Not to be outdone, the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival has been announcing pitmasters for the Prieto Pitmaster Invitational at its festival, including Brandon Shepard of Shepard Barbecue, Melanie Dunia of The Pit, Ron Simmons of Master Blend Family Farms, and Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ
Blake’s BBQ has its final days in the trailer this week
When you realize that there are only 4 days left, EVER, of “OG Blake’s BBQ” brisket bark.. After Saturday, it’ll still be available, at the new digs down the street. Come see us this Wednesday-Saturday and let’s go out with a bang at the bbq trailer! pic.twitter.com/UaYRubMCzE
A fun story from Charlotte Magazine on how Chapel Hill-born fashion designer Alexander Julian got paid in barbecue for designing the original Charlotte Hornets jerseys.
According to Juilian (also known for the UNC Chapel Hill argyle and being the costume designer for Robert Altman’s The Player), “I had this idea: What good is money if you can’t buy barbecue? I call it Carolina caviar. … I said, ‘I’ll give you ownership of the design for five pounds of Carolina barbecue a month.’ A (writer) asked me to sum up the whole experience. I said, ‘Well, George (Shinn) got rich, and I got fat. I traded $10 million worth of royalties for a gut.'”
Getting paid in barbecue, that’s the dream. Well played Alexander Julian, well played.
Native News
Garren of Jon G’s Barbecue featured on the Minsters of Smoke Instagram page
The Texas Monthly BBQ Fest moves to Lockhart for this year’s edition
The best barbecue event around is moving to the BBQ capital of Texas. Mark your calendars for 11/5 & 11/6 in Lockhart for our biggest BBQ Fest ever! Like Texas Monthly BBQ Fest on Facebook to stay in the know. https://t.co/zmORHSkdvx @cityoflockharttx #tmbbqfestpic.twitter.com/b6Nhx3ev17
The first rule of barbecue wood selection? Don't use pine. @BBQSnob lists other important considerations in this experts' guide: https://t.co/3iuvZpXawk
Monk: While my hunch is that I had roughly as much barbecue as last year, I suspect the ratio of mediocre barbecue to great barbecue was higher than in past years. There’s always highlights to pick out, but let’s hope next year is a more favorable ratio.
In alphabetical order:
Beef rib, brisket, pork ribs, Cheerwine hot link from Jon G’s Barbecue – Peachland, NC
Chopped pork sandwich from Noble Smoke – Charlotte, NC
Some of the meats at Noble Smoke can be a little hit or miss for me, but the Lexington-style chopped barbecue sandwich is ever reliable.
Ribs and wings from Peg Leg Porker – Nashville, TN (link to review)
Speedy has said he often thinks the ribs at Peg Leg Porker are the best in the state of Tennessee, and who am I to argue? The full wings are also a must-order.
Randy’s ribs are a sub-regional variety with a sauce that I understand is found primarily in the Savannah area. It expanded my framework as to what barbecue is in different parts of the US.
Jones Family Original BBQ Tray from Sam Jones BBQ – Raleigh, NC (link to review)
Life-changing whole hog. So far I’ve only made it to Sam Jones’ outpost in Raleigh but I can’t wait to try this same tray at Skylight Inn this spring.
Sausage, wings, hash and rice, ribs, brisket, and turkey from Sweet Lew’s BBQ – Charlotte, NC (link to post)
Between the house-made sausage, the barbecue hash, and Lewis Donald’s ever-constant tweaking of his main meats, Sweet Lew’s continues to evolve, and I’m here for the the journey.
Chopped pork tray takeout from Whispering Pines – Albemarle, NC (link to review)
It’s a shame that Whispering Pines was takeout only but I’ll make the hour drive to Albemarle again I’m sure. Great Lexington-style barbecue.
Monk: We enter the new year with cautious optimism, both on the real world as well as barbecue world fronts. My hope for 2022 is that we can regain any Charlotte barbecue momentum that has largely been on pause for the past two years and see some new players enter the game.
Bring it on, 2022.
October
10/12 At Mac’s Speed Shop, beef ribs and bacon-wrapped jalapenos are two of the prep-intensive items that are being taken off the menu for now
A few of your favorite dishes at this Charlotte barbecue spot are going away — for now.https://t.co/hDHgsrmkmZ
11/8 A new live-fire cooking restaurant called Cinder is opening in Charlotte from Husk veteran Duke Kroger (who identifies himself as a pitmaster in his Twitter profile)
SCOOP: Chef Duke Kroger plans to open a new restaurant called Cinder in South End in June. He calls it “a modern play on open-fire tasting” with characteristics of Husk, the famed Charleston restaurant where Kroger got his start: https://t.co/Le0OYsUTsO
11/17 After announcing that its Lake Norman location was going to close, Mac’s Speed Shopannounced plans for the restaurant to stay open as a smaller location after an outpouring of love from the community
11/29 Jon G’s Barbecue and Salud Beer Shop team up for a pizza collaboration for the month of December
December
12/6 Sweet Lew’s BBQ celebrated 3 years open
12/8 Jon G’s Barbecue is named “Barbecue Restaurant of the Year” by Eater Carolinas
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