The Pik'n Pig

November is a special month in our home, and not just because of the arrival of Thanksgiving.  For our family, November is “birthday month”. 

In our family, we always try to make the birthdays special for everyone.  We don’t try to make the current year’s birthday more special than the birthday celebration of the previous year.  If we used that approach we’d eventually get to the point that the celebrations would become expensive, extravagant and terribly unmanageable.  Instead, we have always tried to make each birthday a little more meaningful and special than the other days around the birthday.
   

Louanne’s birthday is November 21.  Since her birthday this year landed on Sunday, we decided to treat Louanne to her special birthday dinner on Saturday night before her birthday.  The kids were told to not make any plans and we all looked forward to a great Saturday night together celebrating Louanne and trying to spoil her a little.
 

After some serious deliberation Louanne decided to throw her trust into a recommendation that I made.  I suggested we take a short road trip to a neat little BBQ restaurant that I had visited previously - The Pik’n Pig in Carthage, NC.  

I first learned about the Pik’n Pig from a friend of mine at work.  He and I sometimes travel together and when we're on the road we always try to find local places to eat.  We especially like to find local BBQ places to try.  On a recent trip to visit a client in the sandhills area of North Carolina, my friend researched a possible lunch place for us to stop and try on our trip.  After some digging and reading he suggested The Pik’n Pig.

You're always welcome at The Pik'n Pig

The Pik’n Pig is located just outside the small town of Carthage, NC, approximately 15 minutes west of Sanford.  After a trip around the traffic circle in downtown Carthage, and a short drive down Dowd Street, the sign of The Pik’n Pig points those seeking the hideaway in the direction of a little dirt drive.  After a short initial climb up the gravel drive, the visitor discovers that this BBQ gem is located in a most unique setting.  It sits on an air strip.  That’s right.  The Pik’n Pig BBQ restaurant sits on an airstrip in the Moore County countryside.  

After eating there and becoming familiar with The Pik’n Pig menu, food and setting, I knew the restaurant would be a hit with the whole family. So I made the suggestion to Louanne for us to go there for her birthday dinner. She took my suggestion, and we loaded up the family and headed down to Carthage for what we hoped would be a great evening of fun, food and family fellowship. 

We arrived at the restaurant at dusk.  Everyone was really impressed by the setting of a BBQ restaurant on an airstrip out in the country.  We parked and walked to the small wooden building, taking note of the smoke wafting through the parking lot.  The scent of smoking pork and chicken piqued our appetites and created more excitement in everyone than the scene of the restaurant.  

Guardian of the marigolds

We stepped into the lobby and discovered several other people had the same idea we did of a Saturday evening BBQ adventure.  After we claimed our spot on the waiting list, Hallie noticed two men leaving the building, each carrying a big white bag of Pik’n Pig goodies.  They were walking towards a small single-engine plane parked near the entrance to the restaurant, and Hallie wanted to know what they were up to.  We followed them outside and watched them climb into the plane.  During our trip down from Willow Spring we all talked about how fun it would be to see a plane come in or take off while we were there.  We were about to get our wish.  The pilot cranked up the engine, taxied to the far end of the small airstrip, paused for a few moments, then sped down the airstrip past us for a smooth take-off.  The small plane climbed slowly into the darkening sky and disappeared after a couple of minutes.  Instantly, we were all fans of The Pik’n Pig – even before taking the first bite of food. 

After a few more minutes of waiting in the lobby, we were seated at a table in the main dining room and sipping on sweet iced tea.  The dining room is decorated with in a "country/aviation" theme.  There are small model planes hanging from the ceiling, old signage and lights.  There is also a mock old post office decorating one wall.  The restaurant has a nice laid back atmosphere that is accentuated by a very accommodating wait staff.  Everyone at The Pik’n Pig makes you feel welcome.

Shortly after our drinks came we all ordered and didn’t have to wait long for our food.  Louanne, the birthday girl, ordered the pulled pork.  Reese and Hallie had the same while Cameron and I decided to try the ribs.  I also added a piece of chicken to my order.  All of The Pik’n Pig meats are smoked and are full of flavor.  The pulled pork and chicken are both very tender and juicy, and the seasoning used on the meats adds so much great flavor and spice to the meat.  The ribs were cooked perfectly and were “pull off the bone” quality – not too tender and perfectly flavored.  Each dinner entrée comes with two vegetables, and on this occasion our choices ranged from mashed potatoes with gravy to green beans to fries.  Hushpuppies or cornbread finish off the plates, and those are complemented with homemade jalapeno butter.  Everything we had for dinner was fantastic and everyone was pleased with their selections.  

Reese, Hallie and Cameron find the perfect seat

As good as the food is at The Pik’n Pig, their homemade desserts are what many folks brag about.  So even though we were all full after an awesome dinner, we decided to try a couple of the homemade desserts.  After careful consideration we decided to split one piece of Coca-Cola cake and another chocolate cake selection.  By far, the Coca-Cola cake was everyone’s favorite.  It is a simple sheet chocolate cake with one layer of chocolate frosting, but the cake is served warm and it is very moist and rich.  That cake was very delicious and the perfect complement to a great BBQ dinner.  

Me and my Birthday Beauty

On the drive home everyone agreed that The Pik’n Pig is worth a road trip, and we all had a great time.  We should have a great time together – we were out to celebrate an awesome lady who gives all she has to each of us.  Louanne is a wonderful bride, mother and beauty who gives selflessly to everyone, every minute of every day.  She showers her family with grace and care, and we are blessed by her love for us.  I tell her often that she is the living example for me of God’s grace, mercy and presence in my life.  It is only by God’s grace and mercy that I am able to spend my life with such an amazing lady. 

This evening we all had fun trying to give back a little to someone who has given us so much.  Even though the kids and I didn’t give Louanne the full measure of honor that she so richly deserves, we had an awesome beginning to yet another great birthday celebration.  At a BBQ place.  On the edge of an airstrip.  In small town North Carolina. 

An IKEA Idea

With Hallie away at her first “away from home camp”, Cameron sleeping over with one of her buddies, and Reese having plans for most of the day, Louanne and I found ourselves with a very rare free Saturday a couple of weeks ago.  Not wanting to waste this rare opportunity, I asked her what she would like to do on our free day. 

“Let’s go to IKEA and look around” was the reply I received.

Her answer didn’t surprise me since she had wanted to go there for a while.  So we decided to get up earlier than normal for a Saturday, and hit the road for Charlotte, NC to tour the giant Swedish furniture and decorator’s paradise. 

We were both excited as we hit the road for a day all to ourselves.  I was excited to be alone with my Lucy (didn't matter where we were going), and Louanne was excited that she was finally going to visit IKEA.  Our commute was almost a paradise of its own.  There was no noise.  There were no kids asking for a CD to be played or a DVD to be put in.  No one asking for something to eat or when we're going to get back home.  Nor was there any arguing or tough parenting to be done while we had some teenager trapped in a moving vehicle.  It was almost like we were back in 1989 all over again – newly married and with no responsibilities other than keeping the van on the road.     

We left home a little after 8:00 and after a couple of stops along the way, we made it to downtown Charlotte just before lunchtime.  We decided to eat lunch before tackling the furniture behemoth - that decision was easy.  Our next decision, however, was much more important - where to eat.  We were on our own and we could eat anywhere we wanted, and with no regard as to whether 5 people would all like the place or not.  Plus, we were out to relax and enjoy the day.  Making a bad food decision was not an option. 

After some deliberation we decided on a place that I have been going to ever since I was a boy – a really little boy - the Bar-B-Q King Drive-In on 2900 Wilkinson Boulevard.  You may recognize the name of the place or recognize the picture from the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  They have done a feature on this old drive-in.

 

Bar-B-Q King has been serving good food since 1959

 

We got there not long after 11:00, so it was easy to find a spot to park and order.  We pulled up, pondered the choices on the menu, pushed the speaker button and gave the crackling voice on the other end our order.  I ordered the same thing I have always ordered there – a chili cheeseburger, onion rings and a cherry lemon Sun-Drop.  Louanne ordered their specialty – the Bar-B-Q chicken plate, which comes with fries and cole slaw.  Not long after we ordered, a curb hop brought out our tray, and the fun began. 

 

Chili cheeseburger, Bar-B-Q chicken, onion rings and Cherry Lemon Sun-Drop



The food was really good.  Louanne commented, “These onion rings are the best I have ever had out.”  I thoroughly enjoyed the burger and rings, and Louanne ate all of her chicken.  Well, I did manage to score the wing that came on Lucy's plate.  Delicious! 

They have a broad menu with several different items, but the burgers, dogs and chicken are all very good.  We both highly recommend you visit the Bar-B-Q King. 

 

Sandwiches, chicken and seafood highlight the Bar-B-Q King menu



After lunch we rode for a while around downtown Charlotte, then headed to IKEA.  When we got there the parking lot was full and the store was bustling and crowded with people.  It is a very clean and neat store, and full of furniture and every home accessory you can imagine.  We walked through the whole store looking, touching and deciding on what we should buy, what we needed and didn’t need.  After walking through each department (following the arrows on the floor that guide you through), we exited the furniture paradise tour at a sea of cash registers.  You would have thought it was Christmas Eve in there.  It seemed like there were 6,000 people waiting to pay for their loads of stuff.  For Louanne and me, judgment time had come.  It was now time to settle up and pay for the 75-minute stroll we had just taken. 

I couldn’t take the suspense of wondering how much we owed this huge Swedish conglomerate, so I walked to the restroom and left Louanne on her own to wrestle with paying for all of our stuff.  After my short leave, I returned to find out how much trouble we were in.  We came on this in-state adventure to visit the wonderful world of IKEA, and we had partaken mightily.  We had represented our family well.  What was our damage?  Grand total…$6.66.  We had spent more on lunch than we did at IKEA!  I laughed and turned cartwheels all the way back to the van. 

After leaving IKEA, we spent the rest of our afternoon shopping around the Concord Mills Mall.  We walked around the entire mall.  We bought a thing or two for the kids at Old Navy, but spent most of our time browsing and talking.    Louanne even went into Bass Pro Shops with me to look around.  Concord Mills is a lot of fun. 

With the sun beginning to set, we slipped onto I-85 and headed for home.  We decided to stop in Greensboro for pizza, and upon the recommendation of a friend we decided to try Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza on Westover Avenue.  Louanne and I both enjoyed a fresh, thin-crust pizza, and shared a Mediterranean salad.   Louanne had the Margherita pizza with Roma tomatoes and fresh basil, and I had the Rustica, which comes with prosciutto, mushrooms, kalamata olives and roasted garlic.   All of the food was very good, and we totally enjoyed ourselves.

We then left there and rode over to downtown Greensboro to Cheesecakes by Alex.  We decided to allow Reese and Cameron (Hallie away at camp) to share in some of the fun we were having, so we brought home some sweets to share.  We got Reese a chocolate cupcake stuffed with Bavarian cream and covered with devil’s food icing, Cameron a piece of chocolate chip mint cheesecake, Louanne a piece of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, and I had a piece of simply chocolate cheesecake.  I don’t need to go too far into how delicious those all were.  They tasted as good and rich as their names.  Let me just say that I cannot encourage you enough to go by Cheesecake’s by Alex anytime you’re within 300 miles of downtown Greensboro, NC.  They’re at 315 S. Elm Street.

We finally pulled back into the driveway around 10:00.  Our journey was over and we were both tired.  But we were very happy that we had spent the day together doing all that we did.  Louanne and I love our children more than we ever thought possible, but we were "Nate and Lucy" before we were a family of five, and 24 years after that first date we still love spending time dating.  Even so, we have already planned to take the kids with us next time - this time for a family adventure.