In NC barbecue circles, the Lexington Six Pack were six decent barbecue restaurants in Lexington NC. These were Lexington #1 (Honey Monks), Jimmy's, John Wayne's, Speedy's, Stamey's (on I 85 Business) and Southern BBQ. When I started this blog, I had intended to visit and review all six. It turns out that I was too late.
There still are Stamey's restaurants around. There is one out on NC 150 with a Lexington address, but that is not the one in the Six Pack. There are others in Greensboro, who have Lexington roots. I need to investigate to see if the remaining Lexington Stamey's is connected to the one on I 85 Business.
It appears that Southern BBQ has become Smiley's. This also needs some investigation.
The only one of the remaining four that I have not visited is Jimmy's. It seems that the only day I get into Lexington for lunch is Tuesday and Jimmy's is closed on Tuesdays.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
RIP, BBQ Ribs and Co.
The last of the BBQ Ribs & Co restaurant in Graham has closed. There is a for lease sign at the road and a moving van in the back. This chain had great food in a fast food venue. When the corporate owners closed the chain, the Graham location became an independent. Now, it is all gone.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
RIP, Holy Smokes Bar-B-Que
Holy Smokes has posted on their website that they are closing for good Saturday Feb 28th at 8:00 pm. Their delicious brisket will be available through their catering business, but barbecue in the shiny diner will be no more.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Parker's Takes Top Honors in Best Quest for Barbecue in NC
The BestOfNorthCarolina blog has announced the winning restaurants of its Best Quest for Barbecue in NC. Parker's in Wilson took top honors. Allen and Son , a favorite of this blog, made it to the top eleven list. The list contains other old time barbecue joints, such as B's in Greenville and Bridges in Shelb7, but also the newer and higher class Pit in Raleigh. However, the ubiquitous Smithfield's made the list as well. Reader's polls are popularity contests. Quality does show through, but mostly this kind of poll reflects name recognition.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Kent Craig Moves from BBQ Web Guru to Author
Kent Craig, who authored one of the most extensive NC BBQ web-sites on the net, has shut up shop on his web-site. He has taken the info from his site and written Kent’s Carolina Barbecue Book, available from Amazon. The BBQ Jew has interviewed Kent on their blog.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Fuzzy's Reaches Out to Haiti
According to this article at GoDanRiver.com, Jennifer Joyce, a manager of Fuzzy's BBQ in Madison, has arranged for a trailer for transporting supplies to earthquake devastated Haiti. The trailer is parked at the restaurant and accepting donations when the restaurant is open. Please help by giving whatever you can. Blankets and water are needed most.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Recommended - Neil Holden Barbecue, Youngsville
Address - 582 Us 1 Hwy, Youngsville NC Map
Style - Sit-down Restaurant
Holden's is in a little cement block building across a side street from the Sheetz in Youngsville. You seat yourself and order from a single sided laminated menu. It is a typical NC barbecue place with terrific food.
Along with the typical offerings, there are daily Southern lunch specials, which I will have to try on other visits. What caught my eye was the lunch special of a barbecue sandwich, brunswick stew and hushpuppies for five bucks. What a deal!
The chopped barbecue in the sandwich was superb. There was enough color and flavor from the smoker and a decent Eastern sauce with the vinegar overtones. The brunswick stew was typical NC style, with the vegatables a bit overcooked. The star of the day were the hush puppies. The waitress brought a basket when I ordered (which is a habit I wish more restaurants would adopt). I took one bite and was floored. I usual prefer the lighter puppies you get in seafood restaurants on the coast over the heavier kind found in barbecue joints. These hushpuppies were in a class of their own. They were firm without being heavy. They had a true cornbread flavor that I loved.
I'll be back.
Style - Sit-down Restaurant
Holden's is in a little cement block building across a side street from the Sheetz in Youngsville. You seat yourself and order from a single sided laminated menu. It is a typical NC barbecue place with terrific food.
Along with the typical offerings, there are daily Southern lunch specials, which I will have to try on other visits. What caught my eye was the lunch special of a barbecue sandwich, brunswick stew and hushpuppies for five bucks. What a deal!
The chopped barbecue in the sandwich was superb. There was enough color and flavor from the smoker and a decent Eastern sauce with the vinegar overtones. The brunswick stew was typical NC style, with the vegatables a bit overcooked. The star of the day were the hush puppies. The waitress brought a basket when I ordered (which is a habit I wish more restaurants would adopt). I took one bite and was floored. I usual prefer the lighter puppies you get in seafood restaurants on the coast over the heavier kind found in barbecue joints. These hushpuppies were in a class of their own. They were firm without being heavy. They had a true cornbread flavor that I loved.
I'll be back.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
RIP - Carrboro Q Shack
According to Chowhound, the Carrboro Q Shack has been closed since November. The location has not been a good one for restaurants in the past. There are a number of other older restaurants of various types in the immediate area and the Artscenter brings in foot traffic.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Speedy's Barbecue Inc, Lexington
Address - 1317 Winston Rd., Lexington, NC Web-site Map
Style - Sit-down restaurant
Speedy's in on NC 9 north of Lexington between Business I 85/US 64/US 29/US 70 and US 52. The interior back where I ate was decorated with movie posters.
The barbecue there is real Lexington style. My chopped barbecue tray came with barbecue slaw with hushpuppies and dip on the side. The pork was nicely cooked with a decent flavor without adding any dip. The tomato based dip added to the pork without overwhelming the meat. The slaw was a little watery and the hushpuppies were uninspired.
For a long time, I have been disappointed with Lexington barbecue. Speedy's did not disappoint.
Style - Sit-down restaurant
Speedy's in on NC 9 north of Lexington between Business I 85/US 64/US 29/US 70 and US 52. The interior back where I ate was decorated with movie posters.
The barbecue there is real Lexington style. My chopped barbecue tray came with barbecue slaw with hushpuppies and dip on the side. The pork was nicely cooked with a decent flavor without adding any dip. The tomato based dip added to the pork without overwhelming the meat. The slaw was a little watery and the hushpuppies were uninspired.
For a long time, I have been disappointed with Lexington barbecue. Speedy's did not disappoint.
Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q Working with SAFEchild
Smithfield's has announced a partnership with SAFEchild in its Press Release
The company is providing meals to participants in the anti-child abuse program.
The company is providing meals to participants in the anti-child abuse program.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Fast Food Bbq, Dickey's vs BBQ Ribs & More
In some ways, barbecue is perfect for fast food. The meat is cooked ahead. The sides can be handled at a steam table. Bojangles has been successful serving Southern Fried Chicken and sides for years. A higher percentage of meals is being served in fast food restaurants everyday. NC bbq is missing out on this tresnd. Why is there no NC barbecue fast food chain?
BBQ Ribs & More was a small but growing chain of barbecue fast food restaurants. As described elsewhere, it was a victim of its own success. The chain was acquired by a restaurant management company, who decided that NC bbq did not fit into their network and closed down the chain. One restaurant was sold to the local franchisee. It continues to sell decent NC barbecue to this day. The meat there stands up to the best barbecue joints.
Now, Dickey's has come to Central North Carolina. Dickey's uses the classic fast food formula to sell less than exciting Texas style beef brisket, ribs and pulled pork. The meat there cannot stand up to authenic Texan barbecue, much less to North Carolina bbq. How can this survive in NC when a true NC fast food chain could not.
Looking at the two chains, the difference appears to be the size and nature of their home markets. Texas barbecue draws from all of Texas. NC bbq draws just from NC. Even then, the barbecue wars have divided the market even more. Differences in Texas barbecue are accepted as variations in the whole, not as dividers into competing styles. It is hard to create a mass market for what is a niche product.
Until somebody figures out a way to do NC bbq fast food right, we have NC bbq lovers opening restaurants out of area and/or ordering NC bbq shipped.
BBQ Ribs & More was a small but growing chain of barbecue fast food restaurants. As described elsewhere, it was a victim of its own success. The chain was acquired by a restaurant management company, who decided that NC bbq did not fit into their network and closed down the chain. One restaurant was sold to the local franchisee. It continues to sell decent NC barbecue to this day. The meat there stands up to the best barbecue joints.
Now, Dickey's has come to Central North Carolina. Dickey's uses the classic fast food formula to sell less than exciting Texas style beef brisket, ribs and pulled pork. The meat there cannot stand up to authenic Texan barbecue, much less to North Carolina bbq. How can this survive in NC when a true NC fast food chain could not.
Looking at the two chains, the difference appears to be the size and nature of their home markets. Texas barbecue draws from all of Texas. NC bbq draws just from NC. Even then, the barbecue wars have divided the market even more. Differences in Texas barbecue are accepted as variations in the whole, not as dividers into competing styles. It is hard to create a mass market for what is a niche product.
Until somebody figures out a way to do NC bbq fast food right, we have NC bbq lovers opening restaurants out of area and/or ordering NC bbq shipped.
"Holy Smoke" by John Shelton Reed et al
During a book store closing, I snagged a signed copy of "Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue" by John Shelton Reed, the famed essayist on the American South, his wife Dale Volberg Reed, and Carolina Barbecue Society founder William McKinley. If this is not the Bible of NC barbecue, it is among the Holy Scriptures. The first sixty pages recount the history of barbecue in NC, which alone makes the book worth reading.
The book continues with descriptions of the different styles of bbq in NC, including how they have changed, barbecue restaurants and recipes. The finest jewel is the penultimate section, titled The People, in which legendary barbecue greats tell their story. Here you hear from Ed Mitchell, Keith Allen, Chad Stamey and a host of others recount how they got into the business and most important, why.
The book is currently on sale (but not signed) at Amazon. Go get your copy.
The book continues with descriptions of the different styles of bbq in NC, including how they have changed, barbecue restaurants and recipes. The finest jewel is the penultimate section, titled The People, in which legendary barbecue greats tell their story. Here you hear from Ed Mitchell, Keith Allen, Chad Stamey and a host of others recount how they got into the business and most important, why.
The book is currently on sale (but not signed) at Amazon. Go get your copy.
"Lunch at The BBQ Joint" in Food&Wine
Tom Colicchio, the head judge on Top Chef on Bravo is blogging a Southeastern road trip on the Food&Wine web-site. His entry for day 3 features Chapel Hill's own Tbe Barbecue Joint". With all of the Eastern NC possibilities in the area, picking The Barbecue Joint shows the place has the high repute it deserves. The short blog post is at www.foodandwine.com/blogs/mouthing-off/2009/11/18/Tom-Colicchio-Day-3-Lunch-at-The-BBQ-Joint
Saturday, October 17, 2009
BARBECUE FOR U2", Cooper's BBQ on The Story
The Story is a daily radio program is produced at North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC and is hosted by Dick Gordon. Dick interviews people from all walks of life and tells their stories. In the April 8 broadcast, Dick interviewed Debbie Holt, owner of the Cooper's BBQ in Raleigh. Debbie tells the story of delivering barbecue for 25 to U2's private jet after their concert in Raleigh. The program can be downloaded at the web-page. The hour-long program has two stories. The interview with Debbie starts at 31:00 and runs 17:00.
U2's manager found out about Cooper's by Googling and finding that Cooper's is considered among the best. Cooper's is very good, but not necessarily the absolute best. Apparently, the band loved the barbecue and will order again when they're playing in town, which is good PR for NC barbecue.
U2's manager found out about Cooper's by Googling and finding that Cooper's is considered among the best. Cooper's is very good, but not necessarily the absolute best. Apparently, the band loved the barbecue and will order again when they're playing in town, which is good PR for NC barbecue.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Double J's BBQ Ranch - New Florence MO
While driving across Missouri, we ran into a traffic jam on I 70. We got off the interstate and stopped at Double J's BBQ Ranch for lunch. The decor in the restaurant is definitely not like any BBQ joint in NC. The walls are decked with Cowboy regalia, up to the restrooms for Cowboys and Cowgirls.We ordered chopped pork and beef brisket sandwiches. The pork was nicely smoked with a good flavor, but was drowned with Kansas City style sauce. The brisket was not bad, but also was drowned in the sauce. This is the way KC style is. I do prefer NC style, when the meat is not drowned in the sauce.
The highlight of the meal was a side of baked beans. The beans were cooked with chunks of ham and diced sweet peppers.
This stop was a interesting diversion from my normal NC barbecue experience. We didn't do any more barbecue on the rest of the trip out to Seattle.
The Filling Station - Robersonville NC
After finding B's closed for vacation and the next several barbecue places closed on Mondays, I finally stopped at the Filling Station in Robersonville NC. This is not the standard barbecue place, but more of a meat and three Southern restaurant. I did try the barbecue, but I do not thing they smoke their own. It was pretty standard Eastern style, with the flat flavor of reheating.
What stood out from this visit was the building itself. It is an old pack house converted to a large dining room. Back in the 1940's, a local artist painted murals on the walls above the normal wall height. The art evokes 19th century folk art, with a touch of Grandma Moses. I couldn't get acceptable photos.
Stop by the restaurant for the art and decent Southern cooking, but not for the barbecue.
Lexington Barbecue Video
Recently, the Barbecue Jew blog posted about this video on Lexington barbecue on the Davidson County web-site. It really is a good, if dry, introduction to general Lexington barbecue. There are variations in style elsewhere around the Triad, but the differences are what makes NC barbecue fun. If the barbecue is as dry as this video, you need to add a little dip.
You need to scroll down to find the video. NoScript complained about the play button, but there was no particular technical problem.
You need to scroll down to find the video. NoScript complained about the play button, but there was no particular technical problem.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Acceptable - Dixie Belle's BBQ - Apex
Address - 1001 Davis Drive, Davis Drive Village, Apex, NC Web-site Map
Style - Counter Service
The new Dixie Belle's BBQ is in a strip mall anchored by a gas station. The Dixie Belle sign is visible from northbound Davis Drive coming up from US 64, but is not at all visible heading south from RTP. The restaurant is the typical coffeshop or sandwich place with a counter to order at and both cafe tables and high tables scattered around the floor. There is a sauce rack next to the soda machine with multiple commercial barbecue sauces, including Sticky Fingers from South Carolina, along with others from Memphis, St Louis and Austin. Even at the table, along with a house sauce marked Western, there were a couple of out-of-state commercial sauces.
My lunch was the Carolina Pork BBQ with potato salad with five hushpuppies. The pork was very good, obviously wood-smoked with a pleasing texture. The sides were exactly the same as my last visit at the old location. The potato salad was well made, but a little tart for my taste.
Purists will look down at the non-NC aspects of this place: the out-of-state sauces, the broasted chicken, etc. The pork barbecue is very good. If the fixin's were better, I'd give this place a Recommended.
Style - Counter Service
The new Dixie Belle's BBQ is in a strip mall anchored by a gas station. The Dixie Belle sign is visible from northbound Davis Drive coming up from US 64, but is not at all visible heading south from RTP. The restaurant is the typical coffeshop or sandwich place with a counter to order at and both cafe tables and high tables scattered around the floor. There is a sauce rack next to the soda machine with multiple commercial barbecue sauces, including Sticky Fingers from South Carolina, along with others from Memphis, St Louis and Austin. Even at the table, along with a house sauce marked Western, there were a couple of out-of-state commercial sauces.
My lunch was the Carolina Pork BBQ with potato salad with five hushpuppies. The pork was very good, obviously wood-smoked with a pleasing texture. The sides were exactly the same as my last visit at the old location. The potato salad was well made, but a little tart for my taste.
Purists will look down at the non-NC aspects of this place: the out-of-state sauces, the broasted chicken, etc. The pork barbecue is very good. If the fixin's were better, I'd give this place a Recommended.
Monday, May 04, 2009
"Save My Barbecue Joint", Jonathan Childres on The Story
The Story is a daily radio program is produced at North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC and is hosted by Dick Gordon. Dick interviews people from all walks of life and tells their stories. In the April 8 broadcast, Dick interviewed Jonathan Childres, the owner of the Barbecue Joint in Chapel Hill. Jonathan tells the background of the restaurant's current financial issues and how the gift card program is coming along. The program can be downloaded at the web-page. The hour has two stories. The interview with Jonathan starts at 35:30 and runs 14:30.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)