Off to the Stock Show

The stock show is a very big to-do here in Denver.  It has been a part of Denver’s history for the past 113 years and counting.  Ranchers and farmers come from all over to be a part of and to participate in the Denver Stock show.  The stock show lasts for about 2 weeks, and is great family fun.  I have been living in the Denver area for 19 year now, and last night was the first time I had ever been to the stock show.  We went to the Grand Prix or the horse jumping event with our friends Janet and Bob.  We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the event.

Before heading out to see the horses, we decided that BBQ for dinner was the most appropriate dinner choice.  We decided on Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ.  It is a family owned and operated BBQ house.  The decor of Smokin’ Dave’s is very rustic and western.  It is a very fun, casual setting.  Chef/Owner Dave Oehlman is always around, and is usually at the grill cookin’ up the vittles.  There are a few Smokin” Dave’s BBQ houses in the Denver/Boulder areas of Colorado.  We went to the Denver location last night.  We have also been to the Lyons location, on route to Estes Park, Colorado as well.  The food is very good and full of flavor.  Whatever you decide to feast on, make sure to sauce it up with one of Smokin’ Dave’s famous BBQ sauces.  Or better yet, try them all.  As soon as we sat down, we were given some delicious home-made potato chips to munch on while we waited for our food to arrive.  This was also a way for us to sample all the sauces.  All four of us decided our favorite sauce was actually a combination of two of the four sauces.  We all liked a combination of the spicy sauce mixed with the tangy sauce to create our own version.

We all tried something different, and everything was finger lickin’ good.  Once I saw brisket on the menu, I stopped looking at anything else, and that was the dinner choice for me.  You got to choose two sides with your meal, and I chose red beans & rice and baked beans.  Both were delicious.  My meal also came with a corn muffin.   The corn muffin was so light and airy and just melted in my mouth.  Scrumptious!

My husband ordered the “man-handler” burger which was loaded with Angus beef, smoked pulled pork, bacon and cheese.  This was one tasty burger.  Bob and Janet ordered the pulled pork sandwich that was also very good.

The Smoke Ring, or menu.  The Smoke Ring and Smokin’ Dave’s is “dedicated to preserving and honoring the art of American BBQ”.

The Bar, complete with lamps made from converted license plates as lamps.

The chandelier made from old recycled bottles.

When you just can’t part with that old Ford truck, you make a bench out of it.

After dinner, we were off to see the horses.  This was the Grand Prix champ who had two perfectly clean shows and jumps.  He and his rider earned a cool $12,000 for their two perfect rounds.  The course was a tough course.  Only 3 of the 18 horses had perfectly clean rounds and jumps, and the grand champ was the only horse who had two perfect rounds.

Next time you are in either the Denver or Boulder areas, give Smokin’ Dave’s a try.  You’re going to love every bite.  You can find a Smokin’ Dave’s location by checking out their website at http://www.davesbbq.com.