Wandering through the super market the other day looking for a BBQ sauce to flavor up my already moist and tasty smoked pork butt, I stumbled across a real treasure in both BBQ sauces and Chicago culture.
I was immediately struck by the bottle, a color saturated photo of Curtis Briggs, no-doubt the bottle’s namesake, smiling back at me. The Captain’s got a red cape thrown over one shoulder and, on the other breast of the cape, the words ‘cooking genious’ are stitched. Turning the bottle over you’re given a quick bio on Curtis and his aptly named ‘Boss Sauces’ and, I guess in case you have any questions, Curtis Brigg’s phone number. Seriously, the 773 prefix and all. I have every intention of calling this number one of these days, most likely at the end of a decent smoke when I can appropriately extrapolate on my enthusiasm for my man Capt. Curtis’ amazing Boss Sauce.
I bought his Hickory flavor and was pleasantly surprised in the richness of the sauce, so much more flavorful than the other 2 store bought brands I picked up (Open Pitt and Sweet Baby Ray’s). The folks over at BBQ Sauce Review agree with my enthusiasm for the sauce, though they seem to be less fond of the packaging than I was.
A quick googling the following day turned me on, not only to the video below, but also to the fact that Curtis has a restaurant on Chicago’s south side, the aptly named Captain Curtis’ Shazaam Restaurant located at 8210 S. Cottage Grove Ave., where his famed BBQ is dished up with live Jazz and R&B until 1am every morning. My trips to the south side are far too infrequent, but every time I head down to our richest source of Chicago history I am fed well and plenty and left rejuvenated having engaged again with so much of my city’s rich historical roots. The Captain’s restaurant is next on my hit list and I promise to offer a full review after my visit.
The name of our site, Outsider’s Almanac, has several important meanings to me not the least of which is the effort to get outside of one’s comfort zones, one’s home and one’s neighborhood. In Chicago it can at times be as hard to find an event outside – like biking or hiking or snowboarding – as it is to find the motivation get outside of your own 4 block confine. Every part of Chicago is so rich with great food, great people and amazing history that it’s often too easy to become rote in well-worn tracks. But, as the Captain now stands testament to in my mind, there are too many riches outside of what I know to stay comfortable or predictable for too long and, so, it’s time once again for me to get down to the south side and try some of Captain Curtis’ Shazaam BBQ.
7 Comments
This man is a god.
I know, right? I’d like to do an audio and/or video interview with this guy. We’ll see. I’ll put another post up after we visit his restaurant.
When are we going? I want some shazzam!
I think the plan is, not next week, but the following. Get us some ribs and r&b and hopefully have a sit down with the captain.
I hope you’ve managed to make the trip. Curts is incredible. In my opinion the hot bbq (not plain hot sauce, but the hot BBQ sauce) is the best, and should be enjoyed on his rib tips.
I think they only have live music on friday and saturdays.
We’ve been hitting the Captain’s places through three revisions. 7 years ago it was a greasy hole in the wall.. then he build nice place next door.. probably the nicest BBQ place in south chicago.
I came around the corner one day and almost cried when it was gone. It took me a few seconds to notice the new enormous (by south side BBQ standards) resturaunt, once again, next to the last place.
The ribs and tips are good. The breading on the wings is excellent. I recommend getting a combo.
I’m possibly a little more partial to the meat at Lems because they char it after smoking but Curt’s meat is no slouch.
Sauce is the real reason to go. and remember, you can get the sauce mixed. I had Lemon Honey and Hot mixed just yesterday.
The hot “electric” sauce (often called “table sauce” not hot sauce [bbq]. It’s a “Lousiana HotSauce” style sauce but it’s way better. It’s probably my favorite hot sauce, along with Hulla Girl.
Curts a great guy. I’d highly recommend stopping down to try him out. You can order his stuff on-line at http://bbqchicago.com but I’d go for the experience.
I’m stocked up now.. I picked up a half-gallon of Lemon Honey and a large electric for the office.. and two electric and a regular size lemon honey for home. The wife complains the Hot Boss is too spicy.. and I’ve still got a quarter gallon to get through.
That’s crazy, I was literally just thinking about how we hadn’t been down there yet about an hour ago.
Ok, it’s in my sights, I’m getting to Capt. Curt’s before the end of July.