The Ultimate BBQ Thread (3 Viewers)

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No photos :doh:

but I smoked my first butt on the "new" WSM last Saturday. An 8 pounder that I bought at Sam's. The smoker kept a nearly constant 225 and I smoked it on the lower rack for 13 hours to 190. It was fantastic. Shared some with friends the next day, had some for dinner last night and will kill the rest today for lunch. Glad lunchtime is almost here!
 
12lbs of pork shoulder on the Egg, over hickory. Threw on some jumbo sweet potatoes at the start and they were ready in time for a healthy lunch. I think the larger of the 2 butts is going in the freezer for lunch at the Carolina Relic Run. Not sure what anybody else is gonna eat...

IMG_2466.jpg
 
So, a bunch of coworkers have bought this device called the Fireboard. Having recently upgraded from a Maverick (which I literally melted...) to the Tenergy Solis Meat Thermometer (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077821Z4C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) I wasn't looking to buy another monitoring device. Except. Apparently, in addition to monitoring 6 probes via WiFi, which you can view from wherever you are in the world, you can also control your BGE temperature with an optional fan. Via the convenience of your phone.

Okay, it now has my attention because I can start a smoke any random evening, go to work the next day, come home and carve up tasty slaughtered animal carcass. Has anyone tried this thing or know anything about it?
 
Working on my first brisket. Simple rub. Using mesquite charcoal and apple wood for smoking. Shallot brown sugar and apple juice pre-glaze, then my own BBQ sauce glaze
IMG_20180903_083842687_HDR.jpg
 
woooody said:
Marshall -- very impressive.

BBQ is definitely a regional thing. When I traveled for my job, I hit as much BBQ as I could. I really like the tomato based sauces (KC). I don't really care for the vinegar style, or the mustard style. But to each their own.

My current set up is a Weber Ranch Kettle. Baby backs and tri-tip. I like piling the coals in the middle, and ringing the out side with half racks. The tri tips cook closer to the center.

My marinade prep on the ribs is a mixture or Montreal Steak seasoning and Lemon Pepper and fresh minced garlic and Worcester Sauce for 24 - 36 hours. BBQ sauce is a mixture of Cattleman's smoky and Kinder's Hot -- There is also a "wayland's" sauce, but I haven't found it for a couple of years.
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I am salivating!
 
I thought this was interesting. And pretty spot on for this area re Old vs New.
Charlotte’s best barbecue comes two ways now. Do you know the rules?
-j

Charlotte’s best barbecue comes two ways now. Do you know the rules?
BY KATHLEEN PURVIS

JANUARY 24, 2018 06:20 PM,

UPDATED JUNE 12, 2018 01:45 PM
Barbecue in the Carolinas used to be simple.

Most people had a favorite local place, and every place mostly made the same thing: Chopped pork, either from a whole hog or a shoulder, preferably cooked slowly over wood coals. It came with coleslaw and hush puppies, maybe some French fries, and it was made by families with revered names like Bridges, Jones, Stamey and Monk.

Then something else started to happen. Call it “new ’cue” or “modern barbecue.” It started around here with Mac’s Speed Shop a decade ago, and it’s picked up momentum ever since. It’s what Frank Scibelli does at the Midwood Smokehouse chain, and what Jim Noble plans to do at his upcoming Noble Smoke. It’s what young chefs like John Lewis and Rodney Scott each do in Charleston, or what Elliott Moss does at Buxton Hall in Asheville.

It’s made by chefs who honor the old ways of cooking over wood, but who want to do more, who want to whet their knives and ambitions on Texas-style brisket and Memphis-style ribs, and fill their menus with innovations like barbecue-stuffed egg rolls and fried pickles.

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It’s all good (well, some of it is good – we’re still suspicious of the egg rolls), but it’s not the same as the barbecue that put the Carolinas on America’s meat map.


Modern ’cue is ambitious, worldly, and definitely more expensive. Traditional barbecue is down-home, unpretentious and affordable. Trying to compare the two is like comparing Taylor Swift to Dolly Parton. Both can carry a tune, but which one would you invite over for dinner?

We thought it was time to think about the differences. We came up with a set of rules to help you tell them apart, along with places where you can find both kinds in Charlotte.

The rules: Old ’cue
▪ It’s served in a “joint.” A barbecue joint should be small, family-owned and family-friendly. A real joint was built in the ’50s or ’60s and has at least one picture of a local softball or Little League team on the wall. Extra points for American Revolution art or pictures of World War II battleships. If there’s a website at all, it looks like the owner’s kid designed it as a school project.



oldcuenewcue_Spoons_03

The pork plate at Bill Spoon’s Barbecue: Chopped pork, with sides of cole slaw (yellow, of course), collards, potatoes and hush puppies.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com


▪ It’s chopped pork. And only chopped pork. No ribs, no brisket. Even sliced pork is suspicious and smacks of affectation. Fried chicken on the menu is acceptable: They’re frying hush puppies anyway and picky children have to eat something.

▪ There’s only one kind of sauce on the table: Vinegar and red pepper in Eastern North Carolina; vinegar, red pepper and ketchup in the Piedmont; mustard in South Carolina. You might get ketchup for your fries, too, but much more than that is just showing off.

▪ Plates contain only chopped pork, coleslaw (this can be mayo- or vinegar-based, or yellowy with mustard), French fries and hush puppies. Extra points if the barbecue and slaw are served side-by-side in a paper “boat.” Otherwise, the plate should be sturdy plastic or thick paper.

▪ The dessert selection is limited to banana pudding or packaged fried pies at the cash register.

▪ There’s nothing to drink stronger than sweet ice tea.

▪ The owner never calls himself a “pitmaster,” even if he is one.



oldcuenewcue_Spoons_05

The official greeter at Bill Spoon's Barbecue.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com





▪ There should be at least one humanized pig on the sign or concrete pig on the grounds. The concrete pig should be in good shape, with no broken ears or tails. Extra points if there are shelves of glass pigs inside.

▪ It’s cheap: Sandwiches rarely cost more than $5. The largest plate (sometimes called a “tray”) usually costs less than $12.

▪ It should be cooked over wood, although this standard is in constant danger from tight budgets and staffing. Be forgiving if all other criteria are met. But if they claim to cook over wood, the woodpile shouldn’t be dusty or show any sign of cobwebs.

The rules: New ’cue
▪ It’s served in a large restaurant. There’s either enough curated memorabilia and signs to pass for an “Antiques Road Show” set or more reclaimed barnwood and rustic lights than an HGTV makeover.



oldcuenewcue_City_Smoke_03

The Cue Combo tray at City Smoke: Brisket, pulled pork, Kansas City and Texas ribs, with sides of rotisserie Brussels sprouts, roasted acorn squash and mac & cheese.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com





▪ The menu includes a variety of meats, especially brisket, ribs and smoked chicken. Wings and sausage are almost always present. All of those are usually better than the chopped pork. (Why do so many modern places struggle with the chopped pork?)



oldcuenewcue_City_Smoke_09

Slicing brisket at City Smoke.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com





▪ That menu also has a long list of appetizers (it usually includes fried pickles) and an indulgent dessert list. Expect innovations like barbecue egg rolls or nachos.

▪ The list of sides is long and often more interesting than the meat. Vegetable plates are not only possible, but sometimes recommended.

▪ There’s beer. Craft beer. On tap.

▪ The owner made his or her reputation in fine dining. The owner and partners may tell tales about their pilgrimage to Texas to visit the shrines (Franklin Barbecue, Kreuz Market and the Salt Lick).

▪ It’s cooked over wood in a large contraption, usually imported from Texas. The contraption is usually filled with brisket.

▪ The meat is locally sourced or from old-variety livestock. Farms on the menu are specified by name.

▪ It may start with one location, but will probably become a chain within two years.

▪ It’s pricey: Shiny contraptions, specially sourced wood/meat, craft beer taps and business partners don’t come cheap. Sandwiches are usually $8 and higher, trays with multiple meats are usually $18 and often higher.

5 nearby classics
▪ Kyle Fletcher’s, Gastonia. Barbecue sandwich: $3.49 or $4.49 (small or large).

It’s small, friendly and always packed, one of our favorite places for a barbecue sandwich. While the decor is sports instead of American Revolution, it meets all the requirement of a classic ’cue place. Make sure you bring cash. Check out the cookers in the back, with big barrels full of ashes.

▪ Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, Shelby. Barbecue sandwich: $4.

Started in 1946 and moved to the current location in 1953, that neon and brick sign on U.S. 74 has been a landmark for three generations. It’s still true to the Lexington style. (If you want to explore, Alston Bridge’s – no relation – is a little farther off the highway in Shelby and also worthy of a stop, so you can take part in the local game of “Red’s or Alston’s?”). 2000 E. Dixon Blvd., Shelby.

▪ Lexington Barbecue No. 1, Lexington. Barbecue sandwich: $4.10.

Open since 1962, it’s still run by the family of Wayne “Honey” Monk (his high school nickname), and it’s a classic of the Lexington style. Make sure you stop by the smokehouse in back, where they still cook pork shoulders over wood. Closed Sundays and usually for a week around July 4 every summer. 100 Smokehouse Lane, Lexington.

▪ Bill Spoon’s, Charlotte. Barbecue sandwich: $5.

Charlotte isn’t known for great Carolinas-style barbecue, but Bill Spoon’s, now run by the founder’s grandson, will give you a good taste of Eastern-style, whole-hog barbecue without driving three hours. 5524 South Blvd.

▪ Bubba’s Barbecue, Charlotte. Barbecue sandwich: $6.49.

It meets all the definitions of an old-style barbecue restaurant in the Carolinas style, right down to the friendly family service and the joke signs all over the place, with Eastern-style chopped pork. 4400 Sunset Road.

5 Charlotte places for the modern take
▪ The Improper Pig. Barbecue sandwich: $7.49 (with chips only) or $9.49.

Yes, it has ribs, brisket, pulled pig and sausage, and almost a dozen kinds of sauce. It also has barbecue egg rolls, salmon, a cocktail menu and Taco Tuesdays. You figure it out. 110 S. Sharon Amity Road in Cotswold Mall.

▪ Mac’s Speed Shop. Barbecue sandwich: $8, $10 or $13, depending on size.

The website calls it a biker bar, but that sounds rougher than it is: The original location on South Boulevard used to be a motorcyle repair shop and they use that theme in the decor. It has a long list of sides, but they take their barbecue seriously, with several wins at the prestigious Memphis in May competition. 2511 South Blvd. (original), plus six locations as far away as Fayetteville and Greenville, S.C.

▪ Midwood Smokehouse. Barbecue sandwich: $8.25.

Charlotte restaurant titan Frank Scibelli never misses a detail, from the Texas-style cooker to the hush puppies. The ribs have drawn celebrities like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 1401 Central Ave. (original), plus four more locations.

▪ Queen City Q. Barbecue sandwich: $9.

With a sports bar/Texas roadhouse feel, the menu is a mix, from barbecue to quesadillas and cocktails. The sides list sprawls with 18 items. 225 E. 6th St.

▪ City Smoke. Barbecue sandwich: $12.

With contemporary-meets-steampunk decor, Pierre Bader’s uptown City Smoke does things like half-and-half ribs (one end is wet with sauce, the other dry with rub), good brisket and unusual touches like charcuterie and Middle East dishes. Where else can you get a barbecue platter with grits and labneh as a side? In Founder’s Hall, 100 N. Tryon St., near Trade Street and College streets.

Kathleen Purvis: 704-358-5236, @kathleenpurvis


RELATED STORIES FROM CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
FOOD-DRINK
Family restaurants keeping the home fires burning
JULY 02, 2011 11:08 PM
 
Here's what I was up to over the Christmas holiday. Brined 10lbs of pork belly. Did a little over half with a simple salt, brown sugar, curing salt brine and then did the other slab with the same brine and added maple syrup. Let them brine for 7 days, flipping once daily, then smoked with pecan for a couple hours at 250 degrees. Since I had the smoker going I cooked a 10lb pork butt too. That's how that glorious sandwich at the bottom came to be

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CharlestonG8R said:
I just licked my monitor; wasn't nearly as good. Hail pork belly sandwich!
Click to expand...

Yes! I fried up the pulled pork and toasted the bun in bacon grease then topped with tillamook white sharp cheddar and some spicy barbecue sauce for good measure. I definitely think it was the best barbecue sandwich I've ever made
 
JohnVee said:
I thought this was interesting. And pretty spot on for this area re Old vs New.
Charlotte’s best barbecue comes two ways now. Do you know the rules?
-j

Charlotte’s best barbecue comes two ways now. Do you know the rules?
BY KATHLEEN PURVIS

JANUARY 24, 2018 06:20 PM,

UPDATED JUNE 12, 2018 01:45 PM
Barbecue in the Carolinas used to be simple.

Most people had a favorite local place, and every place mostly made the same thing: Chopped pork, either from a whole hog or a shoulder, preferably cooked slowly over wood coals. It came with coleslaw and hush puppies, maybe some French fries, and it was made by families with revered names like Bridges, Jones, Stamey and Monk.

Then something else started to happen. Call it “new ’cue” or “modern barbecue.” It started around here with Mac’s Speed Shop a decade ago, and it’s picked up momentum ever since. It’s what Frank Scibelli does at the Midwood Smokehouse chain, and what Jim Noble plans to do at his upcoming Noble Smoke. It’s what young chefs like John Lewis and Rodney Scott each do in Charleston, or what Elliott Moss does at Buxton Hall in Asheville.

It’s made by chefs who honor the old ways of cooking over wood, but who want to do more, who want to whet their knives and ambitions on Texas-style brisket and Memphis-style ribs, and fill their menus with innovations like barbecue-stuffed egg rolls and fried pickles.

Your All Access subscription is waiting!
Enjoy 92% off your first month of digital access when you finish signing up today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW
#READLOCAL

It’s all good (well, some of it is good – we’re still suspicious of the egg rolls), but it’s not the same as the barbecue that put the Carolinas on America’s meat map.


Modern ’cue is ambitious, worldly, and definitely more expensive. Traditional barbecue is down-home, unpretentious and affordable. Trying to compare the two is like comparing Taylor Swift to Dolly Parton. Both can carry a tune, but which one would you invite over for dinner?

We thought it was time to think about the differences. We came up with a set of rules to help you tell them apart, along with places where you can find both kinds in Charlotte.

The rules: Old ’cue
▪ It’s served in a “joint.” A barbecue joint should be small, family-owned and family-friendly. A real joint was built in the ’50s or ’60s and has at least one picture of a local softball or Little League team on the wall. Extra points for American Revolution art or pictures of World War II battleships. If there’s a website at all, it looks like the owner’s kid designed it as a school project.



oldcuenewcue_Spoons_03

The pork plate at Bill Spoon’s Barbecue: Chopped pork, with sides of cole slaw (yellow, of course), collards, potatoes and hush puppies.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com


▪ It’s chopped pork. And only chopped pork. No ribs, no brisket. Even sliced pork is suspicious and smacks of affectation. Fried chicken on the menu is acceptable: They’re frying hush puppies anyway and picky children have to eat something.

▪ There’s only one kind of sauce on the table: Vinegar and red pepper in Eastern North Carolina; vinegar, red pepper and ketchup in the Piedmont; mustard in South Carolina. You might get ketchup for your fries, too, but much more than that is just showing off.

▪ Plates contain only chopped pork, coleslaw (this can be mayo- or vinegar-based, or yellowy with mustard), French fries and hush puppies. Extra points if the barbecue and slaw are served side-by-side in a paper “boat.” Otherwise, the plate should be sturdy plastic or thick paper.

▪ The dessert selection is limited to banana pudding or packaged fried pies at the cash register.

▪ There’s nothing to drink stronger than sweet ice tea.

▪ The owner never calls himself a “pitmaster,” even if he is one.



oldcuenewcue_Spoons_05

The official greeter at Bill Spoon's Barbecue.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com





▪ There should be at least one humanized pig on the sign or concrete pig on the grounds. The concrete pig should be in good shape, with no broken ears or tails. Extra points if there are shelves of glass pigs inside.

▪ It’s cheap: Sandwiches rarely cost more than $5. The largest plate (sometimes called a “tray”) usually costs less than $12.

▪ It should be cooked over wood, although this standard is in constant danger from tight budgets and staffing. Be forgiving if all other criteria are met. But if they claim to cook over wood, the woodpile shouldn’t be dusty or show any sign of cobwebs.

The rules: New ’cue
▪ It’s served in a large restaurant. There’s either enough curated memorabilia and signs to pass for an “Antiques Road Show” set or more reclaimed barnwood and rustic lights than an HGTV makeover.



oldcuenewcue_City_Smoke_03

The Cue Combo tray at City Smoke: Brisket, pulled pork, Kansas City and Texas ribs, with sides of rotisserie Brussels sprouts, roasted acorn squash and mac & cheese.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com





▪ The menu includes a variety of meats, especially brisket, ribs and smoked chicken. Wings and sausage are almost always present. All of those are usually better than the chopped pork. (Why do so many modern places struggle with the chopped pork?)



oldcuenewcue_City_Smoke_09

Slicing brisket at City Smoke.
Davie Hinshaw dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com





▪ That menu also has a long list of appetizers (it usually includes fried pickles) and an indulgent dessert list. Expect innovations like barbecue egg rolls or nachos.

▪ The list of sides is long and often more interesting than the meat. Vegetable plates are not only possible, but sometimes recommended.

▪ There’s beer. Craft beer. On tap.

▪ The owner made his or her reputation in fine dining. The owner and partners may tell tales about their pilgrimage to Texas to visit the shrines (Franklin Barbecue, Kreuz Market and the Salt Lick).

▪ It’s cooked over wood in a large contraption, usually imported from Texas. The contraption is usually filled with brisket.

▪ The meat is locally sourced or from old-variety livestock. Farms on the menu are specified by name.

▪ It may start with one location, but will probably become a chain within two years.

▪ It’s pricey: Shiny contraptions, specially sourced wood/meat, craft beer taps and business partners don’t come cheap. Sandwiches are usually $8 and higher, trays with multiple meats are usually $18 and often higher.

5 nearby classics
▪ Kyle Fletcher’s, Gastonia. Barbecue sandwich: $3.49 or $4.49 (small or large).

It’s small, friendly and always packed, one of our favorite places for a barbecue sandwich. While the decor is sports instead of American Revolution, it meets all the requirement of a classic ’cue place. Make sure you bring cash. Check out the cookers in the back, with big barrels full of ashes.

▪ Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, Shelby. Barbecue sandwich: $4.

Started in 1946 and moved to the current location in 1953, that neon and brick sign on U.S. 74 has been a landmark for three generations. It’s still true to the Lexington style. (If you want to explore, Alston Bridge’s – no relation – is a little farther off the highway in Shelby and also worthy of a stop, so you can take part in the local game of “Red’s or Alston’s?”). 2000 E. Dixon Blvd., Shelby.

▪ Lexington Barbecue No. 1, Lexington. Barbecue sandwich: $4.10.

Open since 1962, it’s still run by the family of Wayne “Honey” Monk (his high school nickname), and it’s a classic of the Lexington style. Make sure you stop by the smokehouse in back, where they still cook pork shoulders over wood. Closed Sundays and usually for a week around July 4 every summer. 100 Smokehouse Lane, Lexington.

▪ Bill Spoon’s, Charlotte. Barbecue sandwich: $5.

Charlotte isn’t known for great Carolinas-style barbecue, but Bill Spoon’s, now run by the founder’s grandson, will give you a good taste of Eastern-style, whole-hog barbecue without driving three hours. 5524 South Blvd.

▪ Bubba’s Barbecue, Charlotte. Barbecue sandwich: $6.49.

It meets all the definitions of an old-style barbecue restaurant in the Carolinas style, right down to the friendly family service and the joke signs all over the place, with Eastern-style chopped pork. 4400 Sunset Road.

5 Charlotte places for the modern take
▪ The Improper Pig. Barbecue sandwich: $7.49 (with chips only) or $9.49.

Yes, it has ribs, brisket, pulled pig and sausage, and almost a dozen kinds of sauce. It also has barbecue egg rolls, salmon, a cocktail menu and Taco Tuesdays. You figure it out. 110 S. Sharon Amity Road in Cotswold Mall.

▪ Mac’s Speed Shop. Barbecue sandwich: $8, $10 or $13, depending on size.

The website calls it a biker bar, but that sounds rougher than it is: The original location on South Boulevard used to be a motorcyle repair shop and they use that theme in the decor. It has a long list of sides, but they take their barbecue seriously, with several wins at the prestigious Memphis in May competition. 2511 South Blvd. (original), plus six locations as far away as Fayetteville and Greenville, S.C.

▪ Midwood Smokehouse. Barbecue sandwich: $8.25.

Charlotte restaurant titan Frank Scibelli never misses a detail, from the Texas-style cooker to the hush puppies. The ribs have drawn celebrities like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 1401 Central Ave. (original), plus four more locations.

▪ Queen City Q. Barbecue sandwich: $9.

With a sports bar/Texas roadhouse feel, the menu is a mix, from barbecue to quesadillas and cocktails. The sides list sprawls with 18 items. 225 E. 6th St.

▪ City Smoke. Barbecue sandwich: $12.

With contemporary-meets-steampunk decor, Pierre Bader’s uptown City Smoke does things like half-and-half ribs (one end is wet with sauce, the other dry with rub), good brisket and unusual touches like charcuterie and Middle East dishes. Where else can you get a barbecue platter with grits and labneh as a side? In Founder’s Hall, 100 N. Tryon St., near Trade Street and College streets.

Kathleen Purvis: 704-358-5236, @kathleenpurvis


RELATED STORIES FROM CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
FOOD-DRINK
Family restaurants keeping the home fires burning
JULY 02, 2011 11:08 PM
Click to expand...

Thanks, I enjoyed this and it gave me suggestions for places to try. Something I'll add to the traditional bbq joint: you can usually buy quantity pulled or chopped pork take out. When I'm visiting a new place in a new town I'll often just buy a sandwich. If it's good I'll go back and buy a pound or more to take home.
 
JohnVee said:
I thought this was interesting. And pretty spot on for this area re Old vs New.
Charlotte’s best barbecue comes two ways now. Do you know the rules?

▪ Lexington Barbecue No. 1, Lexington. Barbecue sandwich: $4.10.
Click to expand...

Oh man does that place bring back memories. My Mom is from Lexington and I was born in Winston Salem but been in SC most of my life. Growing up my family would drive back to Lexington to visit my Grandparents and the rest of my mom's family. My Grandpa loved going to eat there. Many fond memories spent over a plate of BBQ with family in that joint. I think that my Grandpa and some of his friends from the VFW would meet and eat there every so often. Grandpa was always welcomed in by name and showed to his favorite table if it was available. A BBQ sandwich wasn't anywhere near $4.10 though back then. Probably closer to a buck.
 
Broke in my new WSM...
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Some smoked chicken wings and finished off by crisping them up on a hot grill for about 2 min. Also tossed half of the smoked wings in a cayenne buffalo sauce I made and habanero buffalo sauce...So damn good.

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