Ryan Odette's guest blog

As I mentioned in the previous blog I had asked Ryan Odette to guest blog to fill you in on their experiences here. Here it is:


Last week my wife Tina and I traveled to Nolensville, TN to meet Pat Martin who had invited us to his BBQ joint. I had sent a letter asking if he would be interested in teaching us about southern BBQ. Pat and his wife Martha welcomed us like old friends. As did their friends John, Mandy and Fred McNeil (thanks again, everything was stupendous).

Pat taught us different methods of preparing and serving BBQ while he showed us around Nashville. When we finally got a sample of Pat’s we were about five sandwiches into our BBQ taste test, and we have to say not much compared before or after.

We drove to Memphis for the last two days of our vacation; Pat arranged a tour of the joints where he learned to cook in his 1st college town of Henderson, TN (he later transferred to Lipscomb University in Nashville) with his college buddy Burt Williams. Let me tell you that the ‘cue in Henderson is definitely old school! Both Pat and Burt are amazing ambassadors of Tennessee. While Memphis and the tour on the way was great we enjoyed our time in Nolensville much better; I guess it is true what they say one of the delights of life is eating with friends, new or old.

The reason for the trip was to learn a style of cuisine but it turned into a friendship that hopefully lasts a lifetime. I think I have some deep feelings for Pat Martin (in a non-“root” sucking kind of way, as Pat puts it).

Just want to add a big “Welcome to the World Daisy Elizabeth!!!” and I can’t wait to meet you and your brother, Wyatt (who was very sick and not in the mood for company while we were there), next time. Thanks again Pat, Bo, Ward, Martin and Raul for taking the time to teach a couple of Canadians about Southern BBQ.

See You Again Soon,
Ryan and Tina Odette
www.mamobistro.com