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: 10/4/23 – The Texas BBQ Bubble About to Burst? Edition

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Monk: Is the Texas barbecue bubble about to burst? Daniel Vaughn reports slowdowns at a few barbecue joints in Texas due in part to the sheer number of joints that have opened in recent years, the intense heat wave that rocked Texas over the summer, and the skyrocketing price of brisket.

As a result, joints are struggling to make the economics work and are trying to lure casual customers in with lower cost items or specials.

From an outsider’s perspective it does seem as if the growth was unsustainable but despite that, Vaughn lists his reasons why he thinks the barbecue bubble isn’t quite yet about to burst. A fascinating read.

Native News

GGCC Smokehouse, an all-wood smoked barbecue food truck, is in the final four of the CharlotteFive Reader’s Choice Poll

The Lexington Barbecue Festival is featured in CLTure’s fall festival guide

Don’t forget you can take the train to the Barbecue Festival

I wonder if you will see any of these shirts at the festival…

A short video on Cook Out on Insider Food

Smoked chicken and dumplings at Pik N Pig

ICYMI, The Smoke Sheet recently profiled Morris Barbeque in Hookerton

Non-Native News

Congrats to Chef J BBQ for being named #1 barbecue in Kansas City; that’s high praise!

Zavala’s Barbecue is voted best brisket in Dallas

The town of Spring is home to Corkscrew BBQ

Also ICYMI, John Tanner dropped his best barbecue places in DC list

Now that’s a great barbecue sign

Linkdown: 8/21/23 – The Elliott Moss is Back Edition

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Monk: Elliott Moss’ post-Buxton Hall Barbecue plans have been announced. While he had been busy with opening his latest concepts – the breakfast and lunch comfort food spot Regina’s in West Asheville as well as the sandwich shop Little Louie’s – for the past 13 months, he has seemingly left both less than six weeks after they opened.

With his newfound free time, it seems as if Moss wants to continue his barbecue journey. Enter, Moss & Moore.

According to Moss & Moore’s first Instagram post, the first chance to experience their barbecue will be on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend with their friends The Hound.

Moss & Moore will also be hitting the road throughout the southeast this fall as well:

  • September 29-October 1 in St. Simon’s Island, GA for Fire Box Soul
  • October 22 in Atlanta with Oyster South
  • October 28 in Dallas with Cattle Ack BBQ
  • November 11 at Holy Smokes Barbecue Festival in Charleston

Moss is also exploring his family history on the Moss & Moore Instagram page through a set of reels, which is well worth checking out. Glad to see Elliott Moss back in the barbecue game.

Native News

The Tar Heel Traveler’s latest is with Raleigh man Carter Claiborne, who is on a mission to eat barbecue in all 100 NC counties

Firehawk Brewpub with a primer on the unique way they do ribs

Sam Jones BBQ’s next BBQ & Bourbon dinner will be September 12th in Raleigh

Non-Native News

The story from Daniel Vaughn’s jaunt through South Carolina and Georgia a few weeks back

Congrats to Courtney’s BBQ, which opened their doors 24 years ago this week

Little Miss BBQ will not be expanding after all

Eater checks in on the rapidly developing Houston barbecue scene

Philly Bite Magazine with a brief primer on Virginia-style barbecue

Congrats to Columbus B. Hill, the first Coloradan inducted into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame

Linkdown: 5/24/23 – The Melissa Cookston is No Brett Favre Edition

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Monk: Firehawk Brewpub opened its doors this past Saturday in Mount Holly and the barbecue joint/brewery promptly sold out within hours of opening. Based on the comments on its Facebook page, it appears that the visitors that day were pleased with their food and beer. I hope to confirm for myself soon.

Firehawk Brewpub will be open Wednesday through Friday from 4-9 and Saturday from 11-9 this week. Check their Instagram and Facebook pages for further updates on hours of operation.

Native News

Some photos from Jake Wood’s Gettin’ Piggy With It; looks like it was a great event

An estimated 100,000+ people attended last weekend’s Cheerwine Festival

Non-Native News

Photos of the Winners from last weekend’s Memphis in May 2023 World Barbecue Championship

Melissa Cookston has officially cooked in her last Memphis in May and will be focusing on her other businesses as well as the World Junior BBQ League

More coverage of Cookston’s retirement of sorts

Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson stopped by Memphis in May for their upcoming TV show, “Kings of BBQ”

Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX has recently added a barbecue joint and distillery to its operations

Barbecue Showdown season 2 will be released this Friday on Netfllix

John Tanner loved the Brunswick stew from Porkey’s BBQ in Lothian, Maryland

The Southern Foodways Alliance profiles Daniel Vaughn