Buster's Southern Barbeque - Calistoga, Ca

Late March. Northern California. My mother-in-law flew to town and watched our son, as my wife and I spent our first large chunk of time away from him. It was emotional, of course, but he was in great hands. Our vacation got off to a wonderful start. We were delayed by about five hours. How can airline travel be the most efficient and least efficient process at the same time? We connected in Denver then flew on to Sacramento. From there, it was another two hour drive out to our first destination. 13 hours of travel time, but it led to some of the most fun I've ever had. We spent time on the coast eating seafood, walking beaches, and watching beached sea lions. We eventually moved inward and spent some time in Napa and the Napa Valley. We ate and drank our way through northern California. It was a high time.

You're not here to read about how I unwind. You want the beans, damnit.

One day of the trip included my wife and I having a two part lunch. One being from a taco truck in the parking lot of California's Old Glory geyser. Not as majestic, but still very fun to watch. The truck was cranking out some of the best Mexican food I have ever had. We ate there twice. You're still not talking about beans, Messerole. Here we go. Part two of our lunch that day included a stop at Buster's Southern Barbeque in Calistoga, California. This place was super unqiue with indoor and outdoor seating and you could watch their pit master cook over an open fire right outside in front of everybody. It was nearly fast food, too. You ordered what you wanted at a window, and they piled it on and met you at the next window with your order. In and out in minutes. We grabbed a hot link plate with a side of potato salad. And beans? Yes, and beans. These baked beans were served up loose on the plate. There's something fun about that slapdash approach to serving them. However, I'm not one that loves to have their foods touching. That's my problem, not yours. This dish appeared to be a single bean variety and that single bean was cooked down pretty well. Tender, but not overly soft. These beans were served up in a mostly sweet, thick sauce. Unfortuantely, with all that great meat they were smoking, none of it made it's way into the side dish. Nor did any vegetables, or fruit for that matter. I don't want to say they came from a can, but this side was very underwhelming for such a neat restaurant. Just a single bean in a thick sauce. A one trick pony, if you will. 

Ratings (On a scale of 1-5)
Appearance: 2
Flavor: 2
Mouthfeel: 3

Total Score: 7

For what it's worth,
Keef Original Cola: 5