Linkdown: 1/24/24 – The Buc-ee’s Coming to Mebane Edition

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Monk: Daniel Vaughn (aka BBQ Snob), Barbecue Editor for Texas Monthly, made a trip to North Carolina last week (with a jag up to Norfolk) to taste what the Old North State has to currently offer in terms of Texas barbecue. Long story short, he was “blown away” by the “staggeringly good” barbecue he tasted on this trip. The stops he called out:

  • Jon G’s Barbecue – Peachland
  • Dampf Good BBQ – Cary
  • Old Colony Smokehouse – Edenton
  • Lawrence Barbecue – Durham
  • Sweet Lew’s BBQ – Charlotte
  • Union Barbecue – Charlotte
  • Redwood Smoke – Norfolk, VA

For the Charlotte area, no surprise that he remains a fan of Jon G’s, but good to see Sweet Lew’s gets a shoutout as well as newcomer Union Barbecue, whom I haven’t had a chance to try yet. Dampf Good and Old Colony are on my list as well for NC.

You may recall that Vaughn did a similar trip through South Carolina and Georgia last summer where he praised City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia and Fork Grove Barbecue in Anderson among others. I would expect a similar story in the next week or so about North Carolina, and I can’t wait to read it.

Native News

At Morris Barbeque in Hookerton in the 60s, Joe the Monkey was a regular fixture

Firehawk Brewpub is hosting a 5 course, family-style dinner featuring the smoked specialties of Chefs Scott Blackwood and Chris Coleman as well as cocktails from Mixologist Bob Peters; tickets available here

New hours for Clyde Cooper’s in Raleigh

ICYMI Buc-ees is coming to Mebane

Non-Native News

Daniel Vaughn remembers John Brotherton

City Limits Barbeque is selling their own pimento cheese now

Direct-heat ribs vs smoked ribs: who you got???

Linkdown: 10/18/23 – The Mallard Creek Barbecue Back Edition

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Monk: The Mallard Creek Barbecue is back later this month for its 92nd annual event, but with a wrinkle. The barbecue will be drive-through and carryout only this year. That’s right, no dine-in. Per the event’s Facebook page:

The BBQ is on for 2023!

The fourth Thursday of October holds a special place in the hearts of the members of the Church and the community at large. This year’s BBQ will be a little different from our traditional event. Our delivery methods will be DRIVE-THRU and WALK-UP CARRY OUT ONLY.

1 – The Walk-Up Carry Out under the awning at the left side of the Drive-Thru area for large orders Plates, Sandwiches, Bulk BBQ, Stew, & Slaw
2 – The Sandwich Stand – Small orders – Sandwiches, Drinks, Bulk BBQ, Stew, & Slaw (No Plates) Souvenir T-shirts & hats also available at the Sandwich Stand

Sorry, we are not able to offer dine-in seating this year.

Our menu is assuredly the same; Hickory Smoked Pork BBQ, our special Brunswick Stew and our own blend of Cole Slaw (vinegar based). Please check the price list below for current pricing. We accept CASH and VISA/MC CREDIT CARD payment methods for your convenience. Sorry, NO DEBIT CARDS accepted.

Serving begins at 10:00 AM and we will continue until sold out.

Call 704-547-0038 after 9am on BBQ day for pick-up orders of 50 or more units ONLY. No other advance orders are taken

The pricing is as listed below.

The 92nd Annual Mallard Creek Barbecue will take place on Thursday, October 26 from 10am until sold out at 11400 Mallard Creek Road in Charlotte.

Native News

Pik N Pig is set up at the NC State Fair this month

Speaking of the State Fair, Longleaf Swine is offering a Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburger

Old Colony Smokehouse is Edenton is moving…eventually

It’s always been a family thing at Skylight Inn

The Pit origin story

Order information for Jon G’s-Giving

Non-Native News

City Limits gets featured in The State

And even makes the front page of the actual paper

Ribbee’s is coming from the folks behind Goldee’s (get it?)

Robert Moss made his way through west Tennessee and checked out Blake’s at Southern Milling

Linkdown: 8/29/23 – The Taylor Swift x Barbecue Festival Edition

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Monk: Did you know that Taylor Swift played at the Lexington Barbecue Festival in 2006?

Here’s a brief Tik Tok about it:

There’s some very grainy pre-iPhone concert footage available on YouTube.

Here’s some audio of Swift’s song “Tim McGraw”:

Anywho – this year’s edition of the Lexington Barbecue festival will be in downtown Lexington on Saturday, October 28th. Chances that the next Taylor Swift will be playing there this year…?

Native News

Slash from Guns N’ Roses visited Midwood Smokehouse while the band was in Charlotte for a concert

As a PSA, Jon G’s is closed this Saturday

Non-Native News

Maybe Texas barbecue isn’t all that expensive, comparatively-speaking

City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, SC has a great to-go option for football tailgates this Fall

Thoughts or preferences?

John Markus of “BBQ Pitmasters” fame gets a positive Zagat review for Markus Hilltop BBQ in Hudson Valley

The TM BBQ Fest will be November 4-5 in Lockhart; ticket information at the link below:

Houston-specific coverage on the festival

Good advice this:

Linkdown: 7/26/23 – The Barbycu Edition

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Monk: Congrats to Joseph Haynes on the release of his latest barbecue history book
“From Barbycu to Barbecue,” now available from the University of South Carolina Press.

The central premise of Haynes’ book is that the barbecue methods were not imported from the Caribbean but instead were a collaboration “between Native Americans, Europeans, and free and enslaved people of African descent during the seventeenth century.”

While I’m somewhat familiar with Haynes’ work online, I have not ready any of his books to date. The release of his latest book is reason enough to check him out.

Native News

Digging this new Sam Jones BBQ tee

This week Jon G’s will be at Super Abari Game Bar on Wednesday, 7/26

Noble Smoke has a “Two Napkin BLT” on the menu for the summer

A belated happy birthday to “Papaw Keith” Smith of Bar-B-Q King

Non-Native News

Agreed – this is too pretty not to share

John Tanner welcomes the sight of direct heat true ‘cue in Virginia at Two Drummers Smokehouse in Toano (whole hog coming?!)

A photo of City Limits Barbeque’s sides

Any suggestions?

ICYMI, Franklin Barbecue is taking a well-earned vacation