Tyler Cowen and I have one thing (and, perhaps, only one thing) in common: an interest in mutton barbecue.
Owensboro, Kentucky is the capital of mutton barbecue in the United States. I’ve had the pleasure of sampling this rare of form of barbecue (in comparison with pork, in the South, and beef, in Texas) in a number of local restaurants, including the Moon-Lite, and it’s pretty amazing stuff.
Apparently, mutton barbecues have long been important church fund-raisers in Owensboro. Its first recorded mutton barbecue, on 4 July 1834, was held at a Baptist church,
but local Catholics have been particularly active barbecuers. Mount St. Joseph’s convent school alone sells about two tons of barbecued mutton at its annual barbecue. Today there’s at least one fund-raising picnic in the Owensboro area nearly every week in May and June.
So, if you’re in or near western Kentucky—in May, June, or any time of the year—don’t forget to try the mutton barbecue.
