Gut Check is counting down the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now.
The words "club sandwich" typically evoke visions of cold cuts on white bread, triple-decker style. Maybe it's classed up with those toothpicks that have the crinkly plastic on top. Lunch meat, mayo, iceberg lettuce. But not at Bud's.
See also: Bud's Smokehouse & Grill serves great barbecue, but can it break the curse?
The "Smokehouse Club" at Bud's Smokehouse & Grill (1135 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-781-2345) is an entirely different beast. Where other clubs can be boring throwaways, the "Smokehouse Club" is a reason in itself to head to Bud's. There's no generic deli meat here. It is stuffed with tender pulled pork, smoked in Bud's Ole Hickory smoker; hunks of Nueske's ham; and thick strips of Todd Geisert Farms bacon. This glorious pigapalooza is topped with melted Swiss cheese, vinegary coleslaw and a tangy tomato-Dijon aioli, all stuffed into a soft housemade onion roll. It's nothing short of a masterpiece.
Previously: #94: Cafe Natasha's Yogurt Dip #95: Macarons at La Patisserie Chouquette #96: The Libertine's Fried Chicken #97: Pork Belly at Element #98: M'Lwee at Baida #99: Breadbasket at Juniper #100: Bucatini All'Amatriciana at Pastaria
Follow Cheryl Baehr on Twitter at @CherylABaehr. E-mail the author at [email protected].
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