News Times Two (Like 'Que for Two!)

Maybe it's three pieces of news.

1. I asked innocently if there was a way to track signups for the Famous Dave's P.I.G. Club. The initial answer was "no." A few minutes later, John Roach Projects and the Fishbowl people proved that human ingenuity can still overcome computers, and the answer became "yes."

So now, I have to ask you: are you a member of the P.I.G. Club? (You may ask back, "What club is that?")

The Pretty Important Guest Club gets you occasional emails laden with special offers, grilling tips and--most importantly--a birthday gift of free food each year. Signup is free, there's no spam, and no sale of your address to third parties.

If you sign up through my personal P.I.G. Club link, I get credit. Now that all of the Famous Fans are using their links, I need your help in this area as well. So much for asking innocent questions. It's an exciting addition to the contest.

If you can't click on that link, here it is in a form you can copy:

http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/famdvs/lp/join/cp/FamousFans_1.asp

My link is unique, so please don't go clicking on random links of this sort. Thank you very much.

2. My Facebook group, Famous Dave's BarbeQuest, is exploding in popularity. I set it up on Memorial Day, because I learned that Facebook might not like my original BarbeQuest page (because it was not listed as a group). So, on Tuesday, I had 30 group members when I turned on the computer, and I was up to 45 by the end of the day. I thought that was pretty good.

Again with the innocence. Today, dawn brought the total members to 50. Right now, I am at 152. The group tripled in size today, and some members plan to spread the word to several hundred people each. I hoped originally that I would reach 100. Now I dare to dream of 1,000.

If you're not a Facebook BarbeQuest member, please know that joining my group helps me considerably in the competition. Thanks!

3. This is mostly for Minnesota people. Thursday evening, May 28 at 6pm, I am going to visit with some BarbeQuest group members at the St. Cloud Famous Dave's. Each person's first three wings are on me. I want the people who have signed up out of kindness (and through blind faith) to have the opportunity to meet the person they are helping. The wings are a bit of giving back for the loyalty and assistance.

If you can come, either let me know through the BarBequest group at Facebook or leave a comment here (for non-Facebook people).

4. I was talking to the St. Cloud general manager today, and she said that, during a lull in the morning, she and some of the crew watched my YouTube videos of the Stillwater photo shoot. Between seeing me on the Famous Dave's site and on YouTube, they were pretty happy for me.

The St. Cloud people are an amazing bunch. They have been very gracious to me over the past 18 months, and so I recommend to you that, if you pass through St. Cloud, you stop in there for a meal. No one deserves your food dollars more.

I'm off to plan some more promos. Talk to you soon!

Famous Dave's Is My Happy Place

Before school ends and I roll out the serious attempt at a full BarbeQuest, I want to note some FD-related events in my world. Tuesday was my birthday, and that afternoon, I received a FedEx envelope from John Roach Projects. The envelope held a gift card so I could enjoy the Not'cho Ordinary Nachos. I also received a Famous Dave’s t-shirt, which I wore to school on Wednesday.

Oh, do me a huge favor and join my BarbeQuest group on Facebook, friend barbequest on MySpace, and follow me on Twitter. You will be linking to good chopped pork, but you won't receive any spam!

The birthday party:

I waited till Wednesday to visit Dave’s in St. Cloud for my birthday meal. I had my P.I.G. Club birthday email, and the code earned me a free dessert. Last year, I won some ribs, but I’m content with dessert this year.

For starters, the management team restocked IBC root beer for me, a kindness they had provided for the first year they were open, before I told them to stop going out of their way for me. It’s my favorite barbeque beverage, so I’m glad they don’t mind bringing the stuff in for me.

I had already enjoyed the Not’chos once, and I decided I should try another item I had never had: Dave’s Ultimate BBQ Burger. The burger comes topped with Georgia Chopped Pork, jalapeño bacon (hot!), and a sauce that is not available any other way: Beam and Cola sauce. This sauce seems to be based on Rich & Sassy, but there is a hint of Jim Beam and, of course, a cola. I’m going to try to talk them into bottling this version, because I loved the sauce, but I love the Georgia Chopped Pork and the St. Louis Style Ribs so much that I’m rarely willing to give them up to eat a burger.

The burger was delicious, with better cheese than I expected. I got fries, rather than my usual Wilbur Beans, and as usual, the fries were very tasty.

Some friends had come along to celebrate my birthday, and they loved their meals. They both had the current St. Cloud special, an $8.99 two-meat combo that comes with corn on the cob, a corn muffin, and a side. It’s a huge deal.

When it was time to choose my dessert, I settled on the Sweet Dixie Minis, because the three little desserts gave me a variety of flavors, as well as a chance to try the bread pudding, which was new to me, even after six years. That one was a revelation, because I had no idea that bread pudding could be cooked properly (as this was), or that the pecan praline sauce would be worth drinking by the gallon. I’ll be eating that one again.

I didn’t use my gift card from JRP after all, because the manager on duty comped my meal as a birthday present. That was sweet of her, and it means I can use my card the next time I visit. I’m thinking tonight, or tomorrow, would work out nicely.

I’ll post any info I get about turning the BarbeQuest into a summer-long project. Until then, get over to Famous Dave’s and enjoy the best summer (and winter) food around!

Welcome to the BAR-B-QUEst

I will soon begin posting about my plans to visit every Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que in ONE TRIP. With more than 170 restaurants to visit, I will be away from home for quite awhile, but the advantages to this adventure outweigh the costs.

Details coming soon. Check back often!

Thanks,
Seán Dwyer