Newport Pig Pickin’ Contest This Weekend!

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

I almost forgot to post this announcement, so sorry for the late notice.  Barbecue festival season kicks off in NC today in Newport, aka “The Town with Old Fashioned Courtesy.”  See the event website and this press release for details on the event, which takes place today and tomorrow.  The barbecue competition is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and claims to be “USA’s Largest Whole Hog B-B-Q Pig Cookin,” whatever that means.  I can’t attend but would love a report so drop me a line and some photos if you make it to Newport.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

Do Magical Elves Love BBQ?

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

See below for an unpaid (unfortunately) advertorial, which is excerpted from an email I received earlier this week.  (The content is not directly barbecue-related but I hope it interests some of you.)  Then keep reading for my snide remarks. 

I’m writing from Emmy-nominated production company, Magical Elves (Project Runway and Top Chef).  We are casting a new show for NBC called America’s Next Great Restaurant (wt) – a competition show where the next great restaurant concept could make a big splash.  We are seeking foodies, entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, those with a creative business sense but also people with no food biz experience who simply have a great idea.  As someone whose content gets in front of a lot of these types, we are hoping you might find this interesting enough to let your readers know about.  

We will actually be holding an open casting call in Raleigh! So we would love to meet everyone in person and hear their concept first hand. We will be at:

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, March 22
Chipotle
6102 Falls of Neuse Rd.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

More information can be found at: www.NBC.com/casting, with a click through to our site with the application on it.

Rest assured that I’ve been working day-and-night to dream up the greatest barbecue-concept restaurant.  Here’s my idea… wait for it… 

My concept is a bit radical, but I’ll share it anyway.  Imagine a quaint, unpretentious restaurant–let’s call it a “joint”!–that cooks whole hogs or pork shoulders slow and low over wood coals. The pork would be served with a deceptively simple vinegar-based sauce that highlights the succulent pork’s smoke-kissed flavor without overwhelming it.  Sides would include dishes like hush puppies, slaw and Brunswick stew.  And the iced tea would be, get this, sweet.  This “barbecue joint” would emphasize quality and would not try to be everything to everybody. Now that’s an idea! 

Sarcasm aside, this honestly sounds like a great opportunity for local restaurant types so spread the word.  Returning to sarcasm, does anyone else find it ironic that the casting call for a show about innovative restaurant concepts is being held at Chipotle?  No disrespect to the chain that offers such culinary innovations as the Burrito Bowl, but really?!

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Happy Days

Posted on February 25, 2010 by The Rib Rabbi

We interrupt your regularly scheduled pork programming for a quick announcement: Welcome, Little LeSwineCongratulations to Porky and Porketta LeSwine for their newest litter (of one)! In a feat of evolution, they’ve given birth to a crochet piglet.

OK fine, it’s a (human) girl. Let’s just hope that this new Babe enjoys barbecue more than her older sibling. Just remember Porky, it’s never too early to start sneaking barbecue sauce into that bottle…

As for the recipe for said sauce, we’ll hear more about that on Friday…

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Happy Meat Week

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

Happy Meat Week everyone!  Meat Week is one of the greatest ideas ever–ranking right up there with cooking whole hog over coals and the invention of vinegar–but the only North Carolina chapter is in Charlotte.  Obviously folks need to step up and start other NC chapters by next year.  Who’s going to take on this awesome responsibility? I call not it… but I will be happy to participate.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

BBQ Fundraiser in New Bern

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

The quaint waterfront town of New Bern, birthplace of Pepsi, turns 300 years old this year.  If that’s not reason enough to visit, check out the oddly named “BBQ In Blue Jeans” fundraiser this Friday night. 

According to the Downtown New Bern blog, “The very popular annual fundraiser benefits the New Bern Firemen’s Museum and will be held on Friday, January 22, 2010, beginning at 6 p.m. in New Bern’s Riverfront Convention Center.  Barbeque master Tommy Moore of Moore’s Barbeque is the event’s major sponsor, donating barbeque and all the fixings. Tickets are only $25 per person and include all food and beverages, as well as dancing to some of the area’s finest bands. Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at New Bern Firemen’s Museum, New Bern’s Riverfront Convention Center or Mitchell’s Hardware.”

I visited the Firemen’s Museum a couple years back and took the below picture of one of several vintage fire trucks featured at the museum.  It’s nice to photograph something besides BBQ once in awhile.

I'm glad they're not fighting fires with these anymore

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

Blue Ridge BBQ Festival Kaput?

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

GOOD NEWS (1/28/10 update to the original post, which is below): The Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival will be held this year after all!  See details here.

If you hear squeals coming from the western part of North Carolina, they might be the sound of the Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival dying.  The event, which has been held annually in Tryon, NC since 1994, may soon be no more.

According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce recently announced their plans to let the festival they organize disappear like the fat off a slow-cooked pork shoulder.  Ironically, it seems that part of the festival’s problem is that it became too successful over the years.  The festival requires countless hours of planning, hundreds of volunteers and a nearly $300,000 budget. 

There are some ongoing attempts to save the festival, but no savior has appeared yet.  Have  a couple hundred thousand bucks to lend to the cause?  This could be the opportunity of a lifetime.  As shaky as the economy is right now, investing in pork might be a good move…

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Report from The Barbecue Festival

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Porky LeSwine

Well, I am ashamed to admit I didn’t make it to this year’s Barbecue Festival in Lexington, NC.  A combination of morning rain and an iffy afternoon forecast, visiting family, and my daughter’s nap schedule kept me away.  But enough excuses, the good news is that The Lexington Dispatch has a full report, including eight minutes of somewhat disjointed highlight reel style video footage.  Make sure you don’t miss the clip of the Mayor doing the Barbecue Festival equivalent of lighting the Olympic torch–biting into a BBQ sandwich to kick off the event. 

According to the Dispatch, a mind boggling 170,000 people attended the event.  I don’t quite believe that estimate, but even if it’s generous there is no doubt that there were a heckuva lot of BBQ sandwiches sold at the big tent on Saturday. 

I promise the barbecue gods that I will be in Lexington for the 27th annual Barbecue Festival next year.  Until then, forgive me for my sins, and know that I will say a few extra hail marys to make up for my absence this year.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Leave a comment »

All Aboard for The Barbecue Festival

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Porky LeSwine

Just a friendly reminder that this coming Saturday is The Barbecue Festival in Lexington, NC.  If you are looking to make a day of it–heck, why not?–consider riding Amtrak to and from the event.  It’s the one day a year that Amtrak stops in Lexington, which is pretty cool.  Riding the train commits you to a roughly nine hour stay in Lexington, which is just enough time to eat a BBQ breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Choo choo!

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Cooked Hogs for a Cause

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Porky LeSwine

 

hogsnhens_banneronly

 hogsnhens_nologo_290
The aptly named Hogs n Hens for Hope festival will be held this Saturday, October 17th at the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville, NC.  The festival is a fundraiser for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, and features a motorcycle ride, officially sanctioned BBQ cookoff and more.  Head on down I-40 East and eat some hog for a cause.  If the logo (pictured above) is any indication, this should be a fun event.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Porky LeSwine
The 2009 Throw Down trophy: holy hog, Batman!

The 2009 Throw Down trophy: holy hog, Batman!

Thanks to a reader, D, for pointing out that coming soon is the annual Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down in Rocky Mount.  Honestly, I have no idea how I missed ever hearing about this event until now.  Thanks D, it looks great.

The Throwdown, formerly known as Pignatius, is part of the 28th annual Down East Festival, which is put on by the City of Rocky Mount’s Parks & Rec Department.  This year’s Festival will be held on Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10 in downtown Rocky Mount, and includes music, a beer garden, arts and crafts, and… barbecue. 

 Indeed, the Throw Down portion of the event is an official Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned cookoff that will feature around 50 teams.  Judging solely by the quality of their names, some of the teams to beat are: Grog N Hogs, Lazy Ass BBQ Crew, Two Old Men and a Grill, and Pickin’ Porkers.  Items that will be judged in competition include chicken, pork ribs, pork and beef brisket.  Why a BBQ competition in Eastern NC needs to fool around with anything but whole hog barbecue is beyond me, but that’s how the folks from the Kansas City Barbecue Society roll, like it or not.

Governor Beverly Perdue, who evidently doesn’t have enough to keep her busy what with the state’s budget and economy in shambles, has signed a proclamation endorsing the Throw Down and urging “all citizens to commend its observance.”   I am not really sure what that means, but it’s from the Governor so it’s official.  Plus, since Gov. Perdue has spent much of her life down east in New Bern, NC, she probably does have some affection for Eastern-style ‘cue, though I doubt she plays it up to much when campaigning west of Raleigh…

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »

  • Categories

  • Archives

  • February 2026
    M T W T F S S
     1
    2345678
    9101112131415
    16171819202122
    232425262728