CEDAR RAPIDS, IA(BBQCRITIC) CR Midnight Smoker BBQ sounds like a movie about a mysterious Pitmaster cooking into the wee hours of the night. Well this is no movie, but there is some truth to the story.
Pitmaster Greg Stoll, owner of this new BBQ venue located inside the NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told me his mother-in-law nicknamed him Midnight Smoker because he would smoke meat from midnight to the next morning for his family. What a lucky family because his BBQ is FIRE!
I just discovered this place and saw posts on his business Facebook page, so I messaged Greg. During our brief correspondence, Greg sent me a photo of his sliced brisket in a food container. It looked so delicious I had to post it online.
Pitmaster Greg Stoll, owner of this new BBQ venue located inside the NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told me his mother-in-law nicknamed him Midnight Smoker because he would smoke meat from midnight to the next morning for his family. What a lucky family because his BBQ is FIRE!
I just discovered this place and saw posts on his business Facebook page, so I messaged Greg. During our brief correspondence, Greg sent me a photo of his sliced brisket in a food container. It looked so delicious I had to post it online.
I told Greg I would visit Thursday and try it. Then I got a very disappointing message. He ran out! I understood and I was happy his business was busy. So I agreed to come out Friday.
Greg immediately knew who I was by the BBQ CRITIC hat I was wearing. We had talked a bit about his homemade rubs and sauces, and smoking meats the meats. He even gave me a quick tour of his smoker area and the woods used. Pretty cool stuff and I will get more in depth about that when I write my official review of CR MIDNIGHT SMOKE BBQ.
Greg immediately knew who I was by the BBQ CRITIC hat I was wearing. We had talked a bit about his homemade rubs and sauces, and smoking meats the meats. He even gave me a quick tour of his smoker area and the woods used. Pretty cool stuff and I will get more in depth about that when I write my official review of CR MIDNIGHT SMOKE BBQ.
 |  |  |
Eagerly I watched him reach into his warmer and pull out a long hotel pan cradling a butcher paper, wrapped brisket. The juices glistened right through it and the aroma was heavenly. What Greg revealed to me was a beautifully smoked Texas style brisket, with bark all around. A carefully crafted work of art.
Making gradual slices, I saw the juices drip slowly down the meat right on to the cutting board. He gathered the meat together and handed it to me in a food container. I grabbed a slice and took my first bite.
I stood there in disbelief, questioning my own senses. Could this be on the same level of a competition brisket? Could it be even better? I finally just had to say it, "This is the best beef brisket I have ever tasted in my life," and I have tasted a lot of briskets!
Making gradual slices, I saw the juices drip slowly down the meat right on to the cutting board. He gathered the meat together and handed it to me in a food container. I grabbed a slice and took my first bite.
I stood there in disbelief, questioning my own senses. Could this be on the same level of a competition brisket? Could it be even better? I finally just had to say it, "This is the best beef brisket I have ever tasted in my life," and I have tasted a lot of briskets!
 |  |  |
It was time to shout it from the roof tops! Then I paused and started to question myself. Is this really that good or is it all in my head? I had to find out.
I called my fellow BBQ CRITIC RESTAURANT JUDGE (and KCBS Master BBQ Judge) friend, Francis Dutton. My excitement intrigued him and he asked, "Is it really that good?" I said, "Yes it is!" So we went back together just today.
I read his FB post today which said, "Herb Kane was blowing up my phone with texts about a place in the NewBo City Market for BBQ. What Herb was telling me seemed Totally crazy & I thought he might be out of his mind. Well today, he picked me up at 12:15 & we went to CR Midnight Smoker BBQ."
What did Francis think? Watch the next two video clips.....
I called my fellow BBQ CRITIC RESTAURANT JUDGE (and KCBS Master BBQ Judge) friend, Francis Dutton. My excitement intrigued him and he asked, "Is it really that good?" I said, "Yes it is!" So we went back together just today.
I read his FB post today which said, "Herb Kane was blowing up my phone with texts about a place in the NewBo City Market for BBQ. What Herb was telling me seemed Totally crazy & I thought he might be out of his mind. Well today, he picked me up at 12:15 & we went to CR Midnight Smoker BBQ."
What did Francis think? Watch the next two video clips.....
BBQ Critic Restaurant Judge, Francis Dutton, describes
the meat from CR Midnight Smoker BBQ.
 |  |
Greg Stoll, owner of CR Midnight Smoker BBQ,
talks with Francis.
Folks, it turns out I am not nuts! Well, at least most of you believe that - I think. Seriously though, this brisket is really that good. I ask all my friends - BBQ judges, competition cooks and anyone else who loves BBQ to go get some brisket. Tell Greg BBQ Critic sent ya!
Discovering CR Midnight Smoker BBQ this week is what I call BBQ serendipity. I am looking forward to bringing the BBQ Critic Restaurant Judges in for an official review,
Stay tuned!
Herb
BBQ CRITIC
Subscribe to our TEXT ALERTS so you know when the next review goes online!
Discovering CR Midnight Smoker BBQ this week is what I call BBQ serendipity. I am looking forward to bringing the BBQ Critic Restaurant Judges in for an official review,
Stay tuned!
Herb
BBQ CRITIC
Subscribe to our TEXT ALERTS so you know when the next review goes online!
RSS Feed
