Monk: In what I believe is their first podcast appearance, Garren and Kelli from Jon G’s appeared in a recent episode of the Man Meat BBQ podcast to discuss how they transitioned from the tailgate tent to the food truck to the restaurant. Though the host Mikey has this slightly annoying habit of talking about himself and his business instead of asking questions of his guest and he still needs a cough button (like when he interviewed The Smoke Sheet). Still, glad that Garren and Kelly knocked out their first podcast appearance and hopefully there is lots more to come.
NC
Linkdown: 1/12/21
Featured
A couple of big barbecue books are now available for pre-order. “Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ” by Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Elie will be released on March 16 and Adrian Miller’s “Black Smoke” from UNC Press will be out on April 27. Both are available for preorder now here and here, and I can’t wait to read both of them to get different perspectives on barbecue. I strongly encourage you to do the same. -Monk
Native News
Congrats to RayNathan’s in Gastonia on celebrating 2 years open as of this past Sunday
Wyatt’s Barbecue is one of Eater Carolinas’ 17 most anticipated restaurants in 2021
Non-Native News
More on the passing of the legendary Mike Mills
CM Smokehouse from Cade Mercer gives South Austin a new and promising food truck option
Texas Monthly makes the case for a barbecue tour of the Texoma region north of Dallas
Robert Sietsema recently posted this photo of Billy Durney of Hometown BBQ from happier times
Linkdown: 1/5/21
Featured
My new year’s resolution: I will finally do pork steak’s in my backyard. Mark my word. Now, just to find a local grocery or butcher shop that has them or will cut them for me. -Monk
Native News
Congrats to Jon G’s Barbecue on their receipt of this award from Hometown Heroes of Union County
Three barbecue joints – Midwood Smokehouse, Sweet Lew’s BBQ, and Noble Smoke – make Charlotte Magazine’s 50 best restaurants in Charlotte list
Highlands Smokehouse has new ownership, and they aim to bring a beer garden vibe to the barbecue restaurant
Bib’s Downtown in Winston-Salem was the latest casualty of the pandemic right before the new year
Sweet Lew’s BBQ is the one barbecue joint on the list, but mmmm…pork and chicken skins
Apple City BBQ in Taylorsville introduces a few new menu items for 2021 that have a local bent to them: their hot links will be sourced from Chapman Cattle Company in Alexander County and their grits will be stone ground the old fashioned way at Linney’s Water Mill
Non-Native News
RIP to Mike Mills of 17th Street Barbecue, simply known as “The Legend”
So this happened
…which led to Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn attempting to recreate
Donnie Harris Sr of Pack Jack Barbecue in Sebastapol has been smoking for 40 years
Ribs n Reds is NC-born Chef Bryce Shuman’s pivot to barbecue
Kevin’s BBQ Joints with a couple of recent posts about the knives and sharpeners that barbecue joints use
5 lb barbecue cake
LOL
Charlotte Barbecue News from the Fourth Quarter of 2020
Monk: The Charlotte barbecue news seemingly slowed down in the last 3 months of 2020 as the restaurants that thankfully are still open continue to struggle through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we begin 2021, here’s hoping the news is more positive than negative. Fingers crossed!
October
10/12 Charlotte-based Bojangles briefly expanded to barbecue for National Pulled Pork Day on October 12th
10/13 – Midwood Smokehouse is one of the barbecue restaurants that politicians make a point to visit when in Charlotte
10/15 – Mac’s Speed Shop handed out free pulled pork for early voters in front of the Bojangles Entertainment Complex
November
11/9 – Midwood Smokehouse‘s brisket cheesesteak makes this list of the 6 “must-try” ones in Charlotte
11/23 – Perry’s Pig Pickin’ in Mint Hill is part of a small grocery store; the history of how this Perry brother didn’t get into the jewelry business in the Charlotte Ledger
11/28 The Smoke Pit celebrated 6 years open at its original Concord location
December
12/3 – Chef Jim Noble of Noble Smoke, his religiously conservative views, and how they fit in with today’s Charlotte
12/16 Sweet Lew’s BBQ introduces brisket tamales
12/22 Jon G’s Barbecue makes Charlotte Five’s list of best takeout meals in 2020