Obarbecue! Obamas Grab Ribs In North Carolina (PHOTOS)

President Obama and the First Lady made a surprise visit to 12 Bones smokehouse in Asheville, North Carolina this afternoon, which had seen another surprise visit from then-candidate Obama in October 2008. (12 Bones appears to be well-liked by most.)

The Obama mingled with customers and staff, posed for photos and eventually ordered two rib plates, and given order number 99. From the pool report, the precise order per Bill Burton was:

Ribs, greens, baked beans, corn pudding, mac & cheese and corn bread. All washed down with a couple of sweet teas.

About those ribs...deputy press sescretary Bill Burton tweeted during the meal:

Plates of ribs here at 12 Bones Smokehouse give new meaning to 'too big to fail'

When the Obamas left 12 Bones, a crowd had gathered on the corner, a few with "Welcome" signs, and a couple that read: "We love Sasha" and "Howdy Malia."

Photos from the drop-in:

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First lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama wait in line to order at 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville, N.C., Friday, April 23, 2010.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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First lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama wait in line to order at 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville, N.C., Friday, April 23, 2010.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Davyne Dial said on 24 Saturday 2010 pm30 9:27 pm: They must have been coached as to what the really good stuff at 12 Bones was...the blueberry chipolte ribs, corn pudding, mac & cheese are about as good as it gets. They arrived for lunch straight from the airport. It's authentic, slow smoked bbq, not the quickie, fake bbq stuff many restaurants try to pawn off as authentic. We're proud as peacocks to have the Obama's choose Asheville for a weekend getaway.

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Comments

[sherifffruitfly]

05:24 AM on 05/03/2010

Ok. Ribs are what's for dinner tomorrow! Gonna make me some macaroni salad to go with em!

[murphysgirl]

03:52 PM on 05/01/2010

I would have let the Prez cut in front of me..

[mwhaley]

12:10 PM on 05/01/2010

The President should check out Billy's Pork Center in Tin City (that's right, Tin City) NC. Best NC BBQ ever. Although, I've never had any BAD BBQ in my home state.

[brenbren19]

05:51 PM on 04/26/2010

mmm obama got good taste! omnomnom

[jl4141]

05:31 PM on 04/26/2010

Did they order the "ribs" or the "ree-yubs"? When in Asheville, go with the ree-yubs!

[IzzyIdol]

06:43 AM on 04/26/2010

Love seeing FLOTUS without her makeup and hair all casual. She looks like she is having a great time: all relaxed and comfy and herself. Love her open and shining face. And I thank her endlessly and fervently for caring about America's children and their health and education.

[entopticon]

08:13 PM on 04/25/2010

Lucky for me, I live about 15 minutes from 12 Bones. Just had a wonderful meal there a few days ago. The line out the door is always worth it. I am very glad to see that the Pres appreciated their great fare enough to come back for another visit.

[LovelyGirl]

06:39 PM on 04/25/2010

Watch that cholesterol Mr. President! We need to keep you healthy. But I'm not mad with you, there's nothing like North Carolina BBQ and sweet tea! I hope the President and Mrs. Obama had a good time.

[boudin]

03:25 PM on 04/26/2010

Actually, barbecued ribs and North Carolina BBQ are two different things, even if the ribs are made in a North Carolina restaurant. There is great debate concerning which style of 'cue is the best, or most authentic NC 'cue, but ribs are not included in that debate.

I'm sure 12 Bones' ribs are wonderful, but they ain't Carolina 'cue.

[gsteinum]

05:30 PM on 04/25/2010

omg!!!! that child in the second picture isn't paying attention to the president!!!! he must be boring and a bad leader and want to raise our taxes and not a real amerikkkan!!!!! this proves he's a socialist!! i'm moving to g. beckistan!!!

[Totto]

03:25 PM on 04/27/2010

Hurry up and move!

[Totto]

03:38 PM on 04/27/2010

Sorry, I read too quickly and took it too seriously.

[gsteinum]

05:18 PM on 04/25/2010

it's not the ribs that are bad for you it's mainly the syrupy sauce. (ribs don't have that much fat) other ways of doing bbq include a dry rub and don't need to be that sweet. spicey is better, especially in a wood fired oven.

[ptfcNassoc]

02:56 PM on 04/26/2010

"ribs don't have that much fat"??? lol

[DessLoch]

07:13 AM on 04/27/2010

you must not be from the south. Dry ribs is part of the low fat menu. It's relative to the other southern dishes ie fatback smothered veggies, pies that are 3/4 butter and sugar, but especially the deep fried staples like chicken fried steak, deep fried turkey, xtra thick lard-coated fried hot chicken, fried gizzards, fried chittlins, fried liver, fried fish (esp deepfried mmm, mmm good catfish w hushpuppies offering enough fat to bestill your heart), and of course the deep-fried manna of my childhood, krispy kreme donuts.

[mamapower]

05:59 AM on 04/25/2010

I'm so happy to have President Obama and Vice President Biden leading America!

[babs98019]

02:03 AM on 04/25/2010

I am tired of hearing disparaging remarks about Michelle Obama's appearance. If she never did another thing, she is educating our country about beauty that goes beyond the cultural pap we have been fed for years. I wonder about the beauties we do worship, who end up sad, lonely and sometimes dead way before their time. She not only has her own brand of beauty, she is an active, educated, woman who is bringing change through her dedication to the future of our country.

[DannyEV]

04:17 PM on 04/25/2010

Well, she's certainly not Britney Spears.

[DannyEV]

04:20 PM on 04/25/2010

As I said, she's certainly not Britney Spears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK1RRrwcbW0&feature=PlayList&p=295084007B73A680&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=8

[noladebby]

01:58 AM on 04/25/2010

How did those people stay so calm???? I would've been so awestruck. And I would've let the President skip me in line lol

Comment about the menu- what is corn pudding? sounds gross!! I've never had it. We eat bread pudding in New Orleans- mmmm.

[SusanElizabeth1949]

09:05 PM on 04/25/2010

Probably a close relation to old fashioned corn and oyster loaf, which is creamed corn, whole corn, cracker crumbs milk egg and of course oysters. I make a 'California version with green chili strips and jack cheese.

[boudin]

03:26 PM on 04/26/2010

Corn pudding? Similar to maque choux, cher.

[Bashley]

05:32 PM on 04/26/2010

Corn pudding is DELICIOUS! I believe the dish has a New England origin, but many of us down South have had it. You can find recipes for it on recipezaar or allrecipes. I use Jiffy Corn Bread mix, frozen corn, and a few other ingredients I can't remember off the top of my head (beginner cook, sorry). It's one of my favorite holiday side dishes. My grandmother makes hers from scratch with fresh corn and sauteed onions and jalapenos.

[CaliTLC]

01:01 AM on 04/25/2010

That's ALL the advertisement 12 Bones needs for the foreseeable future. Enjoy the weekend 1st couple.

[Davyne Dial]

09:27 PM on 04/24/2010

They must have been coached as to what the really good stuff at 12 Bones was...the blueberry chipolte ribs, corn pudding, mac & cheese are about as good as it gets. They arrived for lunch straight from the airport. It's authentic, slow smoked bbq, not the quickie, fake bbq stuff many restaurants try to pawn off as authentic. We're proud as peacocks to have the Obama's choose Asheville for a weekend getaway.

[gsteinum]

05:27 PM on 04/25/2010

devyne: ya' think? a former illinois u.s. senator would know about a local asheville, nc restaurant's menu how else????