by Shane Hylton
Columnist

This time I ended up in Des Moines, Iowa. IF you have never been to Des Moines, it is really a nice place. It is about a 5 hour dive south of Minneapolis on I-35 and is the capital of Iowa. I ended up in Iowa for a conference headed by Dr. Ed Thomas. Dr. Thomas is probably the most knowledgeable exercise historian. A lot of the products you see on TV or in your local gym have some connection to Dr. Thomas. So to say I learned a lot would be an understatement. So, I decided I would take some time and review some of the things from my trip.

First off, I will review a few of the places I went for dinner. In case you do not know, I love bar-b-que (BBQ), otherwise known as smoked meat (not to be confused with grilled meat). So on my first day in Des Moines, I grabbed my GPS and looked up BBQ joints and found a few. I then did an internet search on two of the places and was impressed with both of the places.

The first place I went to was called Jethro’s BBQ, right next to the Drake University campus in Des Moines. Now Jethro’s has some unique features, not only do they do awesome BBQ, they have a food challenge that has been featured on the Travel Channel’s show, “Man Vs. Food.” The Adam Emmenecker Challenge is made up of all the favorite foods from former Drake University basketball star, Adam Emmenecker. The challenge is you have 15 minutes to eat a sandwich with the following items: Spicy Pickle, Bun, Pork Tenderloin, Buffalo Chicken Tenders, White Cheddar Sauce, Fried Cheese Curds, Texas Brisket, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Cheese Burger and full pound of Waffle Fries. This is a monster of a challenge and many have failed at it, including, “Man Vs. Food” star Adam Richmond.

In my younger days, I might have actually tried this crazy challenge, now however, I am just fine not trying. So instead, I ordered a plate of BBQ and what an awesome plate it was. I had the four meat platter which consisted of a quarter pound of each of the following meats, turkey, pulled pork, sausage, and sliced brisket. Plus two sides and a piece of corn bread, the sides were mac and cheese and potato salad. Both of the sides and the corn bread were good, with my favorite being the mac and cheese (shells). The meats were so good I ate most of them without any sauce at all, which is the true mark of good BBQ. The brisket was some of the best I have had and hands down my favorite to say the least. The sauces that Jethro’s offer are pretty good as well, but not needed. They have the following, Jethro’s Secret (thick and sweet), Georgia Mustard (thin with a little heat), Carolina (thin and vinegar), Alabama White (tasted like a ranch), and Hot. My favorite would have to be a tie between the Hot and the Georgia Mustard. So if you are ever in the Des Moines, Iowa area, take the time and visit one of the Jethro’s locations, you will not be disappointed.

I would love to take a moment to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please travel safe and enjoy the time with your loved ones and friends.

Around Town

UND SPORTS

The UND Men’s Basketball team will be taking on Northern Colorado Friday the 21st in the Betty with tip off set for 7 PM. while the Women’s team will be at Northern Colorado on Saturday the 22nd.

Grand Forks Public Library Toddler Story Time

Toddler story time is presented every Thursday morning at 10 AM in the Story Room of the Grand Forks Public Library. Story Time includes short picture book stories, finger plays, puppet shows, and songs for children up to age three. Story Time usually lasts about 20 minutes and babies are always welcome.