Originally Posted by It'sHip2B^2 (Post 21461807)

for the meat. They are saying that the meat itself can't be succulent and satisfying of its own accord. The ones that push their own bottled sauce sales are saying that there is nothing special about the meat that they serve and you can get nearly the same results at home.

So this BBQ snob always orders her meats "naked" (since she hates sauce anyway). Most of the time it is dry and lacks flavor. It's not much better than might come out of my oven at home. I have learned several things in the 7 years that I have been eating BBQ. The first is that Brisket is the hardest of all meats to get right. Second, if a place can get their brisket right, then they do most everything else well. Third, pulled pork is the easiest meat to do well (rarely is it both dry and flavorless -- dry being the greatest sin, IMO). Fourth don't bother ordering anything but the pulled pork (unless you are ordering something else along with pulled pork on a combo platter) on your first visit since if they can't get the pulled pork right, the rest of their meats will be simply dreadful.

I do give Bid Bob Gibson's BBQ a second place. I think that their ribs are very good and I hate ribs. Plus their cole slaw is awesome. It is just the way I like it.

Originally Posted by It'sHip2B^2 (Post 21461807)

I think that the true sign of good BBQ is the meat plain and naked. If it needs a sauce, then the proprietor has no business in the BBQ realm. BBQ joints that pride themselves on their sauces betray their disrespect for the meat. They are saying that the meat itself can't be succulent and satisfying of its own accord. The ones that push their own bottled sauce sales are saying that there is nothing special about the meat that they serve and you can get nearly the same results at home.

So this BBQ snob always orders her meats "naked" (since she hates sauce anyway). Most of the time it is dry and lacks flavor. It's not much better than might come out of my oven at home. I have learned several things in the 7 years that I have been eating BBQ. The first is that Brisket is the hardest of all meats to get right. Second, if a place can get their brisket right, then they do most everything else well. Third, pulled pork is the easiest meat to do well (rarely is it both dry and flavorless -- dry being the greatest sin, IMO). Fourth don't bother ordering anything but the pulled pork (unless you are ordering something else along with pulled pork on a combo platter) on your first visit since if they can't get the pulled pork right, the rest of their meats will be simply dreadful.

Originally Posted by mctrees02 (Post 21455236)

Texas destroys KC in BBQ. Heck even Austin alone can beat KC With Franklin's, J Mueller, La Barbecue, Craft Meats, Freedmen's, Stiles Switch and Lambert's. If we stretched it to 100 miles around Austin...you'd then add Snow's, Louie Mueller, Kruez, Blacks, City Market Luling, Fargo's, Two Bros, The Granary, and many others that I'm forgetting about.

Originally Posted by John Isaac (Post 21467978)

The world's best BBQ is from Parker's Barbeque in Wilson, North Carolina!!

Originally Posted by It'sHip2B^2 (Post 21461807)

I have learned several things in the 7 years that I have been eating BBQ. The first is that Brisket is the hardest of all meats to get right. Second, if a place can get their brisket right, then they do most everything else well. Third, pulled pork is the easiest meat to do well (rarely is it both dry and flavorless -- dry being the greatest sin, IMO). Fourth don't bother ordering anything but the pulled pork (unless you are ordering something else along with pulled pork on a combo platter) on your first visit since if they can't get the pulled pork right, the rest of their meats will be simply dreadful.

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 21471383)

best Carolina style.

Originally Posted by lancebanyon (Post 21471414)

I'm not worthy, I guess - I didn't even know there was a Carolina style. What is the STL variant? You guys are hardcore about your BBQ

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 21471824)

STL is pretty close to, perhaps indistinguishable from KC.

Originally Posted by pinniped (Post 21472578)

Growing up I always thought of STL 'cue as much more aligned with Memphis. Whenever we were there during a college roadtrip or whatnot, it was usually dry-rub ribs and maybe a chopped meat sandwich. Rarely the thick molasses sauces and burnt ends of Kansas City.

But it's been a while since I've been over there and *not* eaten Italian, so I guess it could have changed...

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 21471824)

Carolina style is a vinegar based BBQ if I understand correctly. I have not had much of it, but find pulled pork done that way quite good. My brother in law, a real foodie has taken me to some places in the CLT area. STL is pretty close to, perhaps indistinguishable from KC. That's why I hedged on that one, it might just be local pride from the places I have been to in STL.

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 21471824)

Carolina style is a vinegar based BBQ if I understand correctly. I have not had much of it, but find pulled pork done that way quite good. My brother in law, a real foodie has taken me to some places in the CLT area. STL is pretty close to, perhaps indistinguishable from KC. That's why I hedged on that one, it might just be local pride from the places I have been to in STL.

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 21471383)

While I am personally partial to Texas BBQ based on my years living in Austin (and thinking of the drives to Lockhart in the spring with with the wildflowers blooming as one of my fondest memories) I think comparing across styles is just hopeless. Statements in support of Texas vs KC vs Carolina will almost always come out as arbitrary and reminiscent of something that is being discussed relative to Elizabeth I vs the Catholics - although hopefully without the executions.

For my own perspective, I only rate them within type; best Texas style, best KC style (with or including as a separate style the STL variant) and best Carolina style. And try to enjoy the best of each style based on their unique characteristics.