Welcome to Asheville, NC—a city where food is the centerpiece of daily life with approximately nearly 250 independent restaurants and a bevy of local breweries. more
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Finding, understanding and enjoying North Carolina Barbecue
North Carolinians have been making great barbecue for hundreds of years. But before you place your order, there are a few things you need to know about North Carolina’s favorite food.
Any way you spell it, Barbecue still tastes good
There are about as many ways to spell barbecue as there are people who eat it. Although “barbecue” has become fairly standard, you’ll also find it spelled “barbeque,” “bar-be-que, “bar-b-cue,” and abbreviated “BBQ,” as well as variations of those spellings.
Ordering Barbecue
Although “barbecue” can refer to any meat roasted slowly over coals, in North Carolina barbecue means pork. You’ll usually find chicken or maybe beef on the menu, but if you just say “barbecue,” you’re going to get pork.
East Versus West North Carolina Barbecue
In North Carolina, there are two completely different schools when it comes to barbecue: Eastern style and Western style.
In Eastern North Carolina, from Raleigh to the coast, barbecue means a whole hog cooked over the coals and served with a spicy sauce made from vinegar and red pepper pods. In the Piedmont and Western North Carolina mountains, Western style barbecue is king. Western style is pork shoulder, slow-cooked and served with a thin, slightly sweet tomato-based sauce.
No mater how you slice it (or pull it, or chop it...)
You’ll often hear people talking about “pulled pork” barbecue. This is one of several methods for serving barbecue. “Pulled” means that the meat has been pulled off, allowing it to follow the natural striations of the meat. This gives the most tender barbecue. Other ways to enjoy barbecued pork are sliced, chopped or minced.
Local Barbecue Restaurants
While you won’t find any Eastern style whole hog barbecue in Asheville, there are a number of places to get great barbecue and ribs, Here are just a few:
Luella's quality smoked meats and scratch-made sides stand alone. Only here can you taste what proprietor and pit-boss Jeff Miller proudly labels a "Product of Buncombe County". Beyond the restaurant doors, Luella's has become the barbecue caterer of …more
Moe's Original BBQ is a Southern soul food revival. They serve great food in an atmosphere that is relaxed, spontaneous, yet civilized….well, sometimes. Located in the Biltmore Village area, there are many shops, music venues and attractions nearby …more
