Burgoo and Mutton BBQ - Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn

There are no slouches serving BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party. The best of the best serving various regional styles come to represent their genres and regions. Most of the stands have been making this an annual tradition. New to the Block party this year and a stand-out for both the quality and uniqueness of their Q was Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn from Owensboro, Kentucky. Mutton BBQ is big in Kentucky, more so than anywhere else, while burgoo was recently named the state dish of Kentucky.

I happened to be visiting the Moonlite Bar-B-Q booth at the same time as Danny Meyer, the CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group and the founder of The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, which this year celebrated its 8th year. Mr. Meyer graciously let me record his conversation with Moretta and Ken Bosley of Moonlite. Thanks to all three, with this brief video, I hope that you will learn a little more about these wonderful regional foods and the most well known maker of them.

Moonlite Bar-B-Q at The Big Apple BBQ from John Sconzo on Vimeo.

Comments

[Josh Norris]

It seems I found this entry over a month late.

For the record, Moonlite is the worst of the Owensboro BBQ joints. They have become the McDonald's of West Kentucky Pit BBQ, fast and cheap. As a local radio ad goes: "tourist go to Moonlite, but locals take their friends to Old Hickory."

Mutton and Burgoo are pretty much unheard of outside of the Owensboro area.

[John Sconzo]

If that is the case, I wouldnt mind checking out your assertion :-). If other places are better, they must be pretty good. Even if Moonlite is the tourist spot, it was still a revelation at the Big Apple BBQ for someone such as myself, who had never had either BBQ mutton or burgoo. Thanks for commenting!

[Josh Norris]

Several of the church groups make some amazing burgoo. It is hard to get a hold of it though, because outside of the BBQ Fest in May you have to know when that church is holding its summer picnic. If you ever want to make the trip to Owensboro, I'd suggest coming for the BBQ Fest. Blocks and blocks of food vendors.

I want a mutton sandwich now. lol