My First Blog Date and Midwood Smokehouse

My blogging neighbors over at Dee’s Adventures and Looks Like LuLu have both been on blog dates, but to be honest, I thought that was weird.  A little background information here – my wife and I met and dated before online dating became as popular as it is now.  It is existed back then, but most of the people who used it reeked of desperation (I know I pissed off some friends with that statement.  They know who they are.).  The idea of meeting someone in person whom you share comments and likes via blogs sounded creepy to me no matter what Dee and LuLu said.  Who were these psycho-freaks anyway that spend their free time writing about hobbies and topics of interest online for all of the world (translation 10 people) to read?  They’re probably all deranged ax murderers or pervs sitting in the whitey tighties getting their rocks off on other people’s lives.  Wait a minute…  I have become one of those freaks.  I guess they aren’t that weird after all.  Beside, Dee assured me it was perfectly normal.

Our First Blog Date with Bucket List Productions and Family

I then read that a blogger, Bucket List Productions, whom I exchanged comments, likes, and follows with was moving from California to Charlotte with her husband and daughter.  I decided to take the leap and offer to be their first friends in a foreign city and crafted the following email:

I’ve been following your blog and I think you’ve been following mine (thewanderinggourmand.com).  I see you and your family recently moved to Charlotte where we proudly call home.  Welcome to town.  Not sure if you have many friends or family here, but my wife and I would like to extend an invitation to you and your family to join us out for dinner.  I hope that doesn’t sound creepy.  I am new to this blogging stuff and my neighbor meets her blogging pals in person all the time, so I am guessing that is normal?

She replied:

Thank you for the invitation! In which part of Charlotte do you live? We’d love to meet you for dinner some evening; we don’t have any friends or family here.

I’m out of the country from July 7th-22nd and then again Aug. 3th-6th, but we’ll be here on the weekend of July 28th or 29th. I know it’s a little bit away, but it’s sort of a busy month.

I got a few good ideas from your blog so I’m certain you’d know a great place to eat. We do have a 3 month old daughter though so she’d be joining us on any outing.

I’ve never met someone from my blog; maybe you could tell me more about you.

That last line…maybe Dee wasn’t so right after all.  Lesley and I exchanged a few emails describing ourselves and our families, became more comfortable with the awkwardness, and agreed to meet for dinner.  It was oddly a lot like dating.  I wanted to help her cross an item off of her North Carolina bucket list and suggested some ‘cue.  We met at Midwood Smokehouse, a new BBQ joint in town run by the same geniuses behind Cantina 1511, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, and Paco’s Tacos and Tequilla.  I know Midwood is new and probably isn’t the most authentic place for ‘cue, but most of the most authentic places are dives.  We were looking for more of a destination restaurant than an eat and run joint.

Midwood Smokehouse Pulled Pork (The jalapenos are tucked around the corner)

The food was excellent, the atmosphere was inviting, and the beer selection included enough North Carolina brews to satisfy my needs.  The pulled pork could hold up to any pulled pork in Charlotte.  My wife loved her Midwood Grilled Cheese with Cheddar, Gryuere, and added pulled pork.  Pulled pork on grilled cheese?  Brilliant! But the real highlights were the fried pickles (sliced lengthwise and crisp as a potato chip) and the bacon wrapped jalapeños as a side.  I will totally be copying that recipe at home.  My jalapeño plant is bursting with peppers ripe for the picking.

Midwood Smokehouse Grilled Cheese with Pulled Pork

I would’ve captured more about the food itself but was having too much fun making new friends and sharing stories about our adventures around the world than to take notes and photos to document our meal.  Sometimes, human interaction is more important.  And in this case, it definitely was.  To quote Leslie days later on Facebook, “So nice to meet like-minded couples in the area.”  My sentiments exactly.  I looked forward to an action-packed friendship with her, her husband, and baby Athena.  As for Midtown Smokehouse?  I’ll be back to try their house made and smoked sausages and smoked brisket chili.