This little piggy went to market...& cried Wee! Wee! Wee! all the way down 8th Avenue

This weekend, an unprecedented event occurred. I blogged while eating! My dinner not only filled my tummy but also filled my head full of adjectives I haven't used since I had to critique an avant-garde art exhibit during a college art history class. 

I'm going to own it: I love pork. And so, I have been practically stalking the progress of the new bar-be-que joint opening up next my new favorite neighborhood wine shoppe & the Kroger on 8th Ave. on the edge of Berry Hill. When I finally saw the OPEN sign, I was there. And was surprised to find upon entering that this was not going to be just any local BBQ place. This is B&C BBQ!


That's right, folks. The same owners of Bacon and Caviar Catering and the B&C BBQ stand at the Nashville Farmer's Market have opened up shop outside the green gates of the market. Having heard great reviews of all the food stands inside the NFM but not ever having the chance to patron any of them, I was thrilled to find a Nashville original in my own backyard.


I was also thrilled to find it was incredibly delicious.


I know I said I would start being tougher, more realistic, less "Ohmigosh this place is amazing and the food is so good and you have to go right away!" BUT, I don't think I have anything bad to say about my first B&C experience. 


B&C serves everything cafeteria-style, and they'll let you sample anything. Meat. Veggies. Side dishes. You want a taste? You got it! Although I took mine to-go, it did look like they have established a cozy little dining patio to the left of the restaurant. I saw strings of red lights; it'll probably be great in the spring and summer.


I ordered my standard BBQ joint fare: pulled pork plate with mac & cheese and green beans. (Well, I prefer collards but the beans were the only green thing on the line.) Generous portion of meat, 2 sides, and a corn muffin for only $6.75. What a bargain! The meat was lean and moist, but not greasy. The beans were so-so. A little overcooked, way too peppery, and overall rather bland. 


But let me tell you, the macaroni and cheese and corn muffin more than made up for the lackluster veggies. I dare say this was the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. It might even beat out the truffled mac from Bound'ry (you know, the one I argued with the waiter for...)! B&C's is creamy and garlicky with the perfect amount of cheese, so unlike most other Southern recipes that use lots of eggs and bake it casserole-style. I probably could eat it by the gallon! And let me tell you about this corn muffin. It was light, fluffy, and sweet, with a little crunch on the edge. More than a corn muffin, it was a veritable corn cupcake!

So, the downsides: besides the bland green beans and the lack of beverage variety (although beer is coming soon!), I hate that they use styrofoam dinnerware. I also was not particularly fond of either of the two sauces I tried. (B&C offers 4--a mild, medium, hot, and vinegar-based.) I tried medium, which seemed to have the wrong proportions of sweet and spicy. I couldn't exactly pinpoint what I didn't like, though. The vinegar sauce was nothing more than bottled vinegar with crushed red pepper flakes. Maybe the other 2 were better...

The End Notes:

• Need a fresh catering option? Think Bacon and Caviar!
• Looking to break the cycle of burritos and fast food in Berry Hill? Come to B&C BBQ!
• Great food, low prices, friendly staff. Can't ask for much more than that!