Chasing BBQ: North and South Carolina Stops

Of course, you don't always have to cook up a whole hog to enjoy pulled and chopped pork Carolina style. We even have a slow cooker recipe that makes it super easy to enjoy pulled pork anytime. Or try "outside brown" which is basically the pork equivalent of burnt ends. After eating my way through a whole lot 'cue in the Carolinas, it's clear that no matter how it's served, the folks in this region are experts when it comes to barbecuing pork.

Along with all that meat I also managed to try some interesting appetizers and sides like pickled shrimp, aka my new favorite way to enjoy shrimp in the summer. The Carolinas also introduced me to boiled peanuts, a favorite for salty snacking. Of course there were some old favorite too including mac and cheese (check out our pimento cheese version) and something I can't get enough of, sweet potato pie (I prefer mine with bourbon). In fact, bourbon's not only in the pie. They know their pork in the Carolinas, but they also know how to kick back and unwind. Try our Carolina Fire Starter Bourbon for a taste of what I mean.

You might not be able to head to the Carolinas to eat your way through their regional 'cue like I did, but you can read all about the stops I made, people I met and BBQ I tried along the way. Click the name of any of the BBQ joints I visited to read my road journal and learn more about Carolina 'cue.

1237 D Ave
West Columbia, SC
(803) 791-9950
Owner: Ernest Zanders
Gotta Have: Baby back ribs, turkey wing, hash and rice

Scott’s Bar-B-Que
2734 Hemingway Hwy
Hemingway, SC
(843) 558-0134
Must Try: Pork rinds, bbq pork and chicken. Finish it off with homemade chocolate yellow cake.

B’S Barbecue
751 BS Barbecue Rd
Greenville, NC
(252) 758-7126
Pitmaster: LaSander
Don’t Miss: Chicken quarters or bbq pork with North Carolina vinegar sauce, corn stick and slaw.

Jack Cobb and Son Barbecue Place
3883 S. Main St.
Farmville, NC
Owner: Jack Cobb
Highlights: BBQ pork sandwiches topped with slaw, hush puppies, sweet potato tart.

Dudley, NC
Pitmaster & Owner: Steve Grady
Best bet: Whole hog ‘cue, collards, black eyed peas or butter beans, homemade sweet potato pie.

Adams Roadside Bar-B-Q
3451 US Highway 70 W
Goldsboro, NC
(919) 739-3859
Owners: Scott & Karen
Don’t Miss: Texas style beef ribs, brisket, cheesy mac, and Brunswick stew.

Skylight Inn BBQ
4618 Lee St
Ayden, NC
(252) 746-4113
Owner and Pitmaster: Sam Jones
Must Try: Whole hog BBQ tray, chopped pork with crispy bits of skin mixed in; cracking cornbread.

PRIME Barbecue
Wendell, NC
Owner & Pitmaster (and friend of Savory): Christopher Prieto
Highlights: Pecan smoked & perfectly sauced ribs, baked beans and slaw

The Pit Authentic Barbecue
328 W. Davie St.
Raleigh, NC
(919) 890-4500
Owner: Greg Hatem
Favorites: Chopped pork, mac & cheese, hush puppies. Leave room for dessert: carrot cake & peanut butter pie!

Lexington Barbecue
100 Smokehouse Ln
Lexington, NC
(336) 249-9814
Proprietors: Monk Family
Pitmaster: Charles
Claim to Fame: The original, not to be confused with “blank” Lexington BBQ. Try the outside brown, coarse chop with a side of “ketchup style” slaw and hush puppies. Get some authentic pig skins too!

Henry’s Smokehouse
240 Wade Hampton Blvd
Greenville, SC
(864) 232-7774
Pitmaster: Troy Blanchard
Gotta Have: Pulled pork with the spicy mustard bbq sauce, hash and rice. Top it off with made-from-scratch peach cobbler!

Bucky’s Bar-B-Q
1700 Roper Mountain Rd
Greenville, SC
(864) 329-0054
Founder: Wayne Preston
Don’t Miss: Pulled/chopped pork with pepper vinegar sauce, perfect ribs, and the sweet potato crunch.

Mike and Jeff’s BBQ
2401 Old Buncombe Rd
Greenville, SC
(864) 271-5225
Co-Founder and Pitmaster: Jeff Little
Must Have: Pulled pork and chicken, hush puppies & potato salad.

12 Bones Smokehouse
5 Riverside Dr.
Asheville, NC
(828) 253-4499
Owners: Bryan & Angela King
Highlights: Oak & cherry smoked baby backs with blueberry chipotle sauce, chopped brisket, collards & cornbread.

Buxton Hall Barbecue
32 Banks Ave
Asheville, NC
(828) 232-7216
Co-Owner & Pitmaster (and James Beard nominee): Elliott Moss
Must Have: Whole hog ‘cue, made-in-house sausage, hash and rice, embered beets.