Concord's BBQ Throwdown

If you can’t agree on the spelling, you may not agree on much. Call it barbecue, barbeque, BBQ - we can agree that it is a style of cooking meat. but to rub or sauce? Smoke or grill? There are opposing schools, tastes and methods include smoking, roasting, and grilling.

If you can’t agree on the spelling, you may not agree on much. Call it barbecue,  barbeque, BBQ - we can agree that it is a style of cooking meat. But to rub or sauce? Smoke or grill? There are opposing schools, tastes and methods include smoking, roasting and grilling. The American term "barbecue" may come from the Spanish barbacoa.  That came from the Arawak term barabicu. Gibson’s Bookstore’s Michael Hermann says he has always heard that "barbeque" came from the French: de la barbe á la queue--in other words, the whole hog.

But, just a few years back Concord was not the New Hampshire capital of barbecue. Then, that changed. The Smokeshow Barbeque opened offering Texas-style BBQ.  Local scion Matt Gfroerer, pit master and chef, says that the place is the fruit of 14+ years of studying, learning, and eating the best barbeque in Texas. Now he makes his own ribs, brisket, pulled pork and all the sides.

It was game on when Georgia’s Northside opened offering real Southern BBQ cooked up by Chef Alan Natkiel and the team. They offer Southern Classics such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Texas Smoked Brisket, and BBQ ribs - and sides all made in-house.

But this is no one sided conflict - into the mix are some classic old timers, including Arnie's Place, open since 1992. They pack them in with their own Bar-B-Que included smoked spareribs, pulled pork, spicy sausage, and smoked pulled chicken. The BBQ meats are slow cooked and smoked up to 18 hours on site.

Up the road is the Smoke Shack BBQ in Boscawen. Smoke Shack Southern Barbecue has been serving Carolina barbecue since they opened in 2001. They offer their own ribs, pulled pork, brisket and sides - with ample outdoor dining.