Screw Politics, Let’s Talk NC BBQ

[prlyles]

NC bbq is one of my great loves. I consider real NC bbq as pork, either whole hog or shoulders cooked over wood coals with a thin vinegar based sauce. I have been blessed to be able to eat at most of the famous places from one end of our great state to the other. I prefer eastern style over Lexington but love them both. Sadly some of the old timers who make great bbq are dying out and no one seems to want to bother with making bbq the right way, just too much work. Anyway, my favorite in the whole state is Skylight in Ayden with Wilber’s in Goldsboro a close second, I haven’t been to Wilber’s since it reopened I hope it is still made the same. My favorite Lexington style is a tie between Lexington BBQ and Stamey’s in Greensboro with the BBQ Center in Lexington being a distance third, your pick?

 

[Grayhead]

I dont hit many bbq joints anymore. Joes bbq left shallotte years ago, which was decent q.
Personally, what i can do at home beats anything a resturant can produce. Ive also gained a respect for texas style when making briskets. But i prefer dry rub briskets over sauced.
I cook with a trager pellet cooker. I am interested in an offset smoker, but not sure i have the time to babysit it wi

 

[prlyles]

I dont hit many bbq joints anymore. Joes bbq left shallotte years ago, which was decent q.
Personally, what i can do at home beats anything a resturant can produce. Ive also gained a respect for texas style when making briskets. But i prefer dry rub briskets over sauced.
I cook with a trager pellet cooker. I am interested in an offset smoker, but not sure i have the time to babysit it wi

Never tried making my own. From time to time my wife will slow cook a shoulder with a dry rub, pull the meat off the bone and add a eastern style sauce. It’s alright but no one would ever mistake it for the real thing. I’ve found the closer you get to the mountains the worst your bbq gets. I have to drive 30 miles to Winston Salem to get any good. I stopped at one of the fast food bbq places that Smithfield has started while coming back from Ocracoke a few weeks ago and was surprised, it wasn’t that bad and had pretty good sides.

 

[dadika13]

I went to Old Time BBQ last time I was in Raleigh early this year - damn good BBQ. This was after they dragged me to The Pit on a previous trip, which was a really good atmosphere with the roof deck but I wanted some grimy spot on the side of the road. Old Time was definitely more my style.

 

[UNC '92]

I stopped at one of the fast food bbq places that Smithfield has started while coming back from Ocracoke a few weeks ago and was surprised, it wasn’t that bad and had pretty good sides.

 

[tarheel0910]

I went to Old Time BBQ last time I was in Raleigh early this year - damn good BBQ. This was after they dragged me to The Pit on a previous trip, which was a really good atmosphere with the roof deck but I wanted some grimy spot on the side of the road. Old Time was definitely more my style.

Sorry, yankees are not permitted in this thread.

 

[dadika13]

Sorry, yankees are not permitted in this thread.

We won the war, we get to eat your BBQ.

 

[Grayhead]

Another good joint is mission BBq. The whole desigh is outstanding. Little pricy, but good q.

They are really into military, police, and first responders. Also the salute the flag at 12 and 6

 

[Grayhead]

Never tried making my own. From time to time my wife will slow cook a shoulder with a dry rub, pull the meat off the bone and add a eastern style sauce. It’s alright but no one would ever mistake it for the real thing. I’ve found the closer you get to the mountains the worst your bbq gets. I have to drive 30 miles to Winston Salem to get any good. I stopped at one of the fast food bbq places that Smithfield has started while coming back from Ocracoke a few weeks ago and was surprised, it wasn’t that bad and had pretty good sides.

Smithfields is desperation bbq. It taste very bland to me.

If you are interested in grilling, check out the pellet grills. Very user friendly, and hard to mess up

 

[tarheel0910]

Smithfields is desperation bbq. It taste very bland to me.

If you are interested in grilling, check out the pellet grills. Very user friendly, and hard to mess up

Smithfield's is the McDonald's of bbq.

 

[prlyles]

I wanted some grimy spot on the side of the road. Old Time was definitely more my style.

Yep, a dirt parking lot makes it even better.

 

[prlyles]

i agree, it will never compete with a real bbq joint but it's not bad for fast food is what I'm saying.

 

[prlyles]

Smithfield's is the McDonald's of bbq.

what other fast food place makes it better than Smithfield's? Nobody is saying it can compete with a real place but for fast food it is good.

 

[prlyles]

Anybody tried Sam Jones down close to Greenville? Speaking of Greenville, B's in Greenville is worth a stop if you're in the area.

 

[Grayhead]

Smithfield's is the McDonald's of bbq.

Like calling taco bell mexican food

 

[blazers]

Anybody tried Sam Jones down close to Greenville? Speaking of Greenville, B's in Greenville is worth a stop if you're in the area.

Jones is pretty good. It is so rare that I get bbq that i kinda think everything is really good though. I kinda remember the the hushpuppy situation being so-so or less than stellar... It is no B's, but obviously much more available since B's will sell out really early in the day.

 

[prlyles]

Jones is pretty good. It is so rare that I get bbq that i kinda think everything is really good though. I kinda remember the the hushpuppy situation being so-so or less than stellar... It is no B's, but obviously much more available since B's will sell out really early in the day.

Next time I go to B's I want to try their chicken also.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

I feel sorry for y'all livin' so far away from B's.

Sam Jones is good - I like that they keep a little bit of the cracklin' in there. But it's definitely more of a "real restaurant" for better or worse.

 

[uncboy10]

You guys would not like my opinion of ENC vinegar based BBQ sauce... lol

 

[tarheel0910]

You guys would not like my opinion of ENC vinegar based BBQ sauce... lol

People who live in the mustard state are also not allowed in this thread.

 

[uncboy10]

People who live in the mustard state are also not allowed in this thread.

I don't live in the "mustard state" you jack wagon.

 

[prlyles]

You guys would not like my opinion of ENC vinegar based BBQ sauce... lol

Yes, you’re right, I probably wouldn’t.....lol

 

[prlyles]

I feel sorry for y'all livin' so far away from B's.

Sam Jones is good - I like that they keep a little bit of the cracklin' in there. But it's definitely more of a "real restaurant" for better or worse.

Yeah, the bbq has the cracklings in it at the orginial Skylight in Ayden. I’ve heard that Sam Jones is cooking the bbq the same way as he does at Skylight.

 

[blazers]

Lexingo

Yeah, the bbq has the cracklings in it at the orginial Skylight in Ayden. I’ve heard that Sam Jones is cooking the bbq the same way as he does at Skylight.

Sam Jones is the grandson of the Skylight Inn guy. Had to look it up, and found that both only do cornbread - i knew it was something funny about the hush puppies

 

[prlyles]

Lexingo

Sam Jones is the grandson of the Skylight Inn guy. Had to look it up, and found that both only do cornbread - i knew it was something funny about the hush puppies

Yeah, Sam ran the Skylight until he opened Sam Jones bbq. At the Skylight you get bbq, slaw, and a square of old fashion scaled cornbread. Period

 

[prlyles]

You guys would not like my opinion of ENC vinegar based BBQ sauce... lol

Just what kind of bbq are you partial to?

 

[uncboy10]

Just what kind of bbq are you partial to?

Sweet and tangy. WNC, Memphis, and KC style sauce is usually what I go for. That being said, if I'm driving through town I will stop to appreciate a top shelf ENC BBQ joint because I believe in trying the best of everything, even if its not your favorite.

 

[heelbent]

Sweet and tangy. WNC, Memphis, and KC style

Bannable

 

[uncboy10]

Bannable

 

[blazers]

Bannable

this guy doesn't have a sense of smell and he's judging people's taste

Also, Lexington #1 gets my vote for the state's best.

 

[prlyles]

Sweet and tangy. WNC, Memphis, and KC style sauce is usually what I go for. That being said, if I'm driving through town I will stop to appreciate a top shelf ENC BBQ joint because I believe in trying the best of everything, even if its not your favorite.

If you like that kind, Google ”Ridgewood BBQ” it is right across the state line in TN. Out in the middle of nowhere. The sauce reminds me of the bone sucking sauce you see sold at a lot of places (we sold it at the store) It is excellent bbq if you like that kind. Depending on where you live, it can be a long trip. It’s not too far from Bristo, TN/VA.

 

[uncboy10]

It take a brave soul to take the road less travelled and stand up for what's right.

 

[uncboy10]

If you like that kind, Google ”Ridgewood BBQ” it is right across the state line in TN. Out in the middle of nowhere. The sauce reminds me of the bone sucking sauce you see sold at a lot of places (we sold it at the store) It is excellent bbq if you like that kind. Depending on where you live, it can be a long trip. It’s not too far from Bristo, TN/VA.

Only a little over an hour from me. I'll try to check it out sometime

 

[prlyles]

this guy doesn't have a sense of smell and he's judging people's taste

Also, Lexington #1 gets my vote for the state's best.

I like both styles but I prefer whole hog. They are quite a few more joints that cook with wood in the Piedmont than there is in the eastern part though.

 

[heelbent]

this guy doesn't have a sense of smell and he's judging people's taste

Also, Lexington #1 gets my vote for the state's best.

Oh, but I have an excellent memory, for now anyway, and I have seen wayward souls choose the wrong path and flirt with the devil that is tomato based sauce before. He needs to repent before it's too late.

REPENT I SAY!

 

[prlyles]

Oh, but I have an excellent memory, for now anyway, and I have seen wayward souls choose the wrong path and flirt with the devil that is tomato based sauce before. He needs to repent before it's too late.

REPENT I SAY!

. A lot of people call Lexington sauce tomato based but that‘s not accurate. Generally you can take any eastern joint’s vinagar based sauce and add a little ketchup and you have Lexington style. Both are vinegar based. Now I will be the first to admit some of the Piedmont places do more than just add ketchup but for the most part they don’t. I see a lot more differences in the sides offered in the east and west than the sauce. The west offers fr, red slaw, and hush puppies and that’s about it. The east on the other hand offers Brunswick stew, boiled potatoe, collards, creamy white slaw along with some type of baked cornbread, hush puppies, scaled corn pone, etc.

 

[prlyles]

Another good joint is mission BBq. The whole desigh is outstanding. Little pricy, but good q.

They are really into military, police, and first responders. Also the salute the flag at 12 and 6

Never heard of Mission BBQ. Where is it? I have been known to drive 50 or 75 miles out of my way to try a joint I’ve heard good things about.

 

[UNC '92]

i agree, it will never compete with a real bbq joint but it's not bad for fast food is what I'm saying.

See, that's where you are wrong and not a purist in my book. BBQ is not "fast food" to begin with. Trying to make it equivalent to a "fast food" experience is bastardizing BBQ.

 

[UNC '92]

Another good joint is mission BBq. The whole desigh is outstanding. Little pricy, but good q.

They are really into military, police, and first responders. Also the salute the flag at 12 and 6

You mean the national chain Mission BBQ? Like the one in North Myrtle? I love you man, but hell naw! I don't doubt you know what good NC BBQ is, but that ain't it.

When UNC football starts letting folks full on back in you'll come to our tailgate and we'll share some good NC BBQ with you.

 

[UNC '92]

If you don't make your own NC sauce (shame on you) and enjoy both East and West NC BBQ sauces, get yourself some Pig Whistle and try it the next time you smoke a pork butt. You'll thank me later.