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Monday, December 26, 2011

A Trip To Mecca For BBQ

On our way back from Ft. Bragg, we decided to go cross country for a stop in Lexington, NC which calls itself the Barbecue Capital Of The World and with twenty or so BBQ joints in a town of 20,000, it would be hard to argue with them - they also hold an annual BBQ Festival.  NC has two styles of BBQ – chopped whole hog with a vinegar, salt, and pepper sauce in the East and chopped pork shoulder with a sauce that includes ketchup in the West.  Again arguably, the top spot in Lexington is Lexington Barbecue (no website I could find), so that’s where we went - we got there at 3pm on Friday afternoon and they were still pretty busy.

None of the girls wanted BBQ and Bev and I just wanted to try it so we ordered a "small tray" consisting of enough chopped pork and slaw for two sandwiches and hush puppies.

The meat is already sauced – they call it dip – and there was none on the table to add, so they obviously believe they know how their pork is best.  The slaw also has something red in it and I assume it’s also the dip.  The pork can be ordered several ways, but we chose coarse chopped with extra brown (bark), based upon on-line recommendations.  The meat had the right amount of dip for me and the red slaw was pretty good – I ended up mixing them together, but the star was the hush puppies which I really liked - I borrowed this picture from eatitnorthcarolina.com. 

Since I first started barbecuing, I’d been wanting to go to Lexington for BBQ and I’m glad we took the opportunity to do it as Bev and I agreed we won’t need to hit any more western NC places – we prefer mine, both in taste and texture (mine’s pulled and theirs is chopped). 

I brought home a couple of pounds of meat and made a sandwich for lunch the next day using some slaw we had on hand - same conclusion.  SIL Pat tried it - same conclusion.  Don't get me wrong, it was plenty good, we just prefer what I cook.

Having now been to two BBQ Mecca's - Lexington and Lockhart, Tx and preferring my own in both cases, I think I'll skip Memphis and Kansas City - however, there are three restaurants I'd like to try if I get the chance - Q Barbecue near Richmond, VA (Tuffy Stone, owner), 17th Street Bar & Grill in Murphysboro,IL (Mike Mills), and Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis (Mike Emerson).

Maybe I'll just open a restaurant called "Big Dude's Eggs and Que" and serve both items all day :-).

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

One year ago:  Holiday Dinner Four - Fish Tacos On Christmas Eve

Two years ago:  Christmas Dinner Sure Was Good

Larry

12/16/11 & 12/17/11

5 comments:

  1. Larry, glad you got the chance to go to Lexington. Hailing from NC, that has always been in my mind the mecca for Que. However, you can't beat what you have perfected in your own smoker! I would have been ready to eat some que with you had I been with you all! It looks like you were in my old stomping ground, I have family in the Fort Bragg area. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!!

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  2. Larry, I just don't like Carolina BBQ...especially that chopped stuff with that vinegar based sauce! Pulled pork is much better. As for BBQ ribs, we've only found 2places so far that deliver a product that is comprable to yours; The Commissary in Germantown TN, (near Memphis), and Jack Stack on State Line Road just south of KC MO. Haven't beat yours yet! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  3. The only time I've had Carolina BBQ is at a BBQ place here in Denver. A little heavy on the vinegar. I was surprised. I already know I like yours better and I've not even tasted it.

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  4. If you open "Big Dude's Eggs and Que" I'd definately make a trip there to eat. :)
    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Larry!

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