This weekend was a reunion for several of us Marines who served together years ago. We took a day trip to Hoover dam and afterwards decided to grab some BBQ.
I am an avid bbq/smoker myself and like to try various "mom and pop" shops and if I am able, to talk to the pit master themselves. Fox Smokehouse had been highly recommended by a friend and coworker, originally from Oklahoma, who said Fox' cooking was reminiscent of Oklahoma /Texas style bbq. Being from Arkansas, this immediately peaked my interest.
To cut to the point, the recommendation was a great one. The servers were very happy and helpful in explaining the menu and providing suggestions as to the dishes most commonly purchased. Making our food orders was easy thanks to the combination plates available and the aroma of the pit had our mouths watering as the servers described the various cuts of meat.
The owner, Dan Fox, came out a couple of times to talk with us, which is when we learned he too was a Marine and an Okee, which explained the smoking style of the pit master.
When our plates arrived, they were well portioned amounts of meat, most of us choosing the brisket and ribs. The hickory flavor was very good and the dry rub a nice blend of seasoning, giving the perfect blend of heat and sweet.
The mac and cheese was amazing with plenty of real cheese and smoke flavor. The cowboy beans were different, but good, they were exactly what one would expect on a cattle drive, a little bit of left overs and extras such as pork, celery, spices, onions, and beans all mixed and smoked together over hickory.
My only regret is that I live an hour away from this restaurant and can't make it a weekly treat to get my bbq fix when I'm not doing my own smoking!