S O UTHERN REGI O N

Best Barbecue Joints In The South

Grab your bib and arrive at these establishments hungry.

FOX BROS. BAR-B-Q (GA)

Brisket, ribs and sausage are accompanied by a slew of creative and mouthwatering combinations at this famed Atlanta establishment.

SCOTT’S BAR-B-QUE (SC)

This popular destination has gained its fabled reputation on whole hog barbecue and incredible vinegarpepper-based barbecue sauce.

ARCHIBALD’S BARBECUE (AL)

Some of the best ribs in a rib-crazy state can be found here. Cooked over a hickory fire, the barbecue is something to behold.

LEXINGTON BARBECUE (NC)

Opened in 1962, Lexington Barbecue is home to Western-style Carolina barbecue (a red sauce seasoned with ketchup, vinegar and pepper) and is considered by many to be the best barbecue in North Carolina.

CHARLIE VERGOS’ RENDEZVOUS (TN)

The Rendezvous has been serving up its dry rub-seasoned barbecue since 1948. With a lively atmosphere and a variety of excellent food including smoked sausage and beef brisket, Rendezvous is the place to go in Memphis.

n Mississippi gas station eateries are more than a fuel stop and unhealthy snack grab for travelers. Folks south of the Mason-Dixon line covet refueling station food because they are a deep part of the culinary culture.

Long before highways were established, Black women walked for miles from their Mississippi kitchens juggling boxes of homemade chitlins and collard greens to the nearest train depots to serve weary travelers from all walks of life. This tradition continued through the Jim Crow and post-emancipation times when industrialization grew. Modernized train cars became a thing of the past, with new roads appearing throughout rural Mississippi, creating a new requisite for motorists in the South.

Out of necessity, gas stations sprang up intending to fuel travelers’ vehicles and their stomachs. They also served as safe havens for Black travelers to fuel up and have a sit-down meal where other places were still turning them away or worse. These gas station food spots supported the crews building the roadways and their equipment along with rural workers from nearby small towns.

These gourmet gas stations in Mississippi serve convenient satiating food that tastes like it was cooked in grandma’s kitchen. Be sure to call well in advance, as many places have limited seating. Or opt for take-out and enjoy your meal at the local park with the group.

In the small town of Centreville on the Wilkinson/Amite County lines is a fourth-generation smokehouse creating one-of-a-kind smoked meats. Vine’s Quality Meats and Smokehouse have been servicing travelers near and far who luckily stop there to fuel up. They offer a myriad of unique flavors and meats that have been slow-smoked the

BY HEATHER DALE

old-fashioned way. Using local Mississippi green hickory and the Vine family secret, their smokehouse sausage is sought after by folks from around the country. They also process venison for local deer hunters.