KEN CALLAGHAN of BLUE SMOKE in N.Y.C. (bluesmoke.com)

BEST CUT OF MEAT TO BBQ Pork shoulder—very versatile, CHARCOAL OR GAS Charcoal, FAVORITE NONMEAT ITEM TO BBO Salmon and snapper, QUICK TIP FOR AMATEURS Keep your grill clean, but don’t clean it immediately after cooking. Instead, clean just before the next use. Get it really hot and burn off whatever was on the last time and wipe the grill down with a bit of cooking oil. BBQ GOES BEST WITH Slaw. COMMON MISTAKE BBQ AMATEURS MAKE When it comes to smoking, the most common mistake is cooking too hot. You want to do it low, slow, and steady, BEST TO DRINK WITH BBQ Cold beer or bourbon.

BETSY MCATEE of DREAMLAND BAR-B-QUE in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (dreamlandbbq.com)

BEST CUT OF MEAT TO BBQ Pork tenderloin or shrimp, CHARCOAL OR GAS A gas grill allows you to get your fire started quicker. FAVORITE NON-MEAT ITEM TO BBQ Pineapple and corn on the cob. QUICK TIP FOR AMATEURS Purchase a meat thermometer and use it! BBQ GOES BEST WITH Baked beans, COMMON MISTAKE BBQ AMATEURS MAKE Not being patient with the fire. It has to be the right temperature before putting your meat on the grill, BEST TO DRINK WITH BBQ Sweet tea.

BIG BOH GIBSON BAR-B-Q

2520 Danville Rd. SW. Decatur, Ala. 256-350-0404 (bigbobgibsonbbq.com)

CARLS PERFECT PIG BAR-B-QUE & GRILL

4992 Hwy. 70 E. White Bluff, Tenn. 615-797-4020

LEM S BAR-B-0 HOUSE

311 E. 75th St., Chicago, III. 773-994-2428

KOGI BBQ TRUCK

Los Angeles, Calif. (kogibbq.com)

FATTY CUE

91 S. 6th St., Brooklyn, N.Y 718-599-3090

OKLAHOMA JOES BBO

3002 W. 47th Ave., Kansas City, Kans. 913-722-3366 (oklahomajoesbbq.com)

B. E. SCOTT’S BAR-B-QUE

10880 Hwy. 412 W., Lexington, Tenn. 731-968-0420

SMITTY’S MARKET

208 S. Commerce St., Lockhart, Tex. 512-398-9344 (smittysmarket.com)

HOUSE PARK BAR-B-QUE

900 W. 12th St., Austin, Tex. 512-472-9621

PARKERS BARBECUE

2514 U.S. Highway 301 S. Wilson, N.C. 252-237-0972