I’m a foodie and a food snob.  I graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1972, one of the first 13 women graduates.  Here in Chapel Hill I used to own a homemade ice cream shop.  Now that I no longer have my own ice cream, I often have to import it from other places.

So let’s talk BBQ.  It is the standard NC catering meal.  BBQ, hush puppies, slaw, white bread (think Wonderbread), rolls or corn bread.  Almost every large event that is catered in the summer (spring, fall and even winter) has NC barbecue.  What is North Carolina BBQ?  The most common is pulled pork, amazingly tender in a vinegary sauce.

Everybody has their favorite BBQ shack/restaurant/what have you, and will argue the merits of each place. Those who grew up eating it can’t imagine liking Texas or Memphis style BBQ.  Here the ribs are pork, cooked until the succulent meat practically falls off the bone.  A picnic isn’t a picnic without ribs and BBQ is not chicken or burgers–that is a cook out! I’m used to Texas BBQ and haven’t quite developed a taste for the NC style, but my son wants it as soon as he comes home from Boston. His favorite places: BBQ Shack in Chapel Hill and Q-Shack in Durham.

By the way, with the influx of people to the Triangle, caterers have become more conscious of vegetarians and non-pork eaters, so there are always other choices to please most appetites.