Okay, so there's nothing in the world quite like actually being there for an Alabama Crimson Tide football game. But if you can't be there, dream a little. What would your "Next Best Thing" look like? I'll bet it looks a lot like Big Jim's Old South Bar-B-Q in Encinitas, California.
Priority #1: Food. What's on your 'Bama gameday dream menu? Well for starters, nothing says Southern football quite like salty, steaming hot boiled peanuts. And how about we follow it up with some hot wings, and maybe a little Brunsick stew? Okay, so far so good. But let's cut to the chase-- we need barbecue. Alabama-style. Big, meaty pork ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, dripping with spicy sauce, served with baked beans, cole slaw, and thick, salty french fries. Mmm-hmm. And for those rare days when you're not up for barbecue, our dream location should have some other gameday offerings, like Southern-fried catfish with hushpuppies, fried chicken, or juicy burgers and steaks. For dessert, let's see...a little pecan or sweet potato pie, or some peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream should do the trick. And to wash it all down, we'd want our place to have a few choice Southern bottled beers (say, Abita Turbo Dog and Dixie), a good house draft (the house beer at Big Jim's is called "Roll Tide Ale"!) and some good old Southern style sweet tea.
Priority #2: The Game. Oh yeah, we're talking about watching football, aren't we? Well, our ideal location should probably make all the televised 'Bama games -- both network and pay-per-view -- available to us out here in San Diego. And, of course, they must be shown on a big-screen television. Want more? How about Hi Def? Still not impressed? Well, just when you least expect it, Big Jim will pull some crazy stunt like throwing a 10' (yes, I said TEN FOOT) projection screen up in the main dining room just for the 'Bama game. Where else can you get that??
Priority #3: Atmosphere. You say you want to hear "Yea Alabama" and "Sweet Home Alabama" over the restaurant sound system before the game? No sweat. You want a bar with the Alabama state flag and 'Bama memorabilia to look at? You've got it. Want a 'Bama banner-- or two!-- hanging in the restaurant? Fine. Hey, go nuts-- you want the waitstaff to wear T-shirts with "ROLL TIDE" on the sleeve? *Yawn* Wake me when you come up with a hard one, okay? Heck, as long as we're wishing, what if you could watch Alabama football by the beach? Big Jim's is just a couple of blocks from the Pacific Ocean!
Now you can see why we hold all our meetings at Big Jim's. Even if you don't come watch football games with us, you've got to try Big Jim's. Big Jim Wade is an Alabama Alumnus himself (Class of '69), who has spread the gospel of Alabama-style barbecue to Southern California. Remember heading over to Dreamland after a night game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for a slab of those spicy ribs and a cold beer? Remember buying a bag of hot, freshly boiled peanuts on a frosty Saturday morning on the way to Legion Field? Remember Archibald's pulled pork sandwiches? How about the fried catfish and sweet tea at City Cafe on Friday before a game? Well, Big Jim's has it all under one roof. If you ever have daydreams about those little roadside barbecue joints from back home, or if you never got around to trying one of them when you were in Tuscaloosa, you need to find your way to Big Jim's. If you're in the San Diego area, you're not far away. Click on the links below to see maps to the restaurant, then "Git In Here!" for the next 'Bama football game!
****Big Jim joins fight against terrorism!! Well, sort of. Big Jim paid a visit to the USS Alabama and made sure the troops received an adequate reward for their service to our country-- some of his famous Alabama-style barbecue! Read all about it right here!****
Click here for a map to Big Jim's, or click here to have Mapquest run the map for you!
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