For you barbeque aficionados, there is a new kiddo on the block. Curtis Starling and his daughter Christy have opened Hwy 67 BBQ adjacent to the Highway 67 Antique Mall (near the intersection of Highway 67 and I-16).
      Starling said he and his daughter participated in barbeque competitions and festivals for years and winning awards along the way, before taking the big leap and opening their own restaurant.
      "We have been looking for a location for awhile when this building became available," he said. "We did our homework, and feel this is truly a great spot."
      Starling describes his barbeque as "old fashioned."
      "Our meat is cooked over seasoned oak firewood," he said. "We don't cook with gas or anything like that. We get up early to begin cooking the meat so that it will be ready by lunch. We have chopped pork, beef brisket, baby back ribs and chicken."
      Starling said nothing they cook is ever frozen. "We cook fresh everyday," he said. I'll have to admit that the restaurant's signature sandwich sounds like something off a Food Network or Travel Channel show, and is called the 67 BBQ Burger. It is a large, freshly made beef patty, topped with chopped pork, coleslaw, and the restaurant's Hwy 67 signature barbeque sauce on a large bun. Girls, don't be insulted, but Starling describes it as a "man" sandwich.
      I asked Starling what sides his restaurant offers, because side dishes are a big deal in our part of the world.
      "We have cole slaw, potato salad, country style green beans, and of course, Brunswick stew," he said. "Our Brunswick stew is the traditional recipe, and isn't being made by other barbeque restaurants in the area. People really, really seem to like it. It is the biggest selling side item in the restaurant."
      Starling said he is a little surprised by the amount of take-out business he is doing.
"Honestly, probably 80 percent of sales right now are take-out," he said. "I certainly didn't feel it would be that high when we opened in September, but that's okay."
      Hwy 67 BBQ is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To learn more about the restaurant, visit its Facebook page.
      So, until next Tuesday, I bid you au revoir.
      Got a scoop for Jan? Email her at jmoore@statesboroherald.com