Speaking of Chicago, here was one of the most surprising things I found out...Living here in D.C., I somehow mistakenly believed that mumbo sauce--that tangy, yummy, sweet, BBQ sauce-y goodness--was a regional D.C. thing. I've even been joking for years that the reason mosquitoes bite me so often is that I "must be covered in mumbo sauce or something." Ask most African Americans raised here (and within proximity of a carry-out) and they will know what mumbo sauce is. What it is not is that almost apricot sauce sticky sweet, day-glo-colored stuff you get at the carry-out.
What mumbo sauce is has everything to do with the late Mr. Argia B. Collins, who founded Argia B.'s BBQ Restaurant in 1957 in Chicago's South Side and supposedly invented it. His version, the tangy, yummy, sweet BBQ sauce-y goodness I tasted in Chicago, stunned us. We had never seen an actual bottle of mumbo sauce before. The closest we've come to its taste is at Wings 'n' Things on upper Georgia Ave. (and worth the trip if you're here)--and they claim that the Adam's Rib Restaurant here made it. I was told in Chicago that mumbo sauce made its way here from there.
Ms. Collins (his daughter), if you're reading this, is your Mumbo Sauce available in D.C.?? Everyone I know would have some. Okay, lol...I think I'm really hungry now.
4 comments:
It sounds yummy! Do they sell it by the bottle? My favorite Texas-style BBQ sauce is Joe's from Chandler, AZ. We buy cases of the 16 oz. size, or entire gallon bottles of it, when we have the room. Rosie's in San Fernando Valley, CA, is another one I love, and they will sell me a Coke-cup full for a couple of bucks. I put it in a canning jar. Yum!
When are you going to Chicago again? =)
I've never heard of mumbo sauce but now I want to know the deal...plus I'm craving wings now!
I'm FROM Chicago and never heard of it.....so now I GOTTA try it!!! If you find a mailorder source, let me know. Otherwise I will have my nephew (who lives downtown but has a South Side connection for stuff (tickets to Cubs games, mostly folks....nuthin' illegal)get some....
teri
I am from D.C., but live in Philly now. I went to a Chinese joint the other day and ordered the infamous chicken wings and fried rice. When asked if they had any mumbo sauce, the response was "we have duck sauce." My response was "that's ok...never mind." To make matters worst, my cousin who was with me asked what it was. I turned and said "you've never heard of mumbo sauce...do they not have it up here?" Here I am thinking that it is a Chinese carryout thing (although, the first time I tasted mumbo sauce was in the 70's at a carryout that used to be next to Kojak Liquors on Mt. Olive Road N.E.). I soon learned that not every urban area Chinese carryout sells mumbo sauce.
Guess I have to bottle it up when I go back to D.C.
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