The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Diverse Dining List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Happy List
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!



Diverse Dining List

BBQ in the Mississippi Delta

6/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Crossroads in Clarksdale


This modern landmark shows the original crossroads of Highway 49 and Highway 61.  Legend tells us that Delta blues king, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at this intersection... and The Blues was born!

Picture
Food at the Crossroads

Since we were spending the night in Clarksdale, in the birthplace of Delta Blues history, it seemed like barbeque would be a good pick for dinner.

Our host at the Shack Up Inn (we slept in a shack that was once a sharecropper's home on the Hopson Plantation) recommended Abe's Bar-B-Q.  We figured it must be good since it's  been serving barbeque since Abe first started the business in 1924.


Picture
A New Building

Abe's moved to this location at the crossroads in 1950.  It's possible Abe's has had a little bit of a facelift since the day it opened...but not much.

Picture
History

I wasn't surprised that we would find some outstanding barbeque in this tiny Delta town.  What did surprise me was the history of Abe himself.  Abe was not from Mississippi at all.  He immigrated to the US from Lebanon as a young man.  I wonder how difficult it may have been for a Lebanese man to fit into a small southern town in the 1920's. 

Abe's Kin!
Picture
I heard that Abe's family still owns the restaurant, but you can't always assume you'll get to meet some family.  So I was pretty thrilled when I met Cousin Jack, behind the counter.  He was friendly and answered a few questions, but there were other customers in need.  I wish I could have heard some stories about Abe back in the day. I'm sure the family has some to tell.

Chips with Barbecue Sauce
Picture
The place was pretty quiet when we first sat down.  We sat in the middle room and before long the room was filled with locals.  I noticed one family digging into a special treat while they waited for their order.  Each family member ripped open a bag of Block and Barrel rippled potato chips, spreading the bag open like a plate.  Then they squirted the homemade barbeque sauce over the top and dug in.  This routine seemed to be happening at more than 1 table. Next time, I'm having some Block and Barrel chip!

Picture
Love a Cluttered Wall

I always love photos and clippings and Abe's has a lot. Not only are these clippings framed on the wall, but under the table glass as well.   I also love the silly pig photos and crooked lamps and 45 records tucked here and there.  Restaurant chains like Cracker Barrel have tried to copy this cluttered wall look.  But I prefer the real thing!

Food
Picture
Pulled Pork

There's quite a history to Abe's meat. He was known for his slicing technique, even with pulled pork.  The pork is chopped not  pulled and his knife skills have never been duplicated. He could slice meat so thin you could see through it.  The initial cooking technique is unique, as well as the re-grilling done before serving.

Picture
Dessert?

Delta Donuts shares the parking lot.  Too bad it wasn't open or we could have grabbed a few dessert donuts to go.  However, we did get to sample some.  When we checked out of the Shack Up in the morning,  Delta Donuts was making a delivery.  Some hotels have continental breakfast, but the Shack up Inn serves coffee and complimentary Delta Donuts.  So good for you!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
       The Dining Blog

    This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food.  Below, you can read how this started.


    On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year!  (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to  join me, on some unusual dining adventures.  I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise.  Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining.  I have continued  blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned  along the way!
    ​

    Locations and types of dining adventures,  are listed further down.

    Archives

    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    000 The Beginning!
    00 BBQ
    00 Cookbook Adventures
    00 Drive Ins
    00 Drive Ins Diners Cafes
    00 Houston Area
    00 Saloons & Taverns
    00 Tiki Time
    0 Alabama
    0 Arizona
    0 Arkansas
    0 California
    0 Colorado
    0 Florida
    0 Georgia
    0 Idaho
    0 Illinois
    0 Iowa
    0 Louisiana
    0 Michigan
    0 Mississippi
    0 Missouri
    0 Montana
    0 Nevada
    0 New Mexico
    0 New York
    0 North Carolina
    0 Oklahoma
    0 Oregon
    0 South Carolina
    0 South Dakota
    0 Tennessee
    0 Texas
    0 Utah
    0 Vermont
    0 Virginia
    0 Washington
    0 Washington D.C.
    0 Wyoming
    1 In Belize
    1 In Canada
    1 In Chile
    1 In Curacao
    1 In Guatemala
    1 In Mexico
    1 In Roatan
    1 In Thailand
    Afghani
    Argentine
    Basque
    Belgian
    Belizean
    Bengali
    Bermudian
    Bosnian
    Brazilian
    Cafes
    Canadian
    Chile
    Chinese
    Columbian
    Cornish
    Costa Rican
    Cuban
    Curacao Island
    Czech
    Danish
    Diners
    Dominican
    English
    Ethiopian
    Filipino
    French
    French Basque
    French Creole
    German
    Greek
    Guatemalan
    Honduran
    Hopi
    Houston Area
    Hungarian
    Indian
    Indonesian
    Iranian
    Iraqi
    Irish
    Italian
    Jamaican
    Japanese
    Korean
    Lebanese
    Malaysian
    Mexican
    Mongolian
    Moroccan
    Nepali
    New Hampshire
    New York
    Nigerian
    O
    Pakistani
    Palestinian
    Peruvian
    Polish
    Portuguese
    Puerto Rican
    Russian
    Salvadoran
    Scottish
    Spanish
    Swedish
    Swiss
    Taiwanese
    Thai
    Turkish
    Uruguay
    Venezuelan
    Vietnamese

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Diverse Dining List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Happy List
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!