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I don’t know Ross, and I’ve never been to his pool room. I came across this recipe for hot bologna sauce on a grilling group on Facebook. And I knew instantly it was something I needed to make. Bologna burgers (or sandwiches) are an awesome thing, and something I love to make, from Ross’ Pool Room Bologna burgers to my smoked bologna sandwiches and Cleveland fried bologna sandwiches. Ross’ Pool Room hot bologna sauce brings a nice spicy, tomato-based punch to bologna burgers. It’s also great on hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled chicken.
Apparently Ross’ Pool Room was once (I cannot find it on Google) a place in West Virginia. It sounds like my kind of place. Pool, music, and great simple food, like bologna sandwiches or burgers.
I adapted this recipe for Ross’ Pool Room hot bologna sauce from what appeared to be the restaurant’s original recipe, which made a big batch. You’ll still get 2 cups out of my version, plenty for a number of sandwiches or southern bologna burgers.
If you happen to be in Nashville, Indiana, I recommend that you swing by Our Sandwich Place on South Van Buren Street and grab yourself a Larry’s Triple Bologna and Cheese Triple Decker sandwich. Now, it doesn’t come with hot bologna sauce, but it’s a mighty respectable and tasty bologna sandwich for sure!
Ross’ Pool Room Hot Bologna Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 ounces your favorite BBQ sauce
- 3 ounces prepared yellow mustard
- 4 ounces chili sauce
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 ounce hot sauce Texas Pete works best
- Kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.
Ross’s Pool Room was located on the 1100 block of Dunbar Ave. in Dunbar, WV, the the owners were “Bud” and “Jiggs” Ross they had a younger sister named Betsy, they both died in the early 70s, but operated the pool room and beer parlor for nearly 40 years, ate there many a time when I got old enough, there hot bologna was the best out there. They had a row of high chairs along the wall to watch the nine ball and razzell game that went on among the players, many a mid western hustler made it through that pool room and Bud and Jiggs were like dads to a whole lot of the boys that grew up here in Dunbar, those were truly the easier and good old times.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you posting that. As a long time pool lover I wish I’d gone there.
Regards,
Mike
Robert are you related to Gary Trail? I practically grew up in Jigg’s pool room and you’re right he was like a father to a lot of kids. I would rack tables after school, on the weekends and in the summers. 10 cents a game it was.. He used to call me “Tight Pockets” because I wore my pants and would have trouble getting change outta my pockets lol. Learned a lot from Jiggs too. About pool and being a man. I loved that place. Jiggs was a good man.
Think I’ll go home tonight and make me a hot bologna. Lol take care.
Jerry McCloud
Yeah, Gary is my brother, I actually go by Greg but sometimes use my name my dad gave, could always tell when he was mad he’d call me John Robert, don’t know where that came from but he used it more than once growing up lol
I’m from WV and can say with confidence Ross’s was in Dunbar near Charleston.
We ate there for lunch all the time in the late 70’s – early 80’s. I can’t wait to try this recipe ! Thanks
Does anyone know the name of the little restaurant near WV State that made the best fried bologna sandwiches and to die for sauce in different heat varieties. I was taken there a couple of times while lecturing at the ROTC Department!
Andy’s