248 North Main Street, Barre, 476-8BBQ
The slogan at Ed’s is “The taste you can’t escape,” and crimeplays into every aspect of the restaurant. The windows are barred and fakebullet holes addle the doorframes. The cheery yellow walls are bordered withtrompe l’oeil barbed wire. Mugshots of Frank Sinatra and Jim Morrisonadorn the spaces not painted with the names of Ed’s sauces and rubs, which hehas sold since 2005. Named for different levels of capital punishment, eachsauce that I tried had a unique personality.
Much of what passes for barbecue in Vermont is slow-cookedpork slathered in barbecue sauce. Not so at Ed’s. Chicken, beef and pork aresmoked over apple wood and apple cider for a sweetly smoky, discernibly fruity taste.Think apple tobacco wafting from your southern grandpappy’s pipe.
These vapors provided the punch in the bestpulled pork sandwich ($8.95) I’ve had in years. Super moist but not overtlyfatty, no sauce was necessary on the satisfying shreds. However, a dash of sweet andtangy “Misdemeanor” did add to the experience.
The “Murder One” (hot, but not as strong as Capital Offenseor Lethal Injection), served beside my delightfully crispy brisket burnt ends($5.95) was more complex, with a fair amount of spice, but not a lot of heat.The clean-stripping ribs were enormous. A trio ($12.95) overflowed theirlarge plate. Baked beans were the best side, with a deep, surprisingly complexflavor tempered by maple syrup.
With last year’s loss of Finkerman’s in Montpelier, therehad been a pig-shaped hole in my heart. After pounding a pile of pork at Ed’s, it’s been reduced to piglet size. Perhaps a “Double Bubba” pulled pork sandwich ($13.95) willbe the cure?
This article appears in Apr 8-14, 2009.
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Smelled really good so I stopped in. Unfortunately, they dont have anything for an aquaterian…I love barbq shrimp, salmon ,scallops…
Absolute genius. I am making this a part of my 2010 barbecue road trip, although it will probably add on an entire week. Sounds worth it.
This place is great – way better than Finkerman’s. Ed’s is much more the real thing – Finkerman’s was kind of yuppie BBQ.(Though I do miss Finkerman’s original pulled pork on challah, the Jewish bread used on the Sabbath. That was a pretty funny food joke.)
Rumor has it that Ed’s will be offering a Friday Smoked shrimp special! I too would love to see them do seafood but I understand ‘baby steps’ have to occur when just starting up a business. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see some awesome things from Ed’s this summer! They are doing a Mother’s Day Special I saw in the World newspaper. Free appetizer or Dessert with entree for Mom! I cannot wait!
I actually ate again at Ed’s this weekend having their new smoked shrimp special. OMG!!!!! It was fantastic!!! I believe from Ed he will be offering this on the weekends but depending on the response, may even be adding this to his menu permanently. Glad to see you back in the kitchen Ed. I think you are on to something with seafood!