Big brother takes tasty barbecue favorites to town!

It’s not unusual as Tom Jones famously sang, for expats living abroad to miss the comforts of home. Moving around the world to make a living often means forfeiting the pleasures you grew up with, and unless you are in the US military, you can expect to do without when it comes to the favorites that Mom used to make, or even those you did yourself.

Who would not miss real smoked barbecue favorites cooked in the open air. And Buffalo wings and fresh barbecued meats cooked over the coals.

Well Wes Carroll left home more than few years ago and has made his living working and building in a variety of locations including the Middle East and South East Asia. Settled now in Thailand for nearly a decade, he got to thinking that it was about time for him to stop living without some of his favourites and by default, fix it so that some of his friends and other fans of fine food might benefit too!

Thus the Great American Rib Company was born.

It is no secret that the larger-than-life builder is hooked on the the authentic flavor of real Buffalo chicken wings and other house specials. And this love for all things barbecued has stayed with him since he first left America on his travels.

Marketing the merits of his construction company as managing director has occupied most of his time since the early 1990’s, but a hankering for his old American culinary favorites was revived in 2003 when a friend here introduced him to a chef from America who specialises in preparing wood-smoked barbecued food.

This was to be an important meeting. Within weeks of this chance encounter, the idea of starting his own barbecue restaurant began to take shape.

The chef, Robb Vaughn, is resident in Thailand and was keen to pass on his knowledge of how to properly smoke meats and poultry and how to prepare them for barbecue. This also involves an intimate knowledge of the marinating processes, the recipes involved and other taste-bearing techniques including the preparation of authentic barbecue sauces and the best ways to actually barbecue smoked meats and poultry.

With this master of the cuisine at his disposal, Wes was soon anxious to take advantage of this opportunity. Talking with Chanisorn Ounayakovit, his Thai partner in the construction company they own, both men realised that the property they occupied in Sukhumvit Soi 36 could comfortably accommodate an open air, al fresco style restaurant featuring much-loved barbecue delights.

In May this year, Wes began preparing the site halfway down Sukhumvit Soi 36 on which the garden–style restaurant was to be built, and construction began in earnest soon afterwards.

Today the leafy open plan garden restaurant set in this quiet soi off Sukhumvit, is a charming and restful addition to the growing list of quality restaurants in Bangkok.

And it is not only Wes who is delighted. The restaurant will help fill a gap in the market for high quality American staples in a city where Thais love to try new ideas, new foods and find “sanuk” places to hang out.

The restaurant offers barbecued pork ribs, barbecued pulled pork, barbecued chicken and "pastramied" pork tenderloin. All of the barbecued meats are smoked beforehand using genuine hickory wood, which when burned slowly, gives off the quintessential flavour for which the greatest American ribs are known.

The big American who is bringing this true American hickory wood smoked cuisine to Thailand together with the original, authentic Buffalo chicken wings has a big smile on his face as he explains the reasons for his new passion and introduces some of the people behind his project.

“The kitchen will be directed by renowned San Franciscan chef Robb Vaughn who brings a wealth of epicurean experience to the Great American Rib Company,” Carroll says.

“Robb is a partner in the business too and he is a true "sauce boss" and a master of smoked foods.”

The big American’s other passion is American history. Two of his ancestors participated in the signing of the Declaration of Independence and not surprisingly he feels a great affinity with the traditions of America.

“There really is a “Great America” and my own heritage is ample evidence to me that ours is a wonderful nation despite some of our historical mistakes. Our mother was of Louisiana Cherokee Indian descent and our Texas-born father raised us on T ex-Mex staples, grits, cornbread, black-eyed peas, greens and smoked pork and red eye gravy . That’s truly real American food,” he smiles.

“I really want the roots of America to underpin this business and I am happy to bring real American food to the Thai people because I know they will love it,” the big man smiles.

Wes' younger brother Greg Carroll, a well-known Bangkok blues musician fresh from his efforts in opening MOJO’S, Bangkok’s premier blues restaurant on Soi 33, will be managing the day-to-day operations of the new restaurant, greeting the guests and making sure visitors to the Great American Rib Company restaurant are properly looked after.

“The restaurant features home-style fresh fruit margaritas and Warsteiner draft beer as well as a great range of cocktails and drinks to wash the great food down,” says Greg.

“My brother Wes and I were raised on great American food so it’s no surprise that many of these food flavors will be featured at the Great American Rib Company. We use only genuine imported US hickory wood in our three smokers, and all the sauces are authentically prepared with imported ingredients,” he says.

“For a true taste of Americana come on down and join us.The GREAT AMERICAN RIB COMPANY restaurant is open from 5 pm until midnight daily. Our July 4 party will be a big enough day to sample the whole ambience and flavors of the place, so I hope to see you there!”