Trailheads March on Battle Site, Steve Recounts His Hoosier Days, And We Attack Big Shanty Smokehouse.
On a gorgeous autumn morning, Trailheads Guy, Steve, and Patrick hiked Kolb’s Farm Loop, one of the many Kennesaw battlefield trails.
Thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers fought here on the morning of June 27, 1864. While revisionist historians claim the Civil War was about states’ rights, a more accurate description is that the fighting was over a state’s right to own slaves.
If this rewriting of history continues, this tragic period will soon be called The Civil Kerfuffle.
We’ve hiked this trail a couple of times, and you can get a good historical overview of the battle here. The picture above of the grave of the Unknown Soldier will whet your appetite. Spoiler alert, we know his name: Anonymous.
We assume there is no relation to the Anonymous we know and love, the decentralized, international collective of hacktivists and online pranksters who delight in using their skills for good and disruption. No, it’s probably not them.
Of course, no battle site is complete without cannons, so here you go. Bang.
This is an excellent trail with mild elevations and few exposed roots. Many people were out walking their dogs. Fio talked up a storm with new friends, and her voice got dry, so she had a refreshing dip and slurped some water. She is a lady, so slurping might not be the best description. Gulping ladylike?
As we walked, Steve noticed a couple approaching us. The woman was wearing an Indiana University sweatshirt, and Steve began barking, “Hoosiers, Hoosiers, Hoosiers!” Initially, the other Trailheads went into full-on rescue-and-recovery mode. “Steve is having an event! Guy, quick, scramble a chopper!” Patrick pleaded. But the couple simply stopped and began talking with him about their glory days at IU.
We had encountered this couple once before on a Kennesaw Mountain hike, when Steve and the husband talked for fifteen minutes. His wife eventually walked away, bored, as did we. Steve and his new friend kept chanting “Hoosiers, Hoosiers, Hoosiers!” What's with these people, anyway?
The same thing happened again. We could only take so much of hearing about Steve washing dishes in a sorority house (we’ll wait for the movie, thank you). The two men ran their Hoosier mouths for a while, then rejoined their mates, who were patiently waiting on the trail.
It was lunchtime, and Brad and Elvis would meet us at one of our favorite joints, Big Shanty Smokehouse in Kennesaw (read about a previous visit here). Roy wouldn’t be joining us because he was poolside in San Diego, enjoying a cocktail. We hate him. George was busy doing work. Huh?
Paul and Lori Holden own and operate Big Shanty Smokehouse, and they are barbecue royalty (so much so that Elvis wanted a pic with them). The couple came to Kennesaw after making their bones in Memphis, a barbecue mecca.
Paul is a championship pitmaster who has earned many trophies and awards at national barbecue competitions for his smoke artistry.
He also owns Willingham’s World Championship BBQ sauces and spices. The really good stuff.
The Shanty’s interior is cozy, and we placed our orders and grabbed a table on the patio. Brad and Elvis joined us, and we caught up while we waited for our plates of barbecue perfection.
The smoked chicken is roasted in a flavorful glaze. It's tender and flavorful. A side of hearty Brunswick Stew completed Steve’s lunch, and he was one very happy Hoosier.
Patrick had a half slab of tender, meaty ribs that fell off the bone. The ribs were so flavorful they didn’t need saucing, but he brushed some Willingham’s on them for a tasty adventure. Traveling with his rib feast were the two daily side specials: Cheesy Rice and Wham Corn. Both were savory and satisfying.
Guy and Brad split the Meat Sampler Platter, which is loaded with pulled chicken, beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and a sausage link, along with the two daily sides. The two men ate their way into meat comas and, with full bellies, requested a to-go box for the leftovers. Yes, it's THAT big!
We talked with Paul and Lori, and we grabbed a picture with the pitmaster, who once again pleased our palates.
After flapping our lips, we scattered to our homes to be bombarded with the final volley of nasty political ads before the midterms. We’re glad we didn’t eat at a Cheesecake Factory—it’s too controversial and too much like a gilded Russian palace.
Rating: Four Ribs*
Big Shanty Smokehouse
3393 Cherokee St NW
Kennesaw GA 30144
770.499.PIGG (7444)
*About Our Barbecue Rating System
Trailheads do not claim to be food experts, epicureans, or sophisticated palates. We are hungry hikers who attack a selected barbecue venue and ravage our way through whatever smoked fare and fixings they're dishing out.
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Ounr 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: our group has acclaimed designers, and they think the ribs graphic looks cool.
Who are we to argue? Enjoy.
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