Do n’t worry , sad Michael Jordan , the NCAA tourney was n’t the only square bracket in the game . While the Tar Heels missed out on yet another championship , the words of the oracle Petey Pablo still total honest this workweek , as North Carolina did , indeed , fire up , withShelby ’s Red Bridges Barbecue Lodgetaking top honors in our first - ever BBQ wall bracket .
And make no fault , Red Bridges fought . firmly . The seven - decade - old pride of a pocket-size NC town rallied hard in the name of hack pork barrel , taking down giant of industry including Memphis institution Payne ’s , Austin ’s Beard Award - sporting Franklin , Alabama ’s legendary Big Bob Gibson , and South Carolina ’s Scott ’s over the track of five rounds and almost 80,000 right to vote log for Bridges alone . That ’s a hell of an acquirement for a place that , until five long time ago , specialized exclusively in chop pork and face like pimento cheese .
" We still do the same matter we did 70 years ago . We still pit cook our BBQ . None of the recipes have changed , " says third - contemporaries Bridges operator Natalie Ramsey , who added that the newest fare detail is chop chicken … for " the high blood - press folks . ““A lot of time , people change , turn to electric and hooey like that . We still pit Captain James Cook . That ’s something we ’ve done for 70 eld and multitude get it on it . It ’s BBQ BBQ BBQ.“Per Thrillist ’s Kevin Alexander , who penned the33 Best BBQ Joints in America Charles Liston which the bracket was based with co - pitmaster Liz Childers :
Jennifer Bui/Thrillist
" There ’s a mankind distinguish Warner Stamey , who is just about as famous in North Carolina barbecue lap as Louie Mueller in Texas . Stamey grew up in Lexington and learned the barbeque stage business in high school , then , after actuate to Shelby , he started sell his own barbeque , and teach others , including Wayne Monk ( Lexington Barbecue ) and Red Bridges , who used that cognition to start this spot , and attend to us fantastic hack pork barrel , which combined with BBQ slaw , is deserving move around long distances to rust . But since you ’ve done the traveling , you might as well get Mama B ’s pimento cheese too . You ’ve earned it . "
So what do you do when you ’re crown the best BBQ in America by a horde of fans and stranger ? Disneyland ? WatchSpace Jam?For Ramsey , the next day is a sight like any other : it commence with BBQ , and ends with BBQ . Despite our crusade , she did n’t spill smack for messing with Texas , call for the pep out of Memphis ' dance step , or give Kansas City the blues . “It ’s all about what you grew up eating . Gol … I really would like to go essay out all these other places , " she says . " That ’s my bucketful tilt . They all dedicate us a great run . Now I just desire to go chuck on some good BBQ.“Us too , Natalie . Us too .
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Courtesy of Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge
Courtesy of Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge
Courtesy of Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge
