WITH VIDEO: Satchel's and Red Rock: A menu of BBQ and entrepreneurship as the search for Michigan's best wraps up

"I was 46, and the business world was okay, but not as fun," explains Hugh Morgan in a slight southern drawl while standing in the center of the Satchel's BBQ dining room. An unexpected path led this former grade-school teacher from Alabama to the Detroit area, then Ann Arbor, as a business professional, and ultimately the Southern Pride smokers parked along Washtenaw Ave that tempt passing drivers to turn in and get their fill of brisket, cornbread, and slaw.

Less than five miles east on Michigan Avenue in the center of downtown Ypsilanti, Shawn Cool stands outside of his recently opened Red Rock Downtown Barbecue and explains how his restaurant can be traced back to a weekly "Soul Food Sunday" gathering with friends. Inside the building, which was once home to TC's Speakeasy, sits a packed room of patrons getting their fill of dry rub ribs and made-to-order mac and cheese.

Both destinations are uniquely different experiences, but equally appetizing, and were voted by readers as the top barbecue restaurants in Washtenaw County. MLive.com's John Gonzales went to take a taste to see how they stacked up against 25 other restaurants as a part of his hunt for the best BBQ in Michigan.

View Melanie Maxwell's video highlights of "Gonzo's" tasting below or read a live-tweet recap of the evening here. And watch for Gonzo's winning choices to be announced on Tuesday.