Grady’s BBQ, Near Dudley, North Carolina

After my memorable lunch at Southern Smoke in Garland, I started meandering north, again wondering where to eat next.  I’d about run out of True ‘Cue places within reach that I hadn’t tried, so I decided to go see if Wilber’s was open, or at least if someone was there with whom I could talk and get some inside information.  (Note — it has since … Continue reading Grady’s BBQ, Near Dudley, North Carolina

Southern Smoke, Garland, North Carolina

After my wonderful breakfast at the Oak Level Cafe, I had a longish drive down to Garland for lunch at Matt Register’s Southern Smoke.  Given the size of the biscuits, the long drive was just as well.  As I mentioned in that post, I had a lunch date, and it was with my good friend, Dan Kenney. of Lumberton, North Carolina. Dan is a Renaissance Man: … Continue reading Southern Smoke, Garland, North Carolina

The Oak Level Cafe, Pretty Near Nashville, North Carolina

Ah!  Back to tales of my trip from Washington to the beach at Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, after special bulletins from Wilber’s and the Captain’s Kitchen.  We are now beginning Day 3 of the trip in Wilson, North Carolina.  Besides my desire to try Marty’s, I’d spent the night in Wilson so that I could get the famous biscuits at Flo’s the next morning. … Continue reading The Oak Level Cafe, Pretty Near Nashville, North Carolina

The 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition: The Captain’s Kitchen, Indian Beach and Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Three-Peats!

NEWS FLASH!  The Captain’s Kitchen has won the World’s Best Shrimpburger  Competition, the Super Bowl for shrimpburgers, for the third year in a row. The Captain’s Kitchen is a food truck that alternates between the two above locations.  The victory is no surprise, but the three-peat is historic. (Having interrupted my 3 1/2 day barbecue-eating trip for a Special Bulletin review of the newly reopened … Continue reading The 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition: The Captain’s Kitchen, Indian Beach and Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Three-Peats!

A First Look at the New Wilber’s Barbecue, Goldsboro, North Carolina

We pause after Day 2 of our 3 1/2 day  barbecue-eating trip from Washington, DC, to the beach in North Carolina for a special bulletin.  Wilber’s has reopened, and I drove the two hours up there this morning — Wednesday, the fifth day of business, I think — to give it a try.  I checked on my way down to see if it had opened, … Continue reading A First Look at the New Wilber’s Barbecue, Goldsboro, North Carolina

Marty’s BBQ, Wilson, North Carolina

I mentioned in my last post that I checked in to a hotel in Wilson.  One reason was so that I could try Marty’s. As regular readers know, I had a sample of Marty’s barbecue thanks to my good friend, the irrepressible Jim Oliver, who brought me some from one of his trips to North Carolina to see his mother. There’s some history here.  I … Continue reading Marty’s BBQ, Wilson, North Carolina

Stephenson’s Bar-B-Q, Willow Springs, North Carolina

After lunch at Boss Hog’s, I drove over to Wilson and checked in to my hotel, the posh Fairfield Inn.  I then gave some thought to where I should eat next.  I settled on a certified True ‘Cue, wood-only place, Stephenson’s in Willow Springs, an unincorporated area around the Wake-Johnston County line.  Here’s Stephenson’s, a nice big place out by itself — Do you see … Continue reading Stephenson’s Bar-B-Q, Willow Springs, North Carolina

Boss Hog’s Backyard Barbecue, Washington, North Carolina

My nephew, Jimbo Tanner, has been an invaluable source of barbecue information.  He told me about B’s and Grady’s and Bum’s — three of the best barbecue places on earth.  When he tipped me off to Boss Hog’s, I put it at the top of my must-visit list, and I headed there after the wonderful ZZQ. I was somewhat taken aback to see that Boss Hog’s is … Continue reading Boss Hog’s Backyard Barbecue, Washington, North Carolina

New Orleans by Myra, Lusby, Maryland, Continued

We interrupt out Tour de Barbecue as we move from Richmond to Eastern North Carolina for a special bulletin: an update on New Orleans by Myra from Michael Boyd, the New Orleans Food Maven.  Here’s Michael’s report on the Alligator Bites basket and the Oyster Po-Boy: The Alligator Bites basket.  First off, it’s a big portion.  Maybe a little over breaded, but that breading was … Continue reading New Orleans by Myra, Lusby, Maryland, Continued