HERE IN THE PALMETTO STATE, PITMASTERS ARE TAKING TIME-HONORED TECHNIQUES AND PUTTING THEIR OWN SPIN ON OLD TRADITIONS. If you’ve been cooking since the age of 11, chances are you’ll find yourself creating new concoctions before long— and that’s exactly what happened with the James Beard Award-winning Rodney Scott. Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ serves up the classics in Charleston alongside starters like crispy pig skins in housemade rub and sides like a baked potato loaded with your choice of meat. Speaking of new creations, how about barbecue with a Puerto Rican twist? That’s the taste of Palmira Barbecue , also in Charleston, where Hector Garate uses modern techniques to put a twist on mouthwatering classics, resulting in menu items like arroz con gandules and pionono sausage. Move from Puerto Rican to vegan at Wholy Smoke in Mauldin, which is heavy on the meats as well as the alternatives, like a jackfruit sandwich, meatless wings and even vegan pulled barbecue— and believe it or not, more than half of the 22 sides on its menu are vegan, too. Vegan is on the menu at Bobby’s BBQ in Fountain Inn, too, but here the jackfruit comes in tacos (or you can opt for pulled pork, brisket or turkey tacos). The jalapeño cheddar sausage is a favorite, as is the cheesy potato casserole topped with perfectly salty Ritz crackers. At Smoking Butt Heads BBQ in Greenville, a spinoff of its owners’ successful competition team, the flavors come in the form of egg rolls filled with collards, cream cheese, brisket and raspberry chipotle, as well as the Frog Man sandwich: prime brisket topped with provolone, beer-battered onion rings and SBH’s sweet sauce. Prefer pork? Get the Frog Hog. Who doesn’t love barbecue favorites like fall-apart ribs, juicy brisket … and Carolina Korean cheesesteak? That award-winning sandwich isn’t the only surprise on the menu at Roy’s Grille in Irmo, where you can savor SC Chef Ambassador Chris Williams’ housemade tortilla chips and queso blanco with pulled pork or blackened chicken— and, of course, the house barbecue sauce. SC BBQ Trail Make your mouth water: Explore the SC BBQ Trail by region, then come get a taste for yourself. A TWIST ON THE TRADITIONAL BUZZ-WORTHY BARBECUE SPOTS MODERNIZE THE CLASSICS 12
South Carolina Vacation Guide SC 2024: Page 12
