Regional Styles of BBQ

BBQ in the US is very diverse and each state and region has their own idea of what the best BBQ is.  Recently we posed the question on Twitter - Real BBQ lovers - pork or brisket?  Well that answer is really going to depend on where you live or where you come from.  So what are the differences in BBQ across regions?  Here is a small sampling of how different and similar BBQ can be.

Texas Style - Texas style BBQ is usually considered to be beef brisket.  The sauce is spicy and tangy tomato based sauce.  The meat is generally not cooked in the sauce but served with the sauce on the side or lightly spooned onto the meat after cooking.
Kansas City Style - Kansas City considers themselves the BBQ capital of the US and they have a high number of BBQ establishments per capita to justify this.  There is no specific meat but favorites there are pork spare ribs or beef brisket.  The most distinguishing factor is the sauce which is a tomato based, sweet and spicy sauce.  They generally cook with the sauce which is extremely thick.
Memphis Style - Memphis also considers themselves the BBQ capital of the US.  Predominately the meat of choice is baby back ribs which are cooked with various tangy and sweet dry rubs.  They seldom cook with sauce which is tomato based but much thinner than Kansas City's.  Sauce is usually used for dipping.
St. Louis Style - Pork spare ribs or BBQ pork steaks are the most famous St. Louis type of meat.  The BBQ sauce is a sweet sauce.  They are known for removing the fatty portion of the ribs.
North Carolina Style - There are 2 styles in North Carolina where they are serious about their BBQ.  Both areas agree that pork shoulder is the meat of choice.  However, they differ on the sauce.  The eastern part of North Carolina prefers a vinegar based sauce with red and black pepper and a few spices.  Sometimes they add a little sugar.  The western area takes that sauce and adds ketchup to it which makes it thicker and sweeter.
South Carolina Style - South Carolina also uses pork which is pulled.  The sauce is added after cooking.  It appears South Carolina is also divided when it comes to their sauce.  The northern section uses a mustard BBQ sauce while the southern section uses a vinegar based sauce with ketchup and brown sugar added to it.
Alabama Style - Alabama has a unique sauce, which is mayonnaise based.  This makes the sauce white. It is used on chicken, turkey and pork and always brushed on during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Kentucky Style - Western Kentcuky is known for their signature BBQ Mutton with Kentucky Bourbon BBQ sauce which the locals call "black dip."
So as you can see - people in the US are very particular about their style of BBQ and it is as diverse as the people who make up this country.  What's your favorite?

Come in to Bar-B-Cutie and try our pulled pork or beef brisket and use one of our many sauces - Carolina, hot, mild and Tennessee Fire Sauce!!!! http://www.bar-b-cutie.com/