This warm weather, green grass and smell of the occasional grill in the air has got me thinking about BBQ/grilling.
In fact, I whipped up some pulled pork just this last weekend. In addition to that, I was recently introduced to Man Crates, a gift box service for dudes, which is a great gift idea for BBQ season.
And, in a few weeks, we’ll be moving to a home with a backyard that will be perfect for grilling and outdoor entertaining (once I learn how to grill).
With all of that in mind, it seems like a great time to talk about BBQ sauce. Isn’t it neat about how our BBQ sauce and meat preference says so much about where we’re from. Here’s a little bit about my BBQ roots and what I’m eating these days.
McClard’s
For me, I grew up eating the famous McClard’s sauce (made in Hot Springs, Arkansas). This place is my favorite BBQ spot in the world with the famous tamale spread – tamales topped with beans, meat, fritos, white onions, a ton of shredded American cheese and finished with a few saltine crackers. You just won’t understand it until you’ve tried it. McClard’s sauce is closer to Kansas City style, with a tomato base, but it’s more vinegar-ey than sweet.
NC BBQ
Since I moved to NC over a year ago, I’ve had to get used to the style of BBQ here. I’m totally down the the whole hog and pork thing, and I’m getting used to the thin, vinegar-based sauces. They sure do know how to cook some flavorful and peppery pig here. We just recently tried out a new sauce in our repertoire, the Blueberry BBQ sauce from Chef & The Farmer. It was quite delicious with a nice balance of blueberry and vinegar flavor.
What’s your favorite BBQ sauce?
Check out the infographic below to learn a little more about BBQ across the US, and I hope you take some time to get the friends and family together for a grill out and share your favorite BBQ sauce.
