The food in this post were provided by Red Desert BBQ but
the opinions expressed here are my own.
After a 2-hour drive, we arrived at
our hotel in Tucson. It was time to unpack the car and relax. With any road trip,
I think the first day is the longest as your body gets used to being in the car
for an extended period and watching the sun rise and then set. Luckily, we
ended up at the hotel just before sunset which was a refreshing change from our
road trip last year.
Our second stop on
the barbeque trail is Red Desert BBQ. Pit Master David Martin started his BBQ
journey about 20 years ago with a smoked turkey in his backyard smoker. He went
on to prepare other meats like hams, Boston butts, ribs, etc. to hone his
craft. Five years ago, he bought a commercial smoker and his BBQ catering business
was born. After growing in popularity, David bought a food truck to bring his
BBQ to streets where everyone could enjoy. In 2017, Red Desert BBQ went
brick-and-mortar with a location on Prince Road. On Saturday, November 3, 2018,
Red Desert BBQ celebrated their 1st Anniversary and shared the love
with Tucson giving them 25% off their bill. They had a line out the door for
hours!
Whenever I visit a
BBQ joint, I look for a sampler or combo plate where I can taste the array of
BBQ. Red Desert BBQ’s Sampler Plate comes with two sides. We tried the brisket,
baby back ribs, pulled pork, coleslaw, and beans. The brisket was tender, and
you can taste the hours of smoking in this meat. Bonus points for keeping some
of the fat cap on the brisket! The baby back ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender
and juicy with lots of smoky flavor. The pulled pork was competition ready,
tender and not mushy. Bonus points for including pieces of the bark! The beans
were balanced with sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. The coleslaw was light and
crisp.
Mac and Cheese uses
Dave’s famous smoked gouda sauce as a base, adding freshly cooked macaroni, and
then adding cheddar and gruyere. It was the creamiest and gooiest mac and
cheese I have ever eaten! I am still dreaming about it now! I think I would get
this again next time, chop up some brisket and mix it in. Now, that would be a
meal!
Red Desert BBQ is a
great mom and pop BBQ joint that shouldn’t be missed. With our tummies full, it
was time to hit the hay for Day 2 of our road trip to the 2018 World Food
Championships!
For more information:
918 W Prince Rd
Tucson, AZ 85705
+1.520.838.0035
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
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