Monk: Deborah Holt Noel visits two Lexington barbecue mainstays at Lexington Barbecue and The Barbecue Center in this short video for NC Weekend.
Lexington
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: 9/6/23 – The RIP David Millette Edition
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Monk: In a truly terrible news, the general manager of the Raleigh location of Midwood Smokehouse passed away after being assaulted a few weeks back. Police said David “Davey” Millette, Jr. died Friday, Sept. 1. According to police, Millette was assaulted at 2 a.m. on Aug. 26 in the 500 block of Glenwood Avenue.
Sadly, Millete was just 27 years old and leaves behind his parents, sister, nephews, girlfriend, and an unborn child.
If you’d like to donate, a GoFundMe link has been set up here.
Native News
Our State on The Redneck BBQ Lab in Johnston County
Shepard Barbecue recently raised $7,000 for Hawaii
For the 39th Annual Lexington Barbecue Festival on Oct. 28, NC By Train will make 10 stops, unloading passengers one block from the festival.
Non-Native News
Brisket burger x ramen bun
A San Antonio barbecue list
An update to the pitmaster lineup at the BBQ World’s Fair as part of the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest
The Tennessean’s list of best barbecue in Nashville
The Buc-ee’s pitmaster is a 50 year old Texas named Randy Pauly, and he lives for new store openings
I can only imagine the heat in a barbecue room in the Texas summer
Linkdown: 8/2/23 – The Fat-Washed Bourbon Edition
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Monk: Daniel Vaughn, BBQ Editor of Texas Monthly, made an epic barbecue road trip through South Carolina and Georgia for the past two weeks. Here are some highlights:
First off, Daniel doesn’t appear to be a huge fan of mustard sauce
City Limits in West Columbia was a favorite. He even posted about it twice!
In addition to City Limits, he also enjoyed Fork Grove Barbecue in Anderson and Slow Fire in Savannah
A couple of Charleston recommendations
Besides Slow Fire in Savannah, here are the other places he hit in Georgia:
And finally, in case you had any illusions to the glamorous realities of being a BBQ editor:
Native News
Wyatt Dickson has sold Picnic to Chris Holloway, recent partner and former bassist of the band Collapsis
The 39th Lexington Barbecue Festival will be on Saturday, October 28, 2023
As of early July, Hickory has a new wood-smoked barbecue joint named Hughes Q
Prime Barbecue is in the middle of taking a well deserved week off
Speedy’s also has some planned vacation coming up
A re-introduction to Kelly and Garren from Jon G’s
Bunn’s Barbecue in Windsor has closed, but the owner’s hope is that it will be temporary
Non-Native News
Eater Carolinas goes looking for pulled pork sandwiches in Charleston
Fat-washed bourbon?