Governor Rick Perry may have a problem the next time he campaigns in North Carolina. According to “Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue,” Perry tried some Eastern N.C. BBQ from King’s of Kingston during the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, TX.
Upon tasting the meat, Perry weighed in on the pride of the region’s cuisine. “I’ve had road kill that tasted better than that,” he judged.
The South is split not just by States, but also by regions of BBQ. Whereas some regions prefer dry-rub, others prefer vinegar or molasses based sauces brushed on the slow-smoked meat, and there is fierce debate over exactly which region produces the best combination of meat, spice and sauce. Voters would generally prefer a politician that pretends to like all their food.
