Mug of the Day: Moonlite BBQ

This glorious mugs come from my hometown, Owensboro, KY, and the place that Presidents visit: Moonlite BBQ. Started in 1963, Owensboro calls itself "Barbeque Capital of the Word," but we know that folks from Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, and North Carolina will loudly dispute that. In any case, what Owensboro does have that no one else has is Mutton BBQ.

So, how did Mutton become big in Western KY? Well as it turns out, there was a tariff in 1816 on wool production in the "western" U.S. causing an increased sheep population. Mutton is from the old sheep that no longer produces good wool, and is fit for eating. Due to tough meat, however, the sheep had to be slow-cooked, and thus we get the wonders of BBQ Mutton. 

However, my favorite Mutton BBQ comes from a restaurant across town, Old Hickory BBQ. The webpage for it is rather horrible -- see for your self -- but the Facebook page is much better. But, they've got the craft down. It's a simple menu, with a winning result.

At Old Hickory Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, KY our entire hickory smoked BBQ menu is custom made with the fresh ingredients. We have been a family owned and operated restaurant since 1918 with 6 generations of our family serving customers in the Owensboro and Henderson, KY areas.

If you ever find yourself near Owensboro, KY drop into either of these fine locations. You won't regret it. 

Mug of the Day: Rumpelstiltskin

Yes - you read that mug correctly: Uncle Rumps. It was sent to me by my nephew, Gus, who happens to be one smart cookie - and he was two at the time he sent it. Why "Uncle Rumps?" Well I, for one, happen to think that the name "Rumpelstiltskin" happens to be one the craziest, coolest names ever thought of. I also think he's received quite the bad reputation over the years.

The fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin, comes from Germany, and The Brothers Grimm eventually collected it in their 1812 edition of Children's and Household Tales. If you don't know the fairy tale, you should look it up. In any case here's some history of the name Rumpelstiltskin that is quite interesting. Thanks Wikipedia:

The name Rumpelstilzchen in German means literally "little rattle stilt". (A stilt is a post or pole which provides support for a structure.) A rumpelstilt or rumpelstilz was the name of a type of goblin, also called a pophart or poppart that makes noises by rattling posts and rapping on planks. The meaning is similar to rumpelgeist ("rattle ghost") or poltergeist, a mischievous spirit that clatters and moves household objects. (Other related concepts are mummarts or boggarts and hobs that are mischievous household spirits that disguise themselves.) The ending -chen is a German diminutive and designates something as 'little' or 'dear,' depending on context.
The earliest known mention of Rumpelstiltskin occurs in Johann Fischart's Geschichtklitterung, or Gargantua of 1577 (a loose adaptation of Rabelais'Gargantua and Pantagruel) which refers to an "amusement" for children named Rumpele stilt or the Poppart. Read more here.

I seriously read "little rattle stilt" rather differently. I'm thinking of a four letter word beginning with "s" and the other word being "rat." I digress.

Beyond Rumpelstiltskin, however, are hundreds of other "fairy" tales. And, by the way, their not always rosy. To put it simply, cultures create stories to tell children in order to teach them ethics or morals, or simply to teach them not to trust a "little rattle stilt."

Though, I think we might lean too heavily upon those stories. Why did Rumpelstiltskin become such an evil person? Why did he become so hated? What happened in his past that made him mean? I'm not sure, but I'd like to think that Newt Gingrich suckered him into the "mean old little rattle stilt" gig.

What's your favorite "fairy" tale?