the barbecue secrets from the original skylight in our Universal but skylight
founder Pete Jones never encountered the complications his grandson Sam would
face in preserving those secrets in such a new and expanded setting ten employees
that operate like a family here almost 70 employees there's a lot more moving
parts things such as me wanting to have this detached smoke out that nobody else
wanted me to have most everyone wanted Sam to cook all the hogs at the skylight
Inn and transfer them ten miles to the new restaurant
his answer no siree for one thing the fire has to be built up just before the
wood cooked whole hogs come off the pit so this is a process called crisping
yep Krister spinning up to mix it in with the barbecue I believe we're the
only place that does that whoa holy Scylla it will not be long before this
place is totally full so let me show you what's going to be bringing the crowds
in this is the skylight in traditional tray they do put it on a on a plate for
you here but this is the way it was served in the original restaurant tray a
barbecue on the bottom with a piece of cornbread resting on top of that and a
paper tray of slaw on top of that okay so let me deconstruct this so I can
point out some salient features first of all this is often recognized as the best
most flavorful barbecue in North Carolina and the reason is all that skin
and all that tender flavor tearing fat that's chopped into the barbecue to just
make it silky and utterly unbelievable
hmm the surroundings here at Sam Jones may
be different but the barbecue is right where it's always been
hmm this is the traditional baked corn bread some people call this a piece of
corn pone it's dense it's crispy especially we need to get a corner piece
like this absolutely delicious and a great substitute for hush puppies and
I'll tell you when you see a pan of this baking it's almost frying in the baking
pan because of the level of Pig drippings that are included to add all
that flavor mmm now this is a really sweet slaw with not a lot of evidence of
mayonnaise although that is in there very sweet set to perfectly match up
with the flavor profile of the barbecue
and that's important to get those two things really well balanced hmm so what
new menu items have been most popular probably the spareribs and the turkey
there are two things that I was very little I was kind of apprehensive about
how they would be received by the general public because I don't know of
another Eastern North Carolina place that is doing those items especially
doing them over wood the ribs are actually contest-winning caliber the
turkeys moist and nothing at all like deli smoked turkey the slow smoked
chicken is done with a terrific dry rub and there's a good selection of tasty
sides something the old skylight has never had most customers appreciate
having several beer choices as well Sam Jones barbecue is a near-perfect
blending of the best of what's old and what's neat for North Carolina weekend
I'm Bob Garner Sam Jones BB q is at 7:15 west fire tower road in winter Ville
about seven miles south of Greenville and they're open daily for lunch and
dinner beginning at 11:00 a.m. for more information give them a call at two five
two six eight nine six four four nine or go online to Sam Jones BB q comm