Hutch's BBQ ...
I don't know exactly what I've got … but I'm pretty sure BBQ sauce is the cure. It's sweet, it's tangy, it's sultry, it's … my lover. And when you load it up onto a pulled-pork sandwich, throw in some beans, fries, and a cup-o'-cole-slaw to keep it company … well, be prepared to say "I do." For a while now The Good Grub has been craving some goodness of the BBQ-variety and luckily our GRUB buddy Quinn C. tipped us off to his childhood stomping grounds, Hutch's BBQ in Pasadena. As the neon sign outside suggests, this place has been around since the 40's, and I'm pretty damn sure nothing has changed … and why should it? The cottage style look from the outside and the dark wood furnishings inside give it that cool, old-school feel … but it's the open kitchen smack dab in the middle of the dinning room that really let you know this place is legit. Sure it set off the smoke alarm a couple of times mid-meal, but that's just how it was back in the day … show some respect for your GRUB-elders! As I alluded to above, I didn't really need a menu to know what I'd be going for … it always has been, and I'm pretty sure it always will be … all about the pulled pork. Why would I want to use a fork and a knife to cut my meat, or really even have to chew at all for that matter, when I could just let the intrinsic-tender-juiciness and semi-shredded, fell-straight-from-the-bone delight do it for me? At Hutch's it didn't disappoint, loaded on a soft french roll, they gave a generous pile of the good stuff and drenched it in that mouth-watering BBQ sauce. But what to add to this sandwich of BBQ glory? We went first with the BBQ baked beans … smokey and hearty. Second round pick, but the real sleeper of the draft … the french fries … nice-n-salty, just how we like them. Yeah, sure not that original you might say … but you know the greatest thing about a side of fries to go along with your pulled pork sandwich at the Hutch's? Well, about two minutes into your meal you get a free order of pulled pork fries … which, screw it, I'm just straight-up ordering next time. Add to all the glory a giant cup of ultra-cool-and-rich cole slaw … aka the perfect sandwich topper … and this love-fest is about to become an epic eat-a-thon. If you're mouth isn't already giving you a hint, your belly will soon … it's about time to GRUB, but more importantly… it's time to hit up Hutch's. And so the journey continues …
