Friday, March 23, 2007

Dreaming of Dreamland

Why did it take so long for me to get to Dreamland?

For years, I heard about the ribs served at this barbecue joint near the campus of the University of Alabama. As a person who holds a Ph.d in Barbecue Science, I was skeptical. Were they really that good? Back in the day, Chuck Williams -- a colleague at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer who sweared by Dreamland -- said he was going to bring back a rack so I could sample them.

Those poor ribs never made it to Georgia. Chuck probably finished the entire rack by the time he got to the Tuscaloosa city limits. There were bones all over his backseat.

Dreamland has expanded to Birmingham and Huntsville so recently I stopped in at the one in Huntsville. Let me tell you, those ribs are better than advertised. So good they need to hose you down on the way out to remove all the sauce on your body.

No wonder Bear Bryant stayed in Tuscaloosa so long.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

US President Tim Kalemkarian, US Senate Tim Kalemkarian, US House Tim Kalemkarian: best major candidate.

RICHARD HYATT said...

Excuse me. Does Tim Kalemkarian eat ribs at Dreamland?

Anonymous said...

The franchise "Dreamlands" are ok and you usually get better than average ribs, but if you really want the Dreamland experience, you have to go to Tuscaloosa and eat in the old cinder block building that's somewhat off the beaten path several blocks off McFarland Blvd. It's kinda like going to the "new" Chicken Comer's...the barbecue is ok, but it will never be like the old cinder block building off the beaten path in Phenix City.

RICHARD HYATT said...

I may have to go to Tuscaloosa if you say the ribs are better there than at the franchises.