The right time for Hecky's Tips

On Wednesday nights they feature half price on Rib Tips. The prices are indeed half of the usual but the normally included fries are a la carte. Still a bargain.

But that's not why Wednesday night is the right time for tips, it's because you have a much better chance of getting some good 'cue.

The main smoker at Hecky's is a Southern Pride, but on Tip Night (and I assume Rib Night on Monday and Chicken Night on Tuesday) they fire up the Aquarium smoker as well. (See post 8 for more on this) The last two weeks the tips I had had a substantial amount of smokiness, far more than normal at Hecky's, and even when you don't get all the smoke the tips are a lot moister than usual. I assume this is because the constant traffic helps consistency.

No, there's no bark and when you're done you'll find a giant pool of rendered fat left in the container, but if you're up north and don't want to make the trek south, or way south, this is your best bet for tips.

If you haven't been there before I suggest the hot sauce as having a lot more character than the regular. Even if you're not normally a sauce on the side type I'd try the hot sauce that way as it occasionally is too hot not to use sparingly.

Thanks for the tips, ha ha ha. What is the address?

Shaggywillis wrote:Thanks for the tips, ha ha ha. What is the address?

You really think you deserve an answer after that?


The NW corner of Emerson and Green Bay in Evanston.


Hecky's Barbecue
1902 Green Bay Road
Evanston, IL, 60201
847-492-1182
Sun - Thur: 11am - 9pm
Fri and Sat: 11am - 10pm
http://heckys.com/

scottsol wrote:The main smoker at Hecky's is a Southern Pride, but on Tip Night (and I assume Rib Night on Monday and Chicken Night on Tuesday) they fire up the Aquarium smoker as well.

Scott,

Have you actually seen Hecky's Aquarium smoker in use?

Thanks,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

scottsol wrote:The main smoker at Hecky's is a Southern Pride, but on Tip Night (and I assume Rib Night on Monday and Chicken Night on Tuesday) they fire up the Aquarium smoker as well.

Scott,

Have you actually seen Hecky's Aquarium smoker in use?

Thanks,
Gary

Yeah, I always thought Hecky's aquarium smoker was shut down by the EPA and the city of Evanston. For a while, Hecky was giving away big plastic bags full of smoke with each order, just to make a point. He went to the Southern Pride because it was cheaper than retro-fitting the Aquarium with air-scrubbers. It would indeed be interesting if he had the old smoker up and running again. I used to like Hecky's spares in the pre SP days.

BTW, I just noticed the downtown Hecky's is now called "Hickory's". Great re-adaptive use of lettering.

I was told by them a couple of months ago that they hadn't shut down the Aquarium, but only used it when they needed the extra capacity. The last few Wednesdays the strong smoke smell in the shop made me think that it was in use. The glass of the smoker has been blacked out for years so you can't see if there's any meat in it.

I suppose it's possible I was mistaken, but there is certainly no doubt about the improved quality of the Tips on Wednesday nights.

scottsol wrote:I was told by them a couple of months ago that they hadn't shut down the Aquarium

I remember in the late 80's you could smell the corner where Hecky's resides from a mile away. There was also another BBQ place (name long since forgotten) directly across the street that the city shut down at the same time they made Hecky's change their cooking method. I haven't detected that same sweet sweet odor on Green Bay Rd. in at least 20 years.

I just spoke to the usual Wednesday night cook and he said he hadn't used the Aquarium "in a couple of years" but they had recently increased the amount of smoke they used with the Southern Pride.

I think the aquarium smoker was retired (more than a few years ago now) at the behest of neighbors - from what I heard the ventilation system at the time left most the block smelling like they had been smoked

d4v3 wrote:BTW, I just noticed the downtown Hecky's is now called "Hickory's". Great re-adaptive use of lettering.

I recently moved into an office on Halsted a scant two blocks from Hickory's, and I have to say they are not half bad. Decent tips, a bit on the low end of the flavor spectrum but acceptable; definitely some smoke in the air. I should ask them how they are cooking the meat. They also make an oddly attractive battered, seasoned, food service french fry. For me, who usually hates that sort of thing, I'm happily intrigued. I also had a decent hot dog there, although the Clausen's pickle they tossed on there was not what made me like it.

Purely in the name of Chow Science, I ordered some Hecky's tips the other day. It had been several years since I dared to order any BBQ from Hecky's, and for the sake of complete disclosure, I also ordered a 1/2 fried chicken, dark as a backup.

Hecky's serves what I can only describe as Frankentips. There are no random sized pieces of rib tip, hacked off the slab as in most places. They come cut into perfectly symmetrical pieces, each one the same as the other in terms of size, thickness and amount of meat on the bone. It's almost as if Hecky has discovered some industrial process to manufacture a rib tips roast. While there was a noticeable smoke flavor, the tips overall were pretty much one note, lacking any deep rub flavor or very much char. I couldn't decide if the overall mushy texture was caused by holding in a closed container or poor cooking technique. Either way, I was glad I ordered the fried chicken, which was excellent!

In short, IMO, the right time for Hecky's tips is never.

Hecky's Frankentips

JimInLoganSquare wrote:

d4v3 wrote:BTW, I just noticed the downtown Hecky's is now called "Hickory's". Great re-adaptive use of lettering.

I recently moved into an office on Halsted a scant two blocks from Hickory's, and I have to say they are not half bad. Decent tips, a bit on the low end of the flavor spectrum but acceptable; definitely some smoke in the air. I should ask them how they are cooking the meat. They also make an oddly attractive battered, seasoned, food service french fry. For me, who usually hates that sort of thing, I'm happily intrigued. I also had a decent hot dog there, although the Clausen's pickle they tossed on there was not what made me like it.

For those who don't know the story, here's more on the relationship between Hecky's in Evanston and Hickory's on Halsted:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20609

stevez wrote:In short, IMO, the right time for Hecky's tips is never.

Ouch.........

stevez wrote:Hecky's Frankentips

The tips Hickory's is serving don't much resemble the "Frankentips" shown above; e.g., they come in different sizes and shapes and include some charred bits. I wouldn't recommend driving to Hickory's for tips, but it's worth a one-block walk once in a while.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:The tips Hickory's is serving don't much resemble the "Frankentips" shown above

Now that I think of it, the "Frankentips" at Sweet Baby Ray's, Wood Dale apear to have come from the same 'lab'

Tips, Sweet Baby Ray's, Wood Dale



Enjoy,
Gary

zim wrote:I think the aquarium smoker was retired (more than a few years ago now) at the behest of neighbors - from what I heard the ventilation system at the time left most the block smelling like they had been smoked

The local residents also complained that if their pets were out, their fur would be covered with a shiny layer of smoke and grease. I just think it would make me want to get some BBQ.

In warm weather, my typical bike ride takes me right past Hecky's. I really miss the smoke scent.

MikeW665 wrote:

zim wrote:I think the aquarium smoker was retired (more than a few years ago now) at the behest of neighbors - from what I heard the ventilation system at the time left most the block smelling like they had been smoked

The local residents also complained that if their pets were out, their fur would be covered with a shiny layer of smoke and grease. I just think it would make me want to get some BBQ.

I know of a specific dog that is a BBQ fanatic and would have been very happy to be covered in a shiny layer of BBQ smoke and grease.

zim wrote:I think the aquarium smoker was retired (more than a few years ago now) at the behest of neighbors

damn anti-bbq busy bodies.

Under the category of "Hmmmmm....":

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Hecky's Barbecue - 1902 Green Bay Rd - Evanston IL 60201 - 847-492-1182
http://www.heckys.com

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The response was fast: http://www.yelp.com/biz/heckys-barbecue ... =date_desc

Yeah the new posts sure buried the one and two star meh posts down to the bottom.

I'm one of those who misses the smoke smell at that corner of Green Bay Road.

In that spirit, and, recognizing the service Hecky has provided to the Evanston community with his civic participation, I'd like to mention the smoked ducks, available at the holidays by special order. They are quite good.