Antique hunters by the thousands will be drawn to Madison County this weekend for the annual Madison-Bouckville Antique Fest. We'll be among them, hunting for our favorite old and vintage things -- and lining up for a table at Ray Brothers Barbecue.
We visited the new barbecue restaurant -- or "RBQ,'' as they call it -- in June, shortly after it opened, and enjoyed some of the best pulled pork and barbecued chicken we've had in Central New York. It's sure to be crowded during Antique Fest weekend, but there's a small bar, about 50 seats inside and a huge deck with seating outside. There's even a horseshoe pit if you have time to play a few rounds.
The menu is limited to one page -- a nice change from multi-page menus that sometimes make decisions difficult.
Over cold beers, we shared a plate of hush puppies (fried cornmeal balls) -- deep brown and delicious. "Loud puppies,'' made with jalapeno peppers, are also available.
I'm not sure who "The Judge'' is, but "The Judge's Half Chicken'' was fall-off-the-bone tender, with a nice smoky flavor. It reminded me a little of the chicken at Brooks House of BBQ, in Oneonta.
Platters like the The Judge's chicken come with two sides and cornbread, though the cornbread was missing on my plate (not that I really needed it, along with sweet potato fries). "Sandies'' like the hot links and pulled pork are served with pickles and one side.
The vegetarian in our party enjoyed a sampler of sides (above left; photo by Maureen Nolan): coleslaw, barbecue baked beans and dirty potato salad. She described the beans as full of BBQ flavor and slightly sweet (they turned out to contain some meat), the slaw as lightly dressed and a nice change from the usual mayonnaise dressed slaw, and the potato salad as also packing some barbecue punch.
The menu lists just two desserts, apple crisp and maple bacon cheesecake. We had some qualms about the cheesecake, but the combination of sweet, salty and creamy -- with crunch on top from crispy-crumbled bacon and maple in the accomanying sauce -- is delicious and memorable. It's a dessert I would never make at home, but one I think about from time to time.
If we get back to Ray Brothers this weekend, we might give the jumbo smoked wings or "RBQd'' meatloaf a try. That sounds interesting and comforting.
Ray Brothers Barbecue is at 6474 Route 20, just west of Bouckville. Follow your nose! Information: 315-893-7200.
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