On Sweet P's BBQ. When I moved from California to Knoxville, Tennessee in 2005, I had never been to the Appalachians, I never drove down a back-country road in the hills while listening to wholesome soul music, nor did I ever taste the wonderfully unpredictable sensation that is BBQ. Since then, I have enjoyed plenty of delicious and finger-licking treats from the smokers of countless BBQ joints, and have fallen madly in love with every tangy morsel I've tried. You know that awful feeling one may get when he leaves his hometown, only to never again see it again? For me, there are some things I miss about California, and Sweet P's has made me forget about such things for the 20 hypnotic minutes I was in the restaurant. Do I feel guilty for forgetting my birthplace for those minutes? Not one bit.
Upon entry, you'll find the place quite inviting. The theme of the entire place is soul, as the name implies, with the ceiling adorned with rows of Christmas lights and R&B playing as ambience. It is what one would imagine a 'BBQ joint' to look like: shack-like, nostalgic, a tad unorganized, and very hospitable. Every breath I took held a light hickory scent, which was a nice tease since I would later taste it. Above all, the staff was respectful and helpful. However, since it was lunchtime, I felt that I had arrived at the incorrect time because the place was surprisingly empty. A few customers were enjoying their meals, but for me, despite the welcoming atmosphere, I felt somewhat alone and that I needed to place my order, get it, pay, eat, and say good-bye. I suppose this was my fault; nevertheless, I imagined it would be a little more energetic, even at 12:30 in the afternoon on a Tuesday. I can't possibly hold this against them too much, though; after all, they are just a wee bit in the middle of nowhere.
Of course, the entire point of eating food is eating food, no? And I will gladly say that I ate very well. I had only one item: their BBQ burrito, which I thought was a brilliant idea. The menu had the traditional BBQ entrees and sides, but what really caught my attention was their means of delivery. In all my BBQ experiences in the South, I have never heard of Southeastern cuisine wrapped up and served in a Southwestern fashion. When I received my BBQ burrito, wrapped fresh and snuggly in tin foil, my mind began to dwell on the sheer genius of such a simple lunch. I took my table, unwrapped my treat, grabbed a bottle of their thicker sauce, poured it on, and took my first bite.
Blissful paradise was achieved. I'm a huge fan of tasting multiple flavors and textures in one bite [which is why I like casseroles], and I couldn't stop relishing the fact that such wonder was far from over. Each bite was powerful, yielding that smokiness I had breathed in from the get-go. The slaw was very present, adding a creaminess, as well as a complementary crisp, to the burrito. I then discovered pinto beans, which further added texture to the palette, blending perfectly with the slight [and I mean slight] chewiness of the pork. And of course, the BBQ sauce's tanginess brought it all together with a tart and semi-spicy kick. Their hotter sauce worked just as well, only adding more of that kick. This divine process would repeat itself until the burrito had unfortunately vanished.
I left my table, gave my compliments to the cooks, and went on my merry way, satisfied as could be. My conclusion: my lunch at Sweet P's was tremendous. I encourage fellow BBQ lovers to get over there, order what you'd like, and don't just take a simple bite, but dive in face first. For me, this was only my first visit, but it certainly won't be my last. Sweet P's has taken something that we Southerners [figuring that a born Californian can be a Southerner] love and brought it to fantastic heights. I find that the collision between Southeast and Southwest is very creative and even more tasty. For that, I give Sweet P's BBQ and Soul House a solid 9.8/10 This review was written on May 28, 2013.
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