ARDBEG X SOUTHERN JUNCTION
ARDBEG X SOUTHERN JUNCTION
I love it when my favorite local joints get some well-deserved global attention!
Not far from my house is a small neighborhood called Chandlerville, where some of the most exciting food in Buffalo is being made — including great restaurants & vendors like Waxlight Bar a Vin, Barrel + Brine, and Flat 12 Mushrooms. If you're driving down that street at the right time of day, you might smell something so compellingly delicious that you can't help but pull over and check it out.
That's probably Southern Junction BBQ.
Ryan Fernandez calls his style of BBQ "Texish" because while his techniques are rooted in the traditions of traditional Texas BBQ that Ryan picked up during his time in Dallas, TX, many of the flavors are rooted in Indian, and more specifically, Keralan cuisine. This delicious fusion has made me slavishly devoted to classic BBQ dishes like Ryan's brisket and Indian-inspired dishes like his smoky tikka chicken and barbacurry. Alongside sides like beans, mango slaw, cardamom-infused cornbread, and his brisket biryani (my favorite)
Ardbeg, the Scotch Whiskey Distillery from the Isle of Islay, agrees and recently featured Ryan in the first episode of their new Bizarre-BQ World Tour series featuring DJ BBQ. For those of you who are unacquainted with DJ BBQ (Aka Christian Stevenson), He's an author, chef, and television/radio presenter - and possibly the most high-energy person I've ever met. He's also a walking tome of deep wisdom regarding fire, smoke, meat, and outdoor cooking.
I shot this series of portraits and behind-the-scenes images to accompany the release of episode one of the Bizarre-BQ World Tour for Ardbeg. TCO London produced it. Be sure to check it out, not just for some excellent food but also a great recipe for an Ardbeg Beastie Biryani — a perfect "Texish" cocktail.
