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If former Redskin and Hall-of-Famer Darrell Green says he likes it, then it’s probably pretty good.
That was my thought process as my feet lead my step-by-step towards the intoxicating smells wafting from the Aldie Country Store. I mean, how could a small, spontaneous store on the side of a winding, equally spontaneous country road in Aldie offer such tasty delicacies? Is Darrell Green’s pallet flawed?
Shame on me for ever questioning Green. This place, obscure as it may appear, knows how to barbecue. And perhaps the secret lies with Executive Chef Varun Parti, an India product who got his start cooking on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line after attending university back home in the Eastern Hemisphere.
He graciously swung open his doors, inviting us in to the store—and I grudgingly obliged, wanting to stay outside submerged in the heavenly smell and the fired-up smoker.
He first showed us an impressive cut of meat—a gorgeous pork rib section that, I’d find, was destined for the smoker—and then got to explaining his mystery rub of spices and toppings. I tried to keep my ears engaged enough to listen as each salivating ingredient—garlic, thyme, barbecue seasoning—was listed off in quick succession.
We headed out to the smoker where the real magic happens, as Parti hoisted the rib with a pair of tongs (I swear, the ribs were half his size) above the embers, letting the slow-burning flame chisel the rib rack into juicy perfection.
“The secret to barbecue,” Parti shared, “Is patience. To get that tenderness, that juicyness, it takes time.”
Time is something I had little of that day, so it was imperative to get right to the eating. I soon realized I wouldn’t be disappointed, as Parti loaded my rib cut with enough homemade barbeque sauce to stain Catoctin Creek burgundy. He offered an abundance of napkins, which I first declined—how messy could I get?
Thirty minutes, seemingly 100 napkins and a bone-bare pile of ribs later, and my gluttony was complete. I verified what Green found out a long time ago—Parti makes some damn good ribs.
“I want the honest truth,” Parti insisted.
The honest truth, Varun Parti, is I’ll be back.
 | Your Best Dish host Matt Vecchio should have opted for more napkins after working his way through a rack of pork ribs. |
It is a “country store” in all its charm and glory, and I literally turned the car around to go check out the wonderful smell of smoked BBQ. We live in DC, but have yet to find smoked BBQ, so we were up for anything!
There was a very nice gentleman behind the counter who offered us some samples of the ribs….I almost fell over it was so good.
We ordered two slabs to go and barely made it home before eating to our hearts content.
If you are looking for fine dining, this is NOT the place. But if you are hankering for a taste of small town, real southern, hickory smoked BBQ, they’ve got it!
Who knew that the Aldie Country Store has such delicious BBQ?!! I was out in Aldie today to visit a different business that I saw on Yelp - which turns out is closed on Sundays-Mondays. Turned out to be serendipitous - as I ducked in the Aldie Country Store afterward for a bottle of cold water - and found a deli counter area in the back.
They do BBQ, ribs, sandwiches, burgers, dogs, wings, pizza, subs - as well as catering. I ordered the pulled pork BBQ sandwich with a bit of coleslaw on top of it.
The young guy working the counter was real friendly - I chatted with him for a few minutes - he gave me an overview of their food offerings, which also include Turkey legs, pies, and Thanksgiving style foods.
The bun was moist and warm, the BBQ was excellent - tender, moist, succulent - and there was a good bit of it - I had to eat around the edge of the sandwich to prevent any rogue BBQ from escaping the sammich!
Now that I am home and thinking about it - makes me want to drive back for some more! And some ribs!
This is a fun place with some great BBQ. Fun because it’s a nice treat to pull off a country road, walk into a country store, and stand in front of a deli counter in the back and see all the great BBQ items that have been brought back from the smoker out front. Ribs, pulled pork, pork filets, chickens and bunches of sides. And where else can you get BBQ served up by a chatty chap from India?
We bought a full slab of ribs (have to save some for leftovers!) and a chicken. The chicken had a mustardy sauce which was unique and tasty - they also have one based (I think ) on terriyaki which I will try next time. Take-away is the best choice here, though there is a table out front if you want to eat right away.
If you’re out visiting horse country or the wineries, this is well worth a stop. Don’t blink - Aldie’s not a big place to begin with, and this country store isn’t much to look at. But so much more “real” than some of the over-rated places down the road in Middleburg…
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aldie-country-store-aldie
Pardon my spelling….i make mistakes but I know my BBQ !
The Aldie store had the best BBQ when i was a kid. Now im 30+ and the entire store has changed and the SMELL of the store will turn your stomach if you’re not overwhelmed by the flies and just EXIT ASAP….This guy know NADA about PORK…...think about this. If you dont believe me, the visit and then comment. U HAVE BEEN WARNED
Aldie BBQ was a closely kept secret. Let me head first before people rush to Aldie Country Store. I can’t wait to smell the aroma and taste juicy ribs.
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