Linkdown: 8/31/22

Featured

Monk: Our prolific friend of the blog John Tanner has been at it again making the rounds in eastern NC recently, so let’s follow along in envy to some of the better places from his recent trip.

Wilber’s BBQ in Goldsboro has been back for a couple of years now but in his first dining room meal in some years, John and co. are wowed

Martelle’s Feed House is a restaurant with a buffet that includes great ribs and fantastic barbecue, located in the tiny town of Englehard (pop. 155), a (according to Wikipedia) “fishing community in Lake Landing Township on the mainland of Hyde County, North Carolina” near the Pimlico Sound

John also tried out Old Colony Smokehouse in Edenton, “a fine addition to eastern North Carolina” where they hold onto old traditions but also incorporate new trends

John passes on the buffet at Captain Bob’s Restaurant and Catering in Hertford for a pork plate but immediately regrets that decision

One of the highlights of his trip was a visit to Sid’s Catering in Beaulaville, a small town in southeast North Carolina

Non-Native News

Things are looking dicey for turkeys this Thanksgiving; this is from Heim BBQ

The BBQuest Eater Heat Map

Dispatches from the Tales from the Pits BBQ + Bourbon road trip

Friday Find: Why Bringing Carolina Whole Hog to Texas Is a Big Deal for Barbecue

Monk: Eater’s Smoke Point heads to Houston to visit Leo Botello IV at Truth BBQ, who is one of a few Texas pit bosses differentiating themselves with whole hog barbecue.

Description: Truth BBQ is one the busiest barbecue restaurants in all of Texas. The restaurant is known for its popular brisket, but now pitmaster Leonard Botello IV is expanding his menu to bring Carolina whole hog barbecue to Houston.

Linkdown: 1/5/22

ICYMI, Kevin’s BBQ Joints rounded up from over 120 barbecue personalities what made barbecue so special to them. We were honored that Kevin asked us to be a part of this fantastic project. While some folks focused on their earliest barbecue memories, both Rudy and I focused our answers on bites that broadened our barbecue horizons from more than just the chopped pork they grew up on in NC. Definitely worth a read.

Native News

Ayden, NC (home to Skylight Inn and Bum’s) unveils new marketing campaign: “‘Que Marks the Spot”

Noble Smoke is the only barbecue restaurant on Charlotte Magazine’s annual list of the 50 best restaurants in Charlotte

Grady’s is closed until late January for their well-deserved “winter rest”

Lawrence Barbecue as well as Lewis Barbecue in Charleston gets some love from Eater Carolinas contributors on this “Best Restaurant Meal of 2021” post

Thankfully, Pik-N-Pig’s closure will only be temporary and they aim to reopen ths year

Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill in Asheville serves a โ€œHawaiian influenced take on Texas barbecue along with some other island-esque platesโ€

ICYMI, the Jon G’s Barbecue x Salud Beer Shop/Salud Cerveceria pizza collaboration is happening now

Non-Native News

Barbecue options in Birmingham

Blake’s BBQ photo progress update from late December

From Lifehacker: โ€œWith my Weber, I smoked a little, grilled a lot, and learned even moreโ€”and Iโ€™d like to share my favorite dishes (and lessons) with you now, in no particular order. This is what my grill taught me over the past year.โ€

From last month, RIP John Mueller

Linkdown: 11/24/21

Native News

The history behind hush puppies, which I will never refer to “red horse bread”

Not so fast, my friend: After announcing that its Lake Norman location was going to close, Mac’s Speed Shop announced plans for the restaurant to stay open as a smaller location after an outpouring of love from the community

John Tanner’s Barbecue Blog expands his list of good local places off I-95 from Virginia to Key West

In total copycat fashion, Eater comes out with their own list

Non-Native News

The Smoke Sheet checks out the DFW barbecue scene in person

John Tanner checks out Meat BBQ in Lansing, Michigan while crossing that state off his list

Franklin Barbecue finally reopened for in-person dining yesterday

Austin barbecue food truck Distant Relatives is one of the 11 best new restaurants in the country, according to Eater

Grilling szn is here, writes J.C. Reid

The Troubadour Festival looked pretty sweet

So did Holy Smokes…