Do I regret moving to the Twin Cities? No.
Do I miss Portland? Yes. Parts anyway.
Of the things I miss the most about Portland are our friends. I miss the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. I miss what Portland used to be, not so much what it is now (it is not better or worse, it is just different than the Portland I fell in love with). I miss the bike rides through the west hills, and out to Hood River in the Autumn. And I miss Matt’s bbq.
Matt’s bbq was my first real dance with Texas style bbq – specifically the brisket. And you never forget your first. (My hips and thighs certainly won’t ever forget.)
At a previous job (the employer I don’t care to mention) we used to get free lunches every Thursday. One week, while working for the day in the warehouse, I suggested we all get Matt’s. Everyone at the warehouse was not only well-acquainted with Matt’s, but ecstatic at the suggestion.
I may have ordered way too much on purpose and took all the leftovers home. But that is not the point. The point is, everyone had Matt’s for lunch that day like a family, around a big table, and we all ate way too much, and productivity for the remainder of the day was basically shot.
When we moved from Portland to the Twin Cities (pro tip, never ever ever rent a shipping container from PODS), we chose Matt’s bbq as one of our final meals in Portland to send us off right.
Our dear friend Travis was there to help us move that day, and because all our furniture was already out of the house, we set up our table and chairs right there on the parking strip and had one of the most memorable meals of my life.
It was an emotional moment.
I have not yet found bbq that can compare to Matt’s. And, maybe that’s just as well. My hips and thighs could certainly use a break.
I suggest, for anyone living in, or visiting Portland, you get the brisket and a couple hot links. (Maybe call and reserve your food ahead of time since they sell out frequently.) All their sides are great, so get some of those too. And make sure to load up on sauce. Their straight-forward bbq sauce is more like a marinade (I believe) which, as a modest aficionado of condiments, I’d never normally reach for. But it is still quite tasty,.
Guy Fieri approved
Update: After an exhaustive search, I’ve found my new go-to bbq – Black Market StP. Right here, dangerously close in Saint Paul, MN. My hips and thighs are going back to work again - how it goes.