Delauder's in Gatlinburg

Hello brethren. My family is currently enjoying our annual week in the Smokey Mountains, and this year, we finally made it to Delauder's for some Q before they sold out for the day. We tried to get there last year, but were unsuccessful in being on time before they were sold out and closed. We were bummed to pull into the parking lot and find a "Sold Out" sign.

Everything we had was downright delicious. I've been eating a lot of pork at home lately, so I wanted beef. Brisket for me, pulled pork for my wife, and a big ole burger (not smoked) for my daughter, who doesn't really like bbq (I know, something's wrong with that kid).

The brisket I got was fantastic. In fact, I'll go so far as to say it was the best I've ever had. I don't even try to make brisket at home, after two failed attempts at it. I think I know what I did wrong (should have cooked it longer), but that's another post for another day. Anyway, Delauder's was top notch, and I would eat there again in a heartbeat. I'm surprised they manage things so well in such a small space. At some point, I wouldn't be surprised if they move into a bigger location, or perhaps take over the space next door, which looks like a small engine or mechanic shop.

We would like to catch Preacher's BBQ while we are here. Trying to work out those details. But if you get to Gatlinburg and get a hankering for some really good Q, I definitely recommend Delauder's.

Made it to Preacher's Smokehouse today. The food was very good. Plentiful portions. We couldn't eat it all. My wife and I split a 3 meat platter, with brisket, pulled pork, and burnt ends. We added a 4 bone section of ribs. Had a side of cole slaw and baked beans. We brought about half of the ribs home, but ate the rest. I enjoyed the experience as much as I enjoyed the food. Navigation took us down some backwoods country roads to get us there, in a heavy downpour. It felt like we were miles and miles from civilization, but just a short trip from there took us right back into the heart of Pigeon Forge (a slightly different route than the way we took to get to Preacher's). Sam (the owner) is a kind and humble guy. I love supporting small local independent businesses like his. Definitely worth the trip to eat there if you are in the area. The ribs were more savory than sweet, which isn't what I'm accustomed to when I make my own ribs at home. So, that was a nice change of pace. He even told me what he uses in his homemade rub for the ribs, which I found surprising, as lots of cooks aren't willing to do that.