Carolina Barbecue News | The Lowdown Summer 2024

Everywhere you look in the Carolina barbecue news world, you will find a list. A “Best of” ranking.

Best Texas Barbecue, Best New Barbecue, Best Barbecue State, Best Barbecue Region, Best Charlotte Barbecue, Best Barbecue Sauce, Best Barbecue Style, Best Brisket, Best Dessert … you get the picture.

Everybody likes to talk about their top lists in Carolina barbecue news. Sometimes that’s good. It gives people like me something to talk about. But who gets to really decide which list is legit, and which list is shh … not legit?

We talk about some big lists in this episode of The Low & Slow Barbecue Show. A couple of those lists created by big barbecue names are celebrating some of our favorite Carolina barbecue places.

Other lists … well we’ll get to that.

In this blog you’ll find the links to everything discussed in the podcast.

• Barbecue business news: Jake Wood and Lawrence Barbecue announced a new headquarters. So did Eliott Moss. Other familiar barbecue names are closing forever.
• Accolades to celebrate among some of our favorite pitmasters.
• What am I reading in the barbecue world. (You think this pork in my fridge from Fourth of July is still safe?

This blog reviews some of the top barbecue news stories we’ve shared with our audience at our newsletter, The Lowdown. You can subscribe here. When you do, you’ll get Carolina barbecue news delivered to your inbox every Tuesday. On to the news …

Palmira is the ‘Best Texas Barbecue in America’

Texas Monthly says Palmira Barbecue is the “Best Texas Barbecue in America” (outside Texas, of course). Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn also included two North Carolina locations in his Top 10 list: Prime Barbecue and Jon G’s Barbecue.

Top 10:

1. Palmira, SC
2. Prime Barbecue, NC
3. Owens & Hull, GA
4. Moo’s Craft Barbecue, CA
5. Heritage Barbecue, CA
6. Southern Junction, NY
7. Pica Rica BBQ, UT
8. Jon G’s Barbecue, NC
9. Edge Craft Barbecue, OK
10. Golden Hour Barbecue, NE

Dampf Good Barbecue gets a salute in North Carolina’s state-by-state breakdown. In South Carolina, Vaughn highlights Fork Grove Barbecue, City Limits BBQ, and Lewis Barbecue.

Vaughn’s “honorable mentions” aren’t necessarily “Texas,” he says, but worth recognition. Among them, County Smoak in Lynchburg, VA, Lawrence Barbecue in Durham, NC, and King Barbecue in Charleston, SC.

Read the complete coverage for Vaughn’s commentary and other selections from his visits to 149 Texas-style barbecue joints in 37 states.

Palmira BBQ Tops the Chart of Southern Living’s Best New BBQ

Southern Living celebrates the Best New Barbecue Joints in the South that have opened since 2021. Compiled by Southern Living Barbecue Editor Robert Moss, the list is judged “based upon the enjoyment of the meal and overall experience of the visit.”

Top of the list: Palmira BBQ in Charleston, which opened in February and blends flavors of South Carolina, Texas and Puerto Rico. Get the beef cheeks!

Other Carolina notables in the top 22:

• 4. City Limits Barbecue, West Columbia, SC.
• 5. King BBQ, North Charleston, SC.
• 12. Longleaf Swine, Raleigh, NC.
• 14. Rancho Lewis, Charleston, SC.
• 16. Smoking Butt Heads BBQ, Spartanburg, SC.
• 21. Lechon Latin BBQ & Bar, Raleigh, NC.
• 22. Huli Sue’s, Asheville, NC.

The 10 Best States for BBQ? Carolinas Lead this List

The “Geography King” shared his Top 10 States for BBQ with RV Travel recently, and since he put the Carolinas near the top of the list, we’re going to declare his list “factual and accurate.”

No 1. in the list: Missouri, where big barbecue cities St. Louis and Kansas City provide plenty of “show me” to rank Missouri at the top.

South Carolina comes in a No. 2, where Geography King cites whole hog barbecue, vinegar-pepper sauce, and mustard-based sauce.

At No. 3, North Carolina is recognized for whole hog barbecue, tomato-based sauce in the “northern part of the state” and vinegar & pepper-based sauce. Northern?

Texas ranks 4 in the list you can access here.

‘Best Barbecue’ in Charlotte Final: The Smoke Pit defeats Red Bridges BBQ Lodge

According to an online poll, The Smoke Pit is the “best barbecue” in Charlotte. The Smoke Pit operates locations in Concord, Gastonia, Monroe and Salisbury. Runner-up Red Bridges BBQ Lodges operates one location, in Shelby.

Charlotte Observer’s Charlotte Five conducted the “best BBQ restaurants” poll. Readers submitted more than 50 entries for barbecue places – some nearly an hour from Charlotte. Finalists include Jon G’s, Midwood Smokehouse, Red Bridges BBQ Lodge, Resident Culture, Sweet Lew’s, and other friends of hte podcast.

Final results here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/readers-choice/article291221050.html

Find the Best Food Bets in Each North Carolina County

EducationNC (EdNC) knows North Carolina better than many organizations. Advocating for the state’s students keeps its representatives on roads spanning from Cherokee to Manteo.

Naturally, that means the folks at EdNC regularly visit – and eat – in all of the state’s 100 counties. During the summer, EdNC CEO Mebane Rash shared her favorite food stops. The list included plenty of barbecue businesses – 15 to be exact. Many places The Low & Slow Barbecue Show has visited, like Smoke On BBQ in Transylvania County.

Here are the other barbecue stops EdNC recommends and the counties they call home:

• Carteret: Big Oak Drive-In and Barb-B-Q (get the shrimpburger).
• Cherokee: Dragon Ass Smoked BBQ.
• Cleveland: Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge.
• Columbus: Joe’s Barbecue and Simply Barbecue.
• Currituck: Currituck BBQ.
• Davidson: Lexington BBQ.
• Edgecombe: Abrams BBQ (get the cheese biscuits).
• Graham: T. Dubb’s.
• Pitt: Skylight Inn and B’s Barbecue.
• Rowan: Keaton’s Barbecue.
• Transylvania: Smoke On BBQ (Drive-through BBQ!).
• Tyrrell: Stick Burnin BBQ.
• Wilson: Parker’s Barbecue.

Click here for the complete 100-county list of EdNC’s restaurant recommendations.

Carolina Barbecue Business News

Lawrence Barbecue is Moving! World HQ Cary: Summer 2025

Lawrence Barbecue’s “world headquarters” is moving from Boxyard RTP to a new brick-and-mortar location in downtown Cary.

The new spot brings together all three of Jake Wood’s concepts – Lawrence Barbecue, Lagoon Bar and Leroy’s Taco Shop. It will also feature a patio, smokehouse, full bar, and merch sales. Located in an old furniture warehouse, the 4,900-square-foot space will seat about 250 in the dining room and front porch.

Wood plans a new menu that “leans more into our own unique style of que and hospitality,” he tells the Raleigh News & Observer. Jake also says the new location will feature a floating oyster cart, which follows the dreams he shared in this The Low & Slow Barbecue Show episode.

Follow Lawrence Barbecue on Instagram to keep up with the move.

Elliott Moss Reveals Plans for Taking Barbecue ‘Home’

Eater Carolinas revealed Elliott Moss’ plans to open his latest barbecue venture in his hometown Florence, SC.

After 17 years spent cooking and earning acclaim in Asheville, most notably at The Admiral and Buxton Hall, Moss moves back to South Carolina, and a site he’ll share with Seminar Brewing. There, he’ll serve Carolina barbecue, whole hog pulled pork, chicken bog and hash, as well as other favorites like beer-can chicken, beer-battered and smoked fish sandwiches.

Read the complete feature on Elliott Moss and his new venture in Eater Carolinas. 

Fire Destroys New Facilities at Operation BBQ Relief’s Camp OBR

Operation BBQ Relief seeks community support after an electrical fire destroyed new facilities built at the Camp OBR retreat for military members, veterans, first responders, and the families of fallen heroes.

Insurance coverage will support rebuilding efforts, but Operation BBQ Relief is counting on community support to restock many of the supplies and essential items needed by guests. The July 15 fire destroyed the camp’s newly built bathhouse, laundry facilities, garages and essential equipment.

You can also purchase items from the Camp OBR Needs Wish list on Amazon.

Iron City BBQ Opens Doors as Blacksburg Blossoms

A barbecue business owner is forging a new foundation in Blacksburg as the town aims to rejuvenate its downtown district.

Jason Merritt quit his job and took out a second mortgage on his home to open Iron City BBQ after building a customer base through catering jobs and working his food truck around the Blacksburg area.

The move comes as Blacksburg considers a multimillion-dollar streetscape plan on the heels of annexations and construction of 28 new homes.

Backdraft BBQ Launches Rub in S.C. Lowe’s Foods Stores

The Lowcountry Local section of Lowe’s Foods grocery stores now includes Backdraft BBQ’s Everyday Rub.

Lowe’s Foods locations with the dry rub include:

• Mount Pleasant: S.C. Highway 41
• Summerville: Dorchester Road.
• Charleston: Bees Ferry Road.
• Hanahan: Tanner Ford Boulevard.

Look for the Backdraft BBQ rub to appear on shelves at Lowcountry Publix locations in October.

Monkey Wrench Smokehouse Closing in Travelers Rest

Monkey Wrench Smokehouse is transitioning to S.B.H. BBQ after closing on Aug. 11 in downtown Travelers Rest.

The move comes as restaurant owners focus on their Sidewall Pizza Company venture that includes four pizza shops and a pastry kitchen.

The Travelers Rest site will be S.B.H. BBQ’s second location after the restaurant grew out of a successful competition barbecue team. S.B.H. has been in the process of taking over the Monkey Wrench location for about four months.

Carolina Barbecue Accolades

Southern BBQ Network Celebrates 2024 Cook Team of the Year

Southern Barbecue Network celebrated its 2023-2024 Cook Team of the Year, Ultimate Tailgaters BBQ, during its annual meeting.

The SBN championship marks the fourth in the past five years for the competition team and catering operation based in Aiken, S.C.

Big thanks to Southern BBQ Network, which has joined The Low & Slow Barbecue Show sponsors. We’ve had a great time interviewing competitive pitmasters and the event organizers. More to come, too. I’m hoping to get to a competition in Bessemer City later this month. Stay tuned.

A new season of competition kicked off Aug. 16 and 17 in Fayetteville with the third annual Black BBQ Cook-off.

2-6-KA BBQ Team Wins Black BBQ Grand Championship

Congratulations to the 2-6-KA BBQ team for amassing the most points to win the Grand Championship of the Black BBQ Cook-Off in Fayetteville on Aug. 17. The team achieved a second-place finish in chicken and third-place finishes in both ribs and brisket.

In its third year, the competition was sanctioned and judged by Southern BBQ Network for the first time. The In the Army Que cook team won second place overall, with Smokey Redd’s BBQ finishing third.

Winners for each category were:

🐖 Ribs: Big Bear’s BBQ.

🐓 Chicken: In the Army Que.

🐄 Brisket: Smokey Redd’s BBQ.

Black Powder Pitmaster Competes as NCRLA Chef Showdown Finalist

Black Powder Smokehouse Pitmaster Keith “Big Brisket” Henning is one of 15 savory chefs included among finalists in the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Chef Showdown.

The ninth year of competition started with more than 70 chefs, a number pared down to 28 finalists.

Henning previously competed in the Chef Showdown’s Grand Finale, where attendees vote for People’s Choice Awards in Best Savory Dish, Best Dessert, Best Cocktail, and Best Mocktail categories.

Henning didn’t collect the victory, but are some of the event winners.

• Chef of the Year: Matthew Deering, Dot Dot Dot in Charlotte.
• Pastry Chef of the Year Savannah Brodar, Country Club of North Carolina at Pinehurst.
• Distillery of the Year: Broadslab Distillery in Benson.
• Mocktail of the year: Miguel Angel Latorre Jr., Revival 1869 in Clayton.

See more 2024 NCRLA winners here.

Chigger’s Barbecue Reading List

How Long Does that Pulled Pork Last in the Refrigerator?

“Is this pork still good?”

It’s a question we’ve all faced when looking at the container hidden in the back of the refrigerator. Southern Living magazine answered the question (hint: if you cooked it for Labor Day you’re getting close … throw it out).

The USDA recommends the following timeframes for pork products:

• Raw pork: use it within 3 to 5 days of purchase or freeze it.
• Cooked pork: consume it within 3 to 4 days.
• Frozen pork: consume it within 6 months for the best taste.

Read more pork preparation advice from dietician Chelsea Edward here. 

Barbecue Bros: Resident Culture Expands Top Tier of Charlotte BBQ

Barbecue Bros visited Resident Culture’s South End Location and Pitmaster Edmar Simoes.

Get the Barbecue Bros review here.

Listen to the Low & Slow Barbecue Show with Edmar here.

The Smoke Sheet: Dive into East Tennessee BBQ

Tennessee boasts 3 distinct regions of barbecue, according to The Smoke Sheet contributor and self-described “BBQ-ologist” Ed Reilly.

He breaks down the difference and shares some favorite BBQ stops in the state’s eastern third. Click here to read the feature in The Smoke Sheet, and get his insight on best BBQ bets near Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City.

Food: A Love Story

Originally published in 2014 by comedian / writer Jim Gaffigan I’ve enjoyed this light read (or more specifically, listen, on the audio book. Thanks, Libby). It is a funny look at food and America’s various food festishes.

What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia

Written by Elizabeth Catte and published in February 2018.

Dogland: Passion Glory and Lots of Slober at Westminster Dog Show

Written by long-time Charlotte Observer writer and WFAE host Tommy Tomlinson. It is like the movie “Best in Show” as a book, only better because … it is real.

Carolina Barbecue Events

Bessemer City Brew & Que, Bessemer City, NC, Sept. 21

• Southern BBQ Network sanctioned backyard competition.
• Festival event 12-9 p.m.
• Live music, craft beer food vendors
• More details here. 

Smithfield Cup, Elizabethtown, NC: Sunday, Oct. 13

Barbecue teams from North Carolina & South Carolina battle for the People’s Choice award, the Smithfield Cup.

Teams pair professional pitmasters with amateurs. 

• North Carolina team:
  • Lewis Donald from Sweet Lew’s in Charlotte.
  • Jake Lawrence from Lawrence Barbecue in Durham.
• South Carolina team:
  • Robbie Robinson from City Limits Barbecue in Columbia.
  • Dylan Cooke from Fork Grove Barbecue in Anderson.

Hosted at Cape Fear Distillery, noon to 5 p.m.

Tickets are limited and available here. General admission are $20 each. Kids 14 and under get in free with an adult admission.

Holy Smokes Lowcountry Barbecue Festival, Charleston, SC: Nov. 9-11

Distinct villages serving traditional barbecue, Texas barbecue, “new school” pitmasters, and coastal-style cooking.

32+ Pitmasters come from restaurants around the South, including:

• Swig & Swine, Charleston
• Palmira Barbecue, Charleston
• Wright’s Barbecue, Fayetteville, AR
• Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur, AL
• Sam Jones BBQ, Winterville & Raleigh
• DAS BBQ, Atlanta, GA
• Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, Atlanta, GA
• Holy City Hogs, Charleston
• Elliot’s, Florence, SC
• Moo’s Craft Barbecue, CA

Tickets on sale now – get them here. General Admission: $95; kids 7-13 $25; 6 and under free.