Shealy’s gets the crown
It’s a rule in the Bridges family that you don’t set foot in/near Batesburg-Leesville without getting some of the best barbecue in the history of civilization, from Shealy’s Bar-B-Que. I happened to be out that way last weekend, to judge a beauty pageant.
I know, I know…Gervais is like the John Roberts of barbecue, but a beauty pageant?
It’s actually the second time I judged this particular contest, and Gervais says, there is nothing like a rural South Carolina beauty pageant. Where else will you hear the emcee say, “Her hobbies include deer-hunting with her boyfriend,” or “mud-bogging,” or “catching crawfish in the creek in her backyard.” And no, I’m not making those up.
My favorite part about being a judge is interviewing the contestants. I asked each girl about the last book she read, and was floored when one girl said Fahrenheit 451. These were some of the brightest, most genuine, and most talented women you’ll ever meet. Easy on the eyes, too.
One of the perks of being a judge this night was that Shealy’s provided the grub, gratis. Pulled pork barbecue, fried chicken, green beans, apples & carrots, and rice with milk gravy – forgetaboutit… the apples and carrots were surprisingly good, and the rice and milk gravy might be what the next world war is fought over.
If you’re in or even near B-L, do yourself a favor and get some of Shealy’s barbecue. It’s the most beautiful product to come out of South Carolina since Kimberly Aiken.
12 comments:
The highlight of my career as a "journalist" was when I interviewed Kimberly Aiken and Santa Claus on the same day.
How is recommending a restaurant's BBQ an advertisement? Gervais reviews BBQ establishments all the time and I've tried out a few new ones because of those reviews. I have yet to be disappointed by any of them. Keep up the good work Gervais!
This is interesting, I'll have to check it out next time i'm in Batesburg-Leesville. Question, which in your opinion has better BBQ, Batesburg-L or Kingstree?
Tim Kelly thinks he interviewed Santa Claus? Explains a little.
TK,
I got to escort Kimberly in the Ms. Columbia pageant back in high school. I didn't wash my arm for like, yet.
Yeah, that's the best book about Wheaties I've ever read. (Okay, I haven't really read it.)
Michael, I haven't eaten barbecue in Kingstree, so I can't really say. Shealy's is the bomb, though.
palmetto,
the Bridges and Shealys are in no way related. Keep tryin.
Rod's jealous that Santa Claus has refused to appear in the pages of the Lake Murray News since I interviewed him.
Jackie Hites BBQ in Leesville is much better cue, but Mrs. Shealy has the better chicken (umm, pulley bones) and veggies. Plus, Jackie's the certified "Crappie King of South Carolina" and has an autographed photo of "Enos" from Dukes of Hazzard over the buffett line. You can't get much cooler than that!
That guy who played "Enos" is an underappreciated actor, and Catherine Bach will always be the definitive Daisy Duke as far as I'm concerned. She's no Kimberly Aiken, mind you, but back in the day she could have easily been, like, Miss Batesburg-Leesville or even Queen of the Okra Strut.
School House BBQ in Scranton, SC is the best BBQ in the state! I have tried just about every place there is to eat BBQ in SC.
I'm 38 years old have have been eating at Shealy's since I was old enough to eat solid food. (And they've been around even longer than that!) I may be a little biased, but I think it's the best bbq restaurant in South Carolina, and I've tried quite a few. Of course, there are a lot of very, very good close seconds...
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