I found love in the parking lot of a burned-down auto parts shop.

I was riding my bike on Business Loop 70 when I passed, and I had to turn back. Something was missing in my life. I knew I couldn’t go on.

The trailer was parked on North Garth Avenue, and my mouth watered as I rolled back towards it. It was excessively alluring. I’m not sure if it’s actually healthy or socially acceptable to feel this way, but the intoxicating smell of smoked meat was strong. The sign out front proclaimed: _“This sauce is the bomb!”_

Rooten Tooten Bar-B-Q is a no-frills stand that gets things right. It’s a very small building with a few tables out front, a smoker to the side and a menu with pork, ribs, turkey, greens, beans, and potato salad. Their sauce is home — er, trailer-made. The portions are big, and the prices are fair.

I noticed they served turkey legs, which I haven’t seen on the menu of many barbecue spots, or really anywhere besides Six Flags, so naturally, I had to give it a try. The meal deal included two sides and I blurted out the first two things I saw: baked beans and potato salad. I forked over my $8 and within 10 minutes, I had my food.

The turkey leg, like many great American meals, was larger than my head (I checked). It was served on top of two slices of white bread and a side of their sauce. The side portions were generous, but I found ways to justify finishing it. I had been riding my bike all day, and I’m sure I had kale in the past week or something like that.

Within two bites, I lost all hope of abiding by any formal table manners. I tried my best to make it look like I wasn’t face-painting with barbecue sauce as I scarfed down my turkey, but it was a deliciously lost cause. All’s fair in love and barbecue.

Turkey meat is often excessively dry, but Rooten Tooten’s didn’t make me feel like I needed to dip the leg in a tub of water. The meat was tender and flaked easily off of the bone, and the outer skin sealed in the bold flavor. It was scrumptious and succulent and everything I’ve always wanted.

The sauce was tangy with a hint of sweetness and a bit of a kick. I don’t really know what _“the bomb”_ means, but whatever it is, the sauce lives up to it. The potato salad had hearty chunks of potatoes and was thick and flavorful. The baked beans’ sweet taste perfectly complimented the turkey as my plate quickly became an amalgam of sides and meat. It was a happy marriage of sweet and savory.

The food is amazing enough itself, but the service and ambiance give Rooten Tooten a unique vibe that other barbecue joints can’t match. You can’t fake authenticity, and Rooten Tooten is the real deal. When your food comes from a stand on the side of the road, nine out of 10 times it will be great.

I’m a firm advocate of venturing away from campus to discover what Columbia has to offer. Located at 1205 N. Garth Ave., Rooten Tooten is a mile and a half north of the courthouse and an easy bike ride from downtown. I promise it’s worth your while. It left me satisfied and wanting more, and our love is sure to last.