It's barbecue season in Fayetteville: See who won last week's showdown and what's next

Taylor Shook, Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read

Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here. 

Hi foodies,

Barbecue season is underway.

That much was clear on Saturday in the parking lot of Lori’s Ace Home & Hardware in Fayetteville, where more than a dozen barbecue teams smoked ribs and pulled pork for a chance at victory.

The air was rich with the aroma of savory meat and the mood was convivial as attendees stopped by each pitmaster’s tent for samples.

Bobby Brinson, owner of Vicious Pig BBQ food truck at the Lori's Ace BBQ Battle, May 18, 2024.
Bobby Brinson, owner of Vicious Pig BBQ food truck at the Lori's Ace BBQ Battle, May 18, 2024.

Most of the teams were from Cumberland County, apart from a Charlotte team and a few from South Carolina. Among the familiar faces were Bobby Brinson of Vicious Pig BBQ, who came with his own cameraman; Michael Collins of Shotgun BBQ; Carlos Jones of Slow Burn BBQ; Carl Pringle of Flip Flop sauce; and Tece Townsend and Mann McNeill of Manatees BBQ.

Each pitmaster brought their own flair. I ate barbecue dressed in the sharp, tangy vinegar sauce that the eastern Carolinas are known for; pork with peppery mustard-based sauce; and meat coated in sweet molasses sauce tinged with warm spices.

I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite. Luckily, a panel of judges delivered the verdict around 2 p.m.

The results were as follows:

Ribs from Vicious Pig BBQ food truck, May 18, 2024.
Ribs from Vicious Pig BBQ food truck, May 18, 2024.

If you missed Saturday's competition, don’t despair. There are at least three more local barbecue events to look forward to this year.

The Fayetteville Black BBQ Cook Off is Aug. 17 at the Crown Complex. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at crowncomplexnc.com. Fayetteville R&B Festival BBQ Cookoff is Sept. 13 and 14 at the Crown Complex and the Vicious Pig Annual BBQ Throwdown is Nov. 16 in Stedman.

I’ll see y’all there!

Happy eating,

Taylor

Taylor Shook writes about food, dining and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. She can be reached at tshook@gannett.com 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Vicious Pig and Ole Mills win at Lori's Ace BBQ Battle in Fayetteville