Customer Reviews

North Carolina Barbecue: Flavored by Time

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All native sons of the Tar Heel State, and those who wish they were, who love pork barbecue and always wondered about the history of that flavorful dish should check out "North Carolina Barbecue: Flavored by Time." Funny, insightful, and well-researched, author Bob Garner takes you first on a history lesson back to 17th Century Jamaica to the roots of barbecue, then covers the importance of barbecue to political and religious life in the state. His own life growing up is filled with barbecue-related stories, which he tells herein with wit and style. He also imparts two excellent barbecue recipes, one for pork shoulder, one for the "whole hog."

The last half of the book contains reviews of the state's better- and lesser-known barbecue establishments, and could serve as a good starting point for a state travel guide. Photographic coverage leaves something to be desired, varying from wonderful historic photos to those that are barely legible.

Although the book would likely appeal only to those readers from the South for whom barbecue in all its forms is a tradition, it is an excellent read nonetheless. The down side is that reading this book makes you hungry

Though I only lived there two years, I've often yearned to go back to Carolina. This book made that yearning into a painful ache! How many cooking books do you read with the intensity of interest as a thrilling novel? I did this one. Warning: This is not a recipe book. Yes, of course it has recipes, from both eastern Carolina and western Carolina barbecue traditions, as well as some variations of both. But the stories and history of this book make it a treasure in my collection. This one is going into my library, far more worthy than to be consigned to the kitchen to collect dust under the microwave (a fate deservedly given to a certain book by Martha Stewart).

This book makes me more homesick than ever for my adopted home. If you have any glimmer of passion for Carolina style barbecue, you MUST get this book.

bob garner is the man. no other person in history has captured the true spirit of n. carolina bbq. it is a must for anyone who enjoy's bbq. it is something that can be passed down to generations.

A superb piece of work by a wonderful writer, this book gives you the history and background of NC bbq, plus all the information you need to either produce your own or get out and find it in NC. The man knows what he's talking about -- and he talks it so well.

From someone who grew up in the tobacco fields of Wilson County, this book is just a god-send. I moved away after college and do not get a chance to get back as much as I like. Several of the restaurants listed in the book were my favorite places to go 'get a plate'. As I have not had real 'cue' in a while, I decided to Google 'NC barbecue' to see if I could find some good recipes. Man, what a find. Great info. contained in the book, in addition to a few great recipes. I consider myself somewhat of a good cook, so I gave them a try. In short, by day's end, I was sitting at a 'plate' of Eastern NC goodness that could have come from Bill's or Parker's themselves. Cue-pork shoulder, cole slaw (always wondered what made it that color), brunswick stew (my favorite), barbecued potatoes, and hush puppies. The recipes were EXACTLY as the food I grew up on. Not close, EXACTLY. I don't know if I was more pleased with myself for being able to produce this heavenly feast, or BOB GARNER who authored this masterpiece of literary scrumptiousiness!!! If you grew up a farm boy like me, and remember the last day of the 'baca' season feast, when the boxes were delivered to the field/barn, with those white bags with the white double paper plates and jugs of sweet tea, BUY THIS NOW!!!! I'm a 50 year old man, but I just gotta say, OMG!!!

This book not only gives history of barbecue, but also gives political and other historical notes.