Tag: barbecue

A beginner’s guide to the Carolina Pig Jig according to three of its biggest fans

Pig Jig

The Got to Be NC Festival returns to the State Fairgrounds this weekend. An eagerly anticipated part of the festival is the Saturday-only Carolina Pig Jig. Around 20 chapters of Masons will compete for bragging rights in this one-day competition and fundraiser. The real winners are the attendees, who for $20 gain entry and all-you-can-eat barbecue. In an effort to help out those that might be attending their first Pig Jig, we talked to a few “experts” to get their best advice for how to maximize your barbecue experience. See tips below: Paul Jones, manager of organization engagement at Butterball,…

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Popular Pik-N-Pig rises from the ashes of disaster

Fair food booths work hard to stand out and grab the attention of fairgoers. At the N.C. State Fair, that runs the gamut from bright or unusual colors, flashing lights, dynamic music, a huge inflatable ostrich head or a unique and repetitive voice advertising all types of pies. But the Pik-N-Pig’s rustic, tiny, 5-foot-by-12-foot wooden-sided trailer serves more than just being an eye catcher, it’s also houses the barbecue vendor’s pig cooker — the heart of the food operation. So on May 30, when the Pik-N-Pig’s brick-and-mortar restaurant at the Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in Carthage went up in flames, owner Ashley…

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Pirates, Germans and the story of N.C. barbecue

Each year, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sets up an exhibit in the north lobby of Dorton Arena to educate us about part of our state’s incredible history. From North Carolinians’ involvement in World War I to the history of pirates on our coast, we’ve learned some pretty cool things about our state. This year, they are bringing us “The Story of BBQ in NC.” If you’re new to our state, you might think we’re a little crazy for our barbecue obsession, like our ongoing Eastern- versus Western-style debates. But barbecue runs in our veins like…

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Too much pork for just one fork…

The ever-popular Masonic Carolina Pig Jig was back again at the Got to Be NC Festival, and this year’s competition was even larger than last year. An estimated 3,000 people came to fill their plates with barbecue pork, chicken and sauces. In addition, some lodges were serving chicken wings, banana pudding, sides and sweet lemonade. The event is an annual fund-raiser to benefit the Masonic Home for Children and the Central Children’s Home, both in Oxford. Here’s a quick look at the event: Not only is the event a fund-raiser, but it also is a competition and opportunity for bragging rights. Here’s a rundown…

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