Lunch at The Barbecue Center in Photos

Monk: I recently stopped by The Barbecue Center in Lexington for the first time in a few years for a lunch with the Monk clan. Here was my experience in photos.

The barbecue tray with red slaw is the classic order.

A basket of fresh hush puppies comes with every tray or plate order (the plate comes with fries as well).

I wandered around the building to check out their wood pile for the first time, and this was just a couple of the piles of wood right off the smokehouse.

Another view of the stacked pile against the building.

There’s a couple different styles of signs on the property, and this is one at the far end of the parking lot along N. Main Street.

The Barbecue Center is my second favorite barbecue restaurant in town behind Lexington Barbecue and this was yet another great lunch. For my full rankings, check here.

Linkdown: 10/4/23 – The Texas BBQ Bubble About to Burst? Edition

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Monk: Is the Texas barbecue bubble about to burst? Daniel Vaughn reports slowdowns at a few barbecue joints in Texas due in part to the sheer number of joints that have opened in recent years, the intense heat wave that rocked Texas over the summer, and the skyrocketing price of brisket.

As a result, joints are struggling to make the economics work and are trying to lure casual customers in with lower cost items or specials.

From an outsider’s perspective it does seem as if the growth was unsustainable but despite that, Vaughn lists his reasons why he thinks the barbecue bubble isn’t quite yet about to burst. A fascinating read.

Native News

GGCC Smokehouse, an all-wood smoked barbecue food truck, is in the final four of the CharlotteFive Reader’s Choice Poll

The Lexington Barbecue Festival is featured in CLTure’s fall festival guide

Don’t forget you can take the train to the Barbecue Festival

I wonder if you will see any of these shirts at the festival…

A short video on Cook Out on Insider Food

Smoked chicken and dumplings at Pik N Pig

ICYMI, The Smoke Sheet recently profiled Morris Barbeque in Hookerton

Non-Native News

Congrats to Chef J BBQ for being named #1 barbecue in Kansas City; that’s high praise!

Zavala’s Barbecue is voted best brisket in Dallas

The town of Spring is home to Corkscrew BBQ

Also ICYMI, John Tanner dropped his best barbecue places in DC list

Now that’s a great barbecue sign

Linkdown: 9/6/23 – The RIP David Millette Edition

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Monk: In a truly terrible news, the general manager of the Raleigh location of Midwood Smokehouse passed away after being assaulted a few weeks back. Police said David “Davey” Millette, Jr. died Friday, Sept. 1. According to police, Millette was assaulted at 2 a.m. on Aug. 26 in the 500 block of Glenwood Avenue.

Sadly, Millete was just 27 years old and leaves behind his parents, sister, nephews, girlfriend, and an unborn child.

If you’d like to donate, a GoFundMe link has been set up here.

Native News

Our State on The Redneck BBQ Lab in Johnston County

Shepard Barbecue recently raised $7,000 for Hawaii

For the 39th Annual Lexington Barbecue Festival on Oct. 28, NC By Train will make 10 stops, unloading passengers one block from the festival.

Non-Native News

Brisket burger x ramen bun

A San Antonio barbecue list

An update to the pitmaster lineup at the BBQ World’s Fair as part of the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest

The Tennessean’s list of best barbecue in Nashville

The Buc-ee’s pitmaster is a 50 year old Texas named Randy Pauly, and he lives for new store openings

I can only imagine the heat in a barbecue room in the Texas summer