Memphis Barbeque & Water - Otherwise Known as Heaven & Paradise

Having lived all my life in Memphis, Tennessee - I didn't know how blessed I was when it came to two things... barbeque and water. Have you ever had Memphis barbeque? No? You poor, poor naïve carnivore. Until you've eaten Memphis barbeque, you have neither lived nor experienced the euphoria of crispy, smoked meat. To say that barbeque is Memphis, TN's specialty dish is an understatement. I've met Memphians that eat nothing but BBQ and antacids. Which explains a lot.

While I'm not the biggest barbeque fan, I recall being sincerely disappointed by the barbeque in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. Three random states and all have left me dissatisfied. Kentucky's was far too dry and may have been chicken. Arkansas' barbeque was bland and frequently burnt. Pennsylvania's was passable, but left much to be desired. Just what gets people so addicted to Memphis-style barbeque? It's a three hit combo.

Sauce, spices, and meat. Now you're probably thinking... "That's pretty much all there is to barbeque." You'd be amazed by the quality of the meat in Memphian restaurants. Tender, juicy, and addictive are too weak of words to describe it. The sauce is always thick, zesty, and tangy- complimenting whatever meat it graces. If you're ever in Memphis and want to experience the slow-cooked heaven of Memphis- just try Corky's Rib's & BBQ, Central BBQ, or Neely's Bar-B-Q.

The other half of the Memphis specialty is something of a blessing on the city. Next to my family, what I miss most while out-of-town is the water. Crystal clear, smooth, and sweet- Memphis water is paradise. For those unaware, Memphis is blessed with its own aquifer. With an estimated 100 trillion gallons of clean, pure water underground- the city of Memphis couldn't be luckier.

Straight from the faucet- it cools you at night and welcomes you in the morning. Thanks to this marvelous source of water, Memphis lemonade and ice tea are equally impressive. I've heard numerous relatives lament upon moving away and experiencing non-Memphian water- from Nevada, California, and Arizona, to be exact. All inferior.

I actually heard an acquaintance from New York randomly criticizing Memphis water and praising what she used to drink 'from the bay'. Upon questioning her, she admitted to never actually drinking any Memphis water. Shortly after, she tried some and was stunned by the difference. If you're ever in my corner of Tennessee- you owe it to yourself to pour yourself an ice cold glass of water and experience the sweet, purity of the Memphis aquifer.