Friday Find: Jerry Stephenson of The Redneck BBQ Lab on the NC F&B Podcast

The NC F&B talks with Jerry Stephenson, who along with his sister Roxane runs The Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson in Johnston County in eastern NC. During the discussion, he discusses how he got started in the restaurant business, his philosophy and approach to barbecue, as well as his appearance on Chopped earlier this year.

Description:

Why go to Johnston County for BBQ? Redneck BBQ is scientific, it’s
for “people who were picked last at dodgeball.”  It doesn’t matter how it’s supposed to taste, what matters is how does it taste? 

Jerry Stephenson isn’t scared of anything, except for maybe his Momma’s opinion of his food, listen into find out if she likes his BBQ.

Also in this episode;

Banana Pudding Cannoli

Ugly Drum Smokers

Redneck Science 

Friday Find: The Best Barbecue in Austin

Food Insider makes the rounds at some of Austin’s best barbecue spots before declaring a winner.

Description: Austin is one of the best places in the country to get barbecue, especially if you’re looking for Central Texas-style. These are the best places to get brisket, ribs, and sausage from the most popular spots to the hidden gems.
1:20: Louie Mueller Barbecue
4:25: Micklethwait Craft Meats
7:35: Franklin Barbecue
10:14: LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
13:25: The winner

Friday Find: Southern Smoke BBQ’s Matthew Register on Kevin’s BBQ Joints

Monk: Southern Smoke BBQ has been on my list for a few years now, and someday I just need to bite the bullet and head out to Garland (3+ hrs from Charlotte) as part of an eastern NC barbecue road trip. I will have to be sure to get there on time since Southern Smoke is only open on Thursdays for lunch and Fridays for lunch and dinner (dinner being a recent change) and they sell out every day they open (sometimes in as little as 45 minutes).

In this interview, Matthew comes off as an easygoing and affable southern guy, which makes sense since he’s spent most of his life in eastern NC outside of a 9-month stint in Nashville. I’ve gotten through some of his book released earlier this year but plan to finish it soon after listening to this conversation. Another good interview from Kevin’s BBQ Joints.

Description: In this episode I chat with Matthew Register from Southern Smoke BBQ in Garland, North Carolina about his unique journey to opening his equally unique barbecue restaurant which is only open two days a week and on most days has an exceptional line(which they get through very expeditiously. They do a large amount of catering business, have a food truck, and in the spring of 2019 he launched a book entitled Southern Smoke: Barbecue, Traditions, and Treasured Recipes Reimagined for Today which is broken down specifically into three sections: Low Country, Memphis/Delta, & North Carolina. There is also a unique section on how through a southern dinner party. It’s an exceptionally interesting and insightful interview that I know you’ll enjoy.

See all things Southern Smoke here: http://southernsmokebbqnc.com
Check out Southern Smoke BBQ on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/southernsmo…
See Southern Smoke BBQ on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SouthernSmokeNC
Follow Southern Smoke BBQ on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Smo…
Pick up Southern Smoke here: https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Smoke…

Friday Find: “More Than A Flavor: The History of Eastern North Carolina BBQ”

Despite the incendiary words against Lexington-style barbecue (as well as a few mis-truths about beef and mustard), “More Than a Flavor” is well-produced 25-minute documentary that details the history of eastern NC barbecue (from the Wayne County Government nonetheless!). It even has a nice breakdown of the barbecue family tree for eastern style starting with Arnold Sasser, something which I hadn’t personally seen detailed out before – unlike the Lexington-style tree starting from Sid Weaver and Jess Swicegood I’m so familiar with.

The documentary also details the pork industry that is so big in Wayne County, and which nicely lends to the barbecue history in the area.

Description: Learn about the history of BBQ in Wayne County and across Eastern North Carolina in this documentary, More Than A Flavor!