In western bar-b-que, they use just the shoulders, like Stephenson's does. In eastern bar-b-que, you traditionally use the whole hog...thus more fat and grease.
Forget all the other recommendations. Out of town visitors deserve the best. Make the drive to Parkers in Wilson. It is on US 301 South of Wilson. It is a Eastern North Carolina institution. All of our out of town friends want to go back there every time they are here. Order family style. You get choped Eastern N.C. barbecue pork, fried chicken, cole slaw, brunswick stew, boiled potatoes, corn sticks/hush puppies and sweet tea. You can also ask for green beans. Family style is all you can eat. You and your out of town guests will will get the best of eastern N.C. barbecue.
KDs is absolutely correct on letting you know the difference in the Bar-B-Q. I have lived here a little over 11 years and still don't like this Bar-B-Q. Sometimes when a friend or relative are visiting from Alabama or Georgia I ask them to bring me some Bar-B-Q. Here's how it goes: when ordering a Bar-B-Q sandwich here be prepared for the taste to be of vinegar and they will put cole slaw on that sucker if you don't stop them. I am used to and still love the red sauce and no cole slaw. We had never seen a "pig-pickin" until we moved here and now my daughter will not eat Bar-B-Q. Most people do a "pig-pickin" when having a party or visitors. I enjoy them but carry Bar-B-Q sauce with me! Grace
Almost stopped there yesterday on the way home. I should have the Bojangles meal I got sucked ***. Around here Stephensons gets my vote. Goldsboro - go to Wilburs
Not that you want to drive that far, but WILBUR's in Goldsboro is hands down the best Oh yeah, I will second that - and a side of their chicken gravey - oh, it doesn't get much better
From your username, I assume you are from Georgia. I am too:mrgreen: Moved to NC 13 years ago and WOW what a shock the BBQ was. At first I did not like it, but now I love it. It's just a different dish entirely than what you get in GA. If you want your family to experience eastern NC BBQ, listen to the suggestions already made here. Personally, and I know ya'll are gonna flame me for this:shock: :lol: , I love Smithfields BBQ. If you want GA style BBQ, there is a place in Raleigh - Red, Hot n Blue that serves the sliced beef with the sweet, red sauce we get in GA. Good slaw too. Hope your family has a nice visit. Hey, what part of GA are you from? DH and I were raised in Albany.
if you like your barbecue the consitency of ground beef!! eastern nc bbq should be pulled, then chopped. another vote for wilburs or, try ol NC Barbecue in Durham. a little out of the way, but it used to be great (haven't had it myself in several years) and the two mentioned in wilson
We are originally from Oregon, moved to Douglasville Georgia 4 years ago and as soon as we could we got the heck out of dodge..
Hey, you know the old saying, "You are what you eat"....if you want to be fat and greasy, then eat the whole hog!!!! Lean and mean, eat just the shoulders!!
Now you're talking!! Hijacking the thread.......Ken, where is the best shrimp? (Fried, broiled, boiled, etc.)
Apparently you've never been to a real pig pickin........cause it is anything but fat a greasy if the people cooking know how to cook a whole hog. Craig
Another vote for Stephensons. Not being from NC I add a little twist to mine. I'm originally from South Carolina and keep well stocked of mus-My Friend base sauce so just adding a little is great. Now if i could get a couple gallons of bbq hash and freeze it then we are in business lol (oops thinking outloud). Oh yeah and good one on the McCalls joke. And Grace I too have lived in Georgia and very much enjoyed bbq there.