Tarheel Q, Lexington, North Carolina

Here I was, at 10:30 am, innocently driving toward Lexington on US 64 with plans to eat at two barbecue places I’d been to before but wanted to re-check, the Bar-B-Q Center and Backcountry, when I saw smoke.

Where there’s smoke, there may be barbecue — and here there was a sign.

I’m a flexible guy, ready to adapt and improvise and be overcome, so why not stop? After all, I remembered it from the Campaign for Real Barbecue list of 100% wood cookers, so I pulled right in and entered Tarheel Q.

I’d had a great breakfast — two biscuit sandwiches — at Athena’s Cafe, so I only ordered a tray.

The morning is a wonderful time to eat barbecue. It’s usually hot and freshly chopped. I recall stopping at College Drive-In at 10:00 in the morning and asking the server if they had started serving barbecue for the day. She went to check and returned with an affirmative. The next thing I heard was that beautiful sound of chopping! Ah, what barbecue!

Tarheel’s barbecue was hot and very good. It arrived just a little dry, so I added a touch of dip and ate and ate and …. That’s some good barbecue!

The slaw was excellent. The Piedmont red slaw is controversial outside the Piedmont, but I really don’t see why. The slaw is the same finely chopped or grated cabbage with a vinegar dressing softened somewhat by a gentle measure of ketchup. It balances the richness of pork, and has an admirable crunch. I’m a fan. East or West, North Carolina is a top state for slaw.

I’m also a fan of Tarheel’s hushpuppies. (I only ate one before the photo.)

I’m usually a fan of hushpuppies. My needs are simple — a good crust and a light interior. But not too light. These lived up to my hopes beautifully.

I’m glad I stopped at Tarheel Q. I believe in seizing opportunities to try new places and new foods. Every now and then it disappoints, as with this pig ear sandwich, but much, much more often, it opens doors to new sources of pleasure. You should try new things — and definitely try Tarheel Q.

***

And while you’re at it, click “follow” on our front page to receive blog posts in your email box. Or bookmark us and check in from time to time. We’re on Instagram (johntannerbbq) and Twitter (johntannerbbq1),and if you’re planning a trip, you can “Search” the name of the destination for good restaurants (in Europe, often close to sites, like the Louvre, Prague Castle, Vienna’s Old City, or the Van Gogh Museum, that you’ll want to visit in any event.  We welcome comments and questions, and eagerly seek suggestions of places to eat and stories to cover.