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Lexington Barbecue Lovers React To 'Brooklyn Barbecue'

A social media post and article about 'Brooklyn barbecue' is leaving a bad taste in the mouth of barbecue-loving North Carolinians.

LEXINGTON, N.C. - An order of barbecue, with a side of controversy.

A picture of so-called "Brooklyn-style barbecue" is exploding on social media. The platter of meat and pickles and rolls is paired with the caption "Why is Brooklyn Barbecue taking over the world?"

It's leaving a bad taste in the mouth of barbecue-loving North Carolinians.

All this come from an old Munchies article that's picking up a lot of attention now - both from local barbecue lovers and state lawmakers.

Eastern vs. Western. Kansas City. Texas. Memphis. St. Louis. Ketchup-based. Vinegar-based. Mustard-based. The list of what's considered "barbecue" goes on and on - depending on where you are.

But there are some things people just agree on, and one of those things, in Lexington, is that this so-called Brooklyn barbecue…is not barbecue.

“That’s horrible,” laughs Ronald Lamar.

“That's not the kind that I would want,” adds Fred Yost.

“It looks like something somebody found it, and they just, they were starving and they ate it,” said Henry Wioder.

“Yeah, I don’t want to eat that. It does not look like the barbecue here, that’s for sure,” said Jillian Briggs.

Granted, there’s some bias here at Lexington Barbecue, but customers say if anyone knows barbecue, it's our state and this city.

“People ask if the barbecue is good around here and I say that's what we're known for,” said Deanna Wilson, “This is our culture, we know good barbecue.”

“This may be barbecue to them but it's not barbecue to us,” said manager Keith Wright, after looking at the posted picture.

Wright says his customers are loyal, some come here multiple times a week.

“We mainly let our smoke and meat do the talking for us. We don't have a rub, we don't have a baste. Ours is just cook slowly over coals,” he explains, “I'm not trying to say one is better than the other, barbecue is good no matter where you get it. And to me, we do the best Lexington style.”

That’s a statement some are willing to bank on.

“You need to get you a barbecue sandwich, and try it,” said Wioder, “If you didn't like it I'll pay for it, because I know I would eat it.”

Even North Carolina state lawmakers are weighing in. Senate Leader Phil Berger is calling for "bipartisan defense of our state's finest food." He's quoted saying "everyone makes mistakes and it's time for writers at Munchies to admit theirs: ‘Brooklyn barbecue’ - whatever that is - won't be taking over North Carolina any time soon.”

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