Grand Champions (old) SMOKE HOUSE (NEW)

Because of a being in the wrong lane we were whooshed on Johnson Ferry Road going north towards Shallowford Road. Since we were headed that way anyway we decided to eat at Grand Champion BBQ. We haven’t been there in a long time. Grand Champion was owned by a group of people, all who schooled to be Southern BBQ experts. They all trained under the king of Marietta BBQ Sam Huff and worked for him too before going out on their own. When we first went Grand Champion we talked to one of the owner’s wives. She was friendly and knew the BBQ business. The first time I was there I ordered ribs and was impressed. I think the second time I order a brisket sandwich and was impressed it need no sauce. Anyway, back to the present. We drove into the shopping center Grand Champion was at and it isn’t there. SMOKEHOUSE BBQ was in its place. We went in anyway, to compare their BBQ. Inside nothing had changed. Cecile was standing behind the counter, like she always has been for the past ten years or so. They bought the place out from their partners. Same BBQ. Their ex-partners, Cecile said, still on several Grand Champions sprawled over Cobb County and Atlanta. For my first two stories on Grand Champion go to my blog Chicken-fat.com and go to the search blank on the left side of the banner header and type Grand Champion BBQ.