailheads next Thursday embarking on a new adventure in nature and barbecue land.
Rating: Four Ribs*
Spiced Right Ribhouse
635 S Atlanta St, Roswell GA 30075
spicedright.com
*About Our Barbecue Rating System
Trailheads do not claim to be food experts, epicureans, or sophisticated palettes. We are hungry hikers who attack a selected barbecue venue and ravage our way through whatever smoked fare and fixings they’re dishing.
Our reviews feature what we believe are the highlights of the menu we sampled. So our intent is not to trash talk the saintly folks who tend to smoldering smokers on hot, humid summer days. They are sacrificing themselves in the noble art of smoking meats and feeding the drooling masses. Many are independent entrepreneurs who are the backbone of this humming American economy.
Now that you know our standards, you may wonder why every barbecue place gets a four ribs rating. The answer is easy: we have acclaimed designers in our group, and they think the ribs graphic looks cool.
Who are we to argue? Enjoy.