Dreamland?

bigabyte · 12-25-2011, 10:05 PM

What's everyone's opinion on Dreamland BBQ goods from Birmingham, AL?

My MIL's sister sent her a ton of stuff from Dreamland, and when we were over earlier today for Christmas, she was trying to offload some of it because it was just too much stuff for her.

I got a precooked rack of spares, a big tub of slaw and a big jar of sauce.

My MIL hated the sauce, she said it was spicy. I tried some after getting home, and it is on the thin side, and it is spicy. My first thought was pulled pork with that sauce. I've had far better, but I thought it was workable.

As for the ribs...well...I'm about as optimistic about those as any precooked ribs really, but I could be surprised. I know nothing about this "Dreamland" place.

The slaw came frozen, it definitely looks like a vinegar slaw with chunks of pepper in it.

I guess if the ribs aren't all that good, I might get some good pulled pork sammiches out of it if I cook up a butt by using the slaw and sauce.

Who is familiar with this stuff?

ShutYrMouth · 12-25-2011, 10:16 PM

never heard of it mang.

ShutYrMouth · 12-25-2011, 10:19 PM

just looked it up.
they do have their chit together though.
good model too use if yr a business guy.

big brother smoke · 12-25-2011, 11:17 PM

I have a jar and I did not care for it. Others use to swear by it on here a few years ago; hence the purchase.

BBQchef33 · 12-25-2011, 11:18 PM

Q up a couple of chickens to about 165. (or jsut roast them)

Pull all the meat off the bones into a big pan or wok, douse with Dreamland BBQ sauce and heat on the stove for 7-8 minutes tossing the meat and getting it well covered(and bring temps up higher). Add more sauce and serve that with garlic bread or toasted rolls....

THEN talk to us.. :)

This is a 'go to' recipe I ALWAYS serve for football games.. or friends just hanging out.. its good stuff. If you dont like it, i'll buy any sauce u dont want.

. i always have a few jars in the house.. always include it in orders, etc..

caseydog · 12-25-2011, 11:28 PM

I can't personally think of pre-cooked, packaged BBQ in the same way I look at fresh cooked BBQ. Sure, i still like my ribs a day or two after I make them, but it isn't the same as eating them fresh off the smoker.

Commercially cooked BBQ shrink wrapped better be farking awesome before it is shrink wrapped, or it is just one more commercial package of ribs.

To me, it doesn't matter if it came from Dreamland or Chef-boy-R-Dee -- If it is mass produced, it just isn't the same as something cooked at home.

As for the sauce, I don't know anything about it. I just don't care for pre-cooked bbq meats, other than jerky.

CD

BBQchef33 · 12-25-2011, 11:44 PM

What??? never had a slim jim?

frognot · 12-25-2011, 11:55 PM

We stopped at Dreamland in Birmingham about 5 or 6 years ago. I had the pulled pork and i think my wife had the chicken. Thought the food, service and decor was very good. I bought a t-shirt but no sauce.

When we got to Tennessee my wife discovered that she had left her purse there. We called Dreamland and a server had found it but we were gone when they ran to the parking lot. Instead of driving back several hours we had them mail it to us. The manager wouldn't let us pay postage, told us "we mail things all the time". The purse (with all it's contents) was well-packaged and arrived in Texas before we did (we spent a couple of days in TN with family).

Haven't been back to Alabama but if ever in Birmingham (or Tuscaloosa) will definitely be stopping at Dreamland.

wearcd · 12-26-2011, 06:20 AM

I went to the Dreamland in Birmingham a few years ago and don't remember the taste of the sauce. I didn't much care for the 'que (pulled pork and ribs), so I guess the sauce would be a major contributor to the dissatisfaction? Of course, this is my personal opinion, and everyone has one!

Bigdog · 12-26-2011, 07:41 AM

Smoke a fatty and dip the slices in the sauce. Then we'll talk.

Wyley · 12-26-2011, 08:20 AM

The Dreamland that used to be in Conyers, GA was awesome. We used to stop on the way back to SC and eat there on every trip. They served a bowl of their warmed sauce with fresh white bread to dip it in. It was amazing. We went to Dreamland in Huntsville, AL earlier this year and everything was the same up through being served the warmed sauce and bread, after that the food was very disappointing. And that is being kind. I doubt if I will ever set foot in there again.

We also went to Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, AL on another trip and I have to say I wasn't very impressed there either.

I love Dreamland's sauce and maybe we just walked into the one in Huntsville on a bad night but I don't see myself returning.

drbbq · 12-26-2011, 08:26 AM

Dreamland is a very famous very old BBQ joint in Tuscaloosa, AL frequented by many Alabama legends including Bear Bryant. The original served only ribs, sauce, white bread and beer for many MANY years. They famously have a sign that says "No Farting". The ribs are cooked on a unique grill direct and slow kind of like the Rendezvous. I have had a great slab there and a horrible slab. Typical of the old school places. The sauce is legendary and I like it.

Then they started a franchise arm and of course they needed a full menu. Last time I was at the original they had added slaw, beans, banana pudding (that was kickass) and a sausage special. I have no clue what the packaged ribs are but there is absolutely zero chance they are cooked like the original place does.

I haven't eaten at any of the franchise places but there's your history lesson.

posey's_pork_pit · 12-26-2011, 09:15 AM

We have a Dreamland up the road in Norcross ~ I was not impressed. The spare ribs were dry (their signature dish) and the pulled pork was worse. A few years later we were pulling an all day at work so they catered lunch. Yep, Dreamland was on the menu so I gave it another go. Just as bad as the last time.

However, I did like their sauce ~ I'm a spicy sauce kind of gal. It is on the thin side so I can see it working very well with pulled pork, chicken, beef, etc.

morgaj1 · 12-26-2011, 09:06 PM

Being from Alabama, Dreamland is in my backyard. I absolutely love the original one in Tuscaloosa and I really like their sauce. Several years ago, they opened one in Montgomery and it is not as good as the original. I am old enough to remember going to Tuscaloosa and eating in this little shack that only sold ribs, white bread and Cokes from a bottle. That was Dreamland.

bigabyte · 12-26-2011, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm definitely looking forward to trying the sauce now.

Luckily it's a big jar so I can try it a few different ways. I definitely hope to try the chicken, fatty, and make some ribs with it.

Do they sauce the ribs at all, or is it served on the side? Just wondering.

I forgot to mention that I got a Pecan Pie too.

I guess for the pre-cooked ribs, slaw and the pie, I should be prepared in case I am underwhelmed!

12-25-2011, 10:05 PM	#1
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS Downloads: 1 Uploads: 1	Dreamland? What's everyone's opinion on Dreamland BBQ goods from Birmingham, AL? My MIL's sister sent her a ton of stuff from Dreamland, and when we were over earlier today for Christmas, she was trying to offload some of it because it was just too much stuff for her. I got a precooked rack of spares, a big tub of slaw and a big jar of sauce. My MIL hated the sauce, she said it was spicy. I tried some after getting home, and it is on the thin side, and it is spicy. My first thought was pulled pork with that sauce. I've had far better, but I thought it was workable. As for the ribs...well...I'm about as optimistic about those as any precooked ribs really, but I could be surprised. I know nothing about this "Dreamland" place. The slaw came frozen, it definitely looks like a vinegar slaw with chunks of pepper in it. I guess if the ribs aren't all that good, I might get some good pulled pork sammiches out of it if I cook up a butt by using the slaw and sauce. Who is familiar with this stuff? __________________ Chris Baker For great food and and an even better time join the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns *First ever recipient of the Silverfinger Award!* Yes, I own a whole bunch of BBQ crap also. *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Get your MOINK Certification today!* The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club member

12-25-2011, 10:16 PM	#2
ShutYrMouth Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-01-10 Location: Columbus Oh Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	never heard of it mang. __________________ SHUT YR MOUTH BBQ TEAM DP Fat 50 Stumps Stretch WSM 22.5' Weber Kettle

12-25-2011, 10:19 PM	#3
ShutYrMouth Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-01-10 Location: Columbus Oh Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	just looked it up. they do have their chit together though. good model too use if yr a business guy. __________________ SHUT YR MOUTH BBQ TEAM DP Fat 50 Stumps Stretch WSM 22.5' Weber Kettle

12-25-2011, 11:17 PM	#4
big brother smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: Ventura, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have a jar and I did not care for it. Others use to swear by it on here a few years ago; hence the purchase. __________________ Peace and Smoke, BBS https://www.bigpoppasmokers.com/stor...nufacturer=314 My Weapons: Custom rig - Kandi, UDS; Bubba Keg; 22.5 WSM x 2; 18.5 WSM; BWS extended party; BWS Gator and an Onyx Oven; 29' ft Coachmen Leprechaun (Lola); Avatar by Grillman. Dan Chambers get well soon, so we can tell you to "Shut up Chambers"

12-25-2011, 11:18 PM	#5
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	Q up a couple of chickens to about 165. (or jsut roast them) Pull all the meat off the bones into a big pan or wok, douse with Dreamland BBQ sauce and heat on the stove for 7-8 minutes tossing the meat and getting it well covered(and bring temps up higher). Add more sauce and serve that with garlic bread or toasted rolls.... THEN talk to us.. :) This is a 'go to' recipe I ALWAYS serve for football games.. or friends just hanging out.. its good stuff. If you dont like it, i'll buy any sauce u dont want. . i always have a few jars in the house.. always include it in orders, etc.. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

12-25-2011, 11:28 PM	#6
caseydog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-08-10 Location: Dallas, TX Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I can't personally think of pre-cooked, packaged BBQ in the same way I look at fresh cooked BBQ. Sure, i still like my ribs a day or two after I make them, but it isn't the same as eating them fresh off the smoker. Commercially cooked BBQ shrink wrapped better be farking awesome before it is shrink wrapped, or it is just one more commercial package of ribs. To me, it doesn't matter if it came from Dreamland or Chef-boy-R-Dee -- If it is mass produced, it just isn't the same as something cooked at home. As for the sauce, I don't know anything about it. I just don't care for pre-cooked bbq meats, other than jerky. CD __________________ 1995 Red Weber 22.5 Master's Touch with Cajun Bandit Rotisserie mod, 18.5 WSM with iQue 110, 18.5 OTG, Copper Smokey Joe Gold with Mini-WSM mod, Black Smokey Joe Platinum (Jumbo Joe) IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller. From hero to ZERO in just one week! Are you ready for a THROWDOWN?

12-25-2011, 11:44 PM	#7
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	What??? never had a slim jim? __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

12-25-2011, 11:55 PM	#8
frognot Babbling Farker Join Date: 03-22-04 Location: Allen, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We stopped at Dreamland in Birmingham about 5 or 6 years ago. I had the pulled pork and i think my wife had the chicken. Thought the food, service and decor was very good. I bought a t-shirt but no sauce. When we got to Tennessee my wife discovered that she had left her purse there. We called Dreamland and a server had found it but we were gone when they ran to the parking lot. Instead of driving back several hours we had them mail it to us. The manager wouldn't let us pay postage, told us "we mail things all the time". The purse (with all it's contents) was well-packaged and arrived in Texas before we did (we spent a couple of days in TN with family). Haven't been back to Alabama but if ever in Birmingham (or Tuscaloosa) will definitely be stopping at Dreamland. __________________ Large Big Green Egg WSM Weber One Touch Gold Weber Summit Gold Super Fast, Super Accurate Orange Therma-Pen Retired: NB Bandera (2003-2009) that introduced me to y'all crazy farkers "If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it." deguerre Thanks to N8man & NorthwestBBQ for the custom avatars! (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(") "Hang in there Dan Chambers!"

12-26-2011, 06:20 AM	#9
wearcd is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-09-09 Location: Louisville, TN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I went to the Dreamland in Birmingham a few years ago and don't remember the taste of the sauce. I didn't much care for the 'que (pulled pork and ribs), so I guess the sauce would be a major contributor to the dissatisfaction? Of course, this is my personal opinion, and everyone has one! __________________ [B]The Cosmic Pig BBQ[/B] [B]Backwoods Competitor[/B] [B]FEC-100 [/B] [B]WSM 18.5 [/B] [B]Smokey Joe Silver[/B]

12-26-2011, 07:41 AM	#10
Bigdog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 09-17-03 Location: Wichita, Kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Smoke a fatty and dip the slices in the sauce. Then we'll talk. __________________ Bigdog Weber Platinum Kettle, Weber OTS, Meco square grill, ECB, a WSM, a cool fold up camping grill, a Blackstone flat top camping stove, The MOAB, and now the proud owner of a YS640, MOINK. Smoke on Brother KC Father of the Fatty (the name) 4/20/04 on the BBQ Brethren with inspiration from Brother parrothead.

12-26-2011, 08:20 AM	#11
Wyley On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-04-09 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The Dreamland that used to be in Conyers, GA was awesome. We used to stop on the way back to SC and eat there on every trip. They served a bowl of their warmed sauce with fresh white bread to dip it in. It was amazing. We went to Dreamland in Huntsville, AL earlier this year and everything was the same up through being served the warmed sauce and bread, after that the food was very disappointing. And that is being kind. I doubt if I will ever set foot in there again. We also went to Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, AL on another trip and I have to say I wasn't very impressed there either. I love Dreamland's sauce and maybe we just walked into the one in Huntsville on a bad night but I don't see myself returning. Last edited by Wyley; 12-26-2011 at 08:22 AM.. Reason: typo

12-26-2011, 08:26 AM	#12
drbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-26-04 Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Dreamland is a very famous very old BBQ joint in Tuscaloosa, AL frequented by many Alabama legends including Bear Bryant. The original served only ribs, sauce, white bread and beer for many MANY years. They famously have a sign that says "No Farting". The ribs are cooked on a unique grill direct and slow kind of like the Rendezvous. I have had a great slab there and a horrible slab. Typical of the old school places. The sauce is legendary and I like it. Then they started a franchise arm and of course they needed a full menu. Last time I was at the original they had added slaw, beans, banana pudding (that was kickass) and a sausage special. I have no clue what the packaged ribs are but there is absolutely zero chance they are cooked like the original place does. I haven't eaten at any of the franchise places but there's your history lesson. __________________ Ray Lampe Dr. BBQ The Honey Badger of BBQ. I just don't give a sh!t.

12-26-2011, 09:15 AM	#13
posey's_pork_pit is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-11-10 Location: Doraville GA Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	We have a Dreamland up the road in Norcross ~ I was not impressed. The spare ribs were dry (their signature dish) and the pulled pork was worse. A few years later we were pulling an all day at work so they catered lunch. Yep, Dreamland was on the menu so I gave it another go. Just as bad as the last time. However, I did like their sauce ~ I'm a spicy sauce kind of gal. It is on the thin side so I can see it working very well with pulled pork, chicken, beef, etc. __________________ Super fast Purple Thermapen Custom Reverse Flow 55 Gallon Drum Offset Weber SS Performer date code EE Weber 18 and 22.5 OTS Kettle w/Marty's handles Smokey Joe Silver w/wooden handle a.k.a. Mini Me Weber Smokey Joe Platinum date code ER Sipsey: Secret's in the sauce.

12-26-2011, 09:06 PM	#14
morgaj1 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-06-11 Location: Alabama Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Being from Alabama, Dreamland is in my backyard. I absolutely love the original one in Tuscaloosa and I really like their sauce. Several years ago, they opened one in Montgomery and it is not as good as the original. I am old enough to remember going to Tuscaloosa and eating in this little shack that only sold ribs, white bread and Cokes from a bottle. That was Dreamland. __________________ Eric A nation of sheep will soon have a government of wolves - Edward R. Murrow

12-26-2011, 09:19 PM	#15
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS Downloads: 1 Uploads: 1	Thanks for the feedback. I'm definitely looking forward to trying the sauce now. Luckily it's a big jar so I can try it a few different ways. I definitely hope to try the chicken, fatty, and make some ribs with it. Do they sauce the ribs at all, or is it served on the side? Just wondering. I forgot to mention that I got a Pecan Pie too. I guess for the pre-cooked ribs, slaw and the pie, I should be prepared in case I am underwhelmed! __________________ Chris Baker For great food and and an even better time join the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns *First ever recipient of the Silverfinger Award!* Yes, I own a whole bunch of BBQ crap also. *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Get your MOINK Certification today!* The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club member

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