Pappy's Smokehouse website was averaging 500 hits per week. This past Wednesday, the hour after the Man v Food show aired (the one that highlighted Iron Barley, Pappy's and Crown Candy Kitchen) the site registered 5000 hits. Now the secret's really out...nationwide.
Show sidebar: In the Pappy's segment, host Adam Richman asked Pappy's partner/pitmaster Skip Steele what was the first thing he remembered smoking. Apparently Skip's first thought was "pot," but he refrained from saying so, instead falling into an awkward, on-camera silence. Emerson now refers to Steele as my "silent" partner.
Yeah, but how good is Pappy's...really? Just so happens earlier in the day (it happened to be Ash Wednesday,a meatless day for Catholics), Pappy's waiting line was littered with men fresh-out-of- church, tell-tale ash smoodges still on their foreheads. Owner Mike Emerson had to bite his lip as the unrepentant ordered up their pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. There was talk of installing a confessional at the door...you know, for Fridays in Lent. -- George Mahe