As we continue to take your nominations for Best of Carolina Barbecue let’s talk a little bit about the difference between East and West. Both products are seasoned with salty vinegar and pepper. Western or Lexington barbecue recipes also contain ketchup which is conspicuously shunned down east. Both pork products are slow cooked for 9 or 10 hours and sometimes longer. However, the meat itself is different. They cook the whole hog down east while the Lexington chefs only use the pork shoulder. The western or Lexington meat is dark. It has more fat and moisture.
Some barbecue aficionados will only dine at restaurants that cook their meat in a pit over coals of hickory and oak. Hursey’s in Burlington still cooks its BBQ the old fashioned way over hickory coals. It’s mighty good. I had some on my way to the mountains a few weeks back. Another one of my favorite restaurants is Wilber’s in Goldsboro. What about you? Keep the nominations coming and we’ll start the official vote with a poll on Wednesday.
Also, please share your humorous stories about North Carolina barbecue. Do you prefer East over West and why? Yes, barbecue is a noun in North Carolina. It is not an adjective.
Some of the best barbecue can be found at family gatherings. Would any of the better cooks out there be willing to share their recipes? What does it take to make a good product? How much does it cost? What all do you need to buy?







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August 12, 2008 8:22 a.m.
GOLO member since September 11, 2007
August 5, 2008 2:48 p.m.
Everything else would be considered the equivalent of McDonalds.
August 5, 2008 1:50 p.m.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
August 5, 2008 1:20 p.m.
GOLO member since April 8, 2008
August 5, 2008 11:48 a.m.
I've read elsewhere that cooking NC BBQ correctly is very difficult to do, and even the best restaurants can't always do it well. When you read reviews of some of the widely accepted legendary restaurants (Parker's, Wilber's, Bill Ellis, Skylight Inn, etc.), you'll find people who love it and people who hate it.
So many factors play into the BBQ experience. If you go on an off-day, you'll be disappointed and wonder why everyone makes over it.
Maybe we can determine which places are more likely to give you good BBQ and leave it at that? I want to do a blog about the WORST BBQ places, but that wouldn't be very nice.
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
August 5, 2008 8:11 a.m.
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
August 4, 2008 9:57 p.m.
I probably should not have mentioned Holden's because that my favorite Friday lunch place and you can still get a seat.
GOLO member since July 27, 2007
August 4, 2008 9:52 p.m.
GOLO member since December 30, 2007
August 4, 2008 9:49 p.m.
August 4, 2008 9:20 p.m.
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