Photography by Robert Lerma
Barbecue brings people together. It might be the food itself, because who can deny the allure of burnt ends and sauced ribs. It might be that people just appreciate a meal that has some heart in it. And we all know barbecue is a cuisine you can’t fake – it takes time and dedication. So when a pitmaster puts their all into a whole hog or smoked turkey, it shows. But maybe the reason we’re all drawn to barbecue is because it transports us to a time when life moved a little slower.
For me, barbecue is the childhood obsession I developed way later in life. I may live in Texas, but my allegiance is to smoked meat as a whole. I still get excited with each new smokehouse I visit, especially if I’m traveling to places I’ve never been, visiting people I’ve never met. Recently I traveled to Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama for barbecue. And I had one helluva time.
Pat Martin, Martin’s BBQ Joint – Nashville, TN
Martin’s BBQ Joint – Nashville, TN
Peg Leg Porker – Nashville, TN
Mary’s Old Fashioned BBQ – Nashville, TN
Big Bog Gibson BBQ – Decatur, AL
Big Bob Gibson BBQ – Decatur, AL
Top Hat BBQ – Blount Springs, AL
Top Hat BBQ – Blount Springs, AL
Scott’s – Parker’s BBQ – Lexington, TN
Scott’s – Parker’s BBQ – Lexington, TN
Scott’s – Parker’s BBQ – Lexington, TN
Helen’s BBQ – Brownsville, TN
Helen’s BBQ – Brownsville, TN
Helen’s BBQ – Brownsville, TN
Abe’s BBQ – Clarksdale, MS
A&R BBQ – Memphis, TN