What Makes for Great BBQ?

by Kevin Smith Author

It’s a question that’s been debated, tossed, torn apart, and marinated over for years. Just what is it that makes for great BBQ, and how can you measure a golden standard whenever there are so many different kinds of BBQ to begin with? There are a few foundational things that, across the board, make for the perfect savory meat experience in eating from scratch food in Vinings, GA, and elsewhere.

Choice Meats

BBQ is diverse for a range of reasons, one of them being that different regions in the US focus on different types of meats. Kansas City has its burnt ends, and North Carolina has its pork shoulder, but overall the goal is to take choice meats and turn them into dining delicacies. Choosing the best meats as a BBQ establishment often requires quality control, and sometimes means partnering with specific farmers to provide the high-quality meats expected for their tables. As with any protein dish, it all begins with the quality of the meat.

The Perfect Prep

Every great BBQ master has their own tested, perfected and proven preparation process for making the perfect brand of barbeque where they live. The region, once again, will play a factor in the kind of preparation and heating process of choice. There are places in Texas that prefer meats prepped over an open sky, in a pit in the earth, while other locales demand a long and slow smoking process to get the taste just right. No matter your default flavors of choice, the perfect preparation process, from curing to marinating, smoking to grilling, all has to do with combining each step in such a way that the flavors come through, the meat is savory, and the diners are satisfied.

Secret Sauce

It’s certainly all about the meat in great barbeque, but the best brisket is only halfway there without the right kind of sauce. If vinegar is more your style, North Carolina has you covered. For a mustardy take, head to South Carolina instead. Texas is all about basting, while Alabama has its infamous white sauce fallback. Kansas City gets sweet on that molasses and tomato sauce, while Kentucky provides a sweet and sour dipping style sauce. It really depends on where you are, and what you eat, for you to enjoy the best of all flavors in that area.

From savory eats, to sweet treats, made from scratch food in Vinings, GA, is always the way to go for a night out on the town. See what local BBQ joints boast the best eats in your area.