GEORGIA - When we think of barbecue, certain places come to mind: Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee (Memphis), and Missouri (Kansas City). Georgia often falls through the cracks regarding regional styles; Eater recently conducted an analysis that suggests Georgia deserves some recognition for its unique approach to meat cooking.
What Kind of BBQ Can be Found in Georgia
Although Georgia barbecue restaurants serve chicken and ribs, chopped pork remains the favorite meat among customers. Pitmasters use oak and hickory wood chips to cook shoulders or hams over, yielding meat with inimitable flavor. A dry rub combining brown sugar, paprika, and mustard powder gives most Georgia-style BBQ a sweet-and-tangy taste.
Georgia-style barbecue is known for its sweet sauce. Crafted using red tomato puree, its sweetness and heat levels vary considerably between restaurants; the thick vinegary sauce is often preferred over more liquid versions.
Georgia-style barbecue stands out from other styles by featuring traditional meats and sauce alongside classic Southern sides like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, Brunswick stew, and yams as must-have items at most barbecue joints across Georgia. But some unique spots, like Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta, offer Korean pulled pork sandwiches topped with kimchi coleslaw!
