Southern Living magazine recently named Old Hickory Bar-B-Que a top 50 barbecue joint of 2023. Writer Robert Moss said he spent the past year buzzing down interstate highways and navigating winding roads to craft his list.
Much to the surprise of sixth-generation owner John Foreman, Old Hickory found themselves at #24 on the list, ahead of several prominent establishments.
“It’s a big deal, and I’m very proud. It’s hard to describe the feeling, but it reassures me we’re doing things the right way,” Foreman said. “It’s also an inspiration to keep going and not rest on our success.”
While mutton put Old Hickory and Owensboro on the map, the restaurant has also been dishing out pork, chicken, beef, turkey, and more using hickory coals since 1918. And for 105 years, consistency has been the key.
“We’ve used the same dip and the same sauce for years, always cooking on hickory,” Foreman said. “The tradition stems from doing the small things and paying close attention to detail.”
Foreman added that his crew has also played a pivotal role in the establishment’s success.
“I’ve been lucky with excellent and loyal employees over the years,” he said. “They see this place as theirs and take pride in it. Everybody here contributes and does their best.”
The segment in Southern Living reads:
Owensboro is the barbecued mutton capital of the world, and the best place to sample this distinctive Kentucky delicacy is at Old Hickory. Since 1918, six successive generations of the Foreman family have been barbecuing mutton alongside pork, chicken, beef, and turkey, and they’re still using hickory coals to fire the big cinderblock pits with sliding metal doors in the cookhouse behind the restaurant. After a judicious dunk in thin Worcestershire-laced “dip,” the long, tender strands of smoked mutton are chewy, smoky, and sublimely delicious. Old Hickory’s burgoo is an outstanding version of the classic Kentucky barbecue accompaniment, featuring mutton, pork, chicken, and vegetables slow-simmered into a smooth, tangy, and very satisfying stew.
Foreman said, “Our community and Owensboro are incredible in their loyalty and appreciation. We appreciate the award and being recognized, and we appreciate Owensboro.”
