Smoke & Spice: The Southern Barbecue Series: Bar-B-Q Center, Lexington, NC

Original article published by: Sweet Tea & Pasta

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“Lexington, North Carolina, the barbecue capital of the world, yes world, is home to a lot of barbecue joints. While the “of the world” designation may be disputed by other “of the world” barbecue towns, you can’t dispute they know barbecue here. Named after the Revolutionary Battle of Lexington, the town is home to over 15 barbecue restaurants, each with their own pork barbecue twist. Each year Lexington hosts a barbecue cook-off in April and a premier barbecue festival each October.

So what is Lexington barbecue? I had no idea until I got there. A quote I found on the Visit Lexington website from Bob Garner, author of North Carolina Barbecue, and a person I watch regularly on North Carolina Weekend, states: “Lexington-style barbecue is generally juicier, smokier, sweeter and milder than its counterpart in eastern North Carolina. Whereas barbecue flavored by wood smoke is only an option in the East, in Lexington it is, with a few exceptions, an unspoken but unyielding expectation. The tangy, red barbecue slaw is usually the spiciest part of a Lexington barbecue sandwich, whereas the milder, creamier coleslaw on an Eastern-style barbecue sandwich is meant to balance the relatively fiery chopped pork.”

I’m always looking for a back road trip on the weekend, where I can explore, within a few hours of the house and still get home to take care of my pretty puppy, a.k.a. the whiny Ouiser. I’m sure you remember Ouiser from Steel Magnolias? Well somehow that has become my dog Daphne’s nickname, though you can’t just say the name, you have to pretend you’re Clairee when you say it: Oui-sah. Like most pups, she can’t be left too long so I try to stay within a short drive from the house.”