Artist's map celebrates Southern barbecue history and culture
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The American Barbecue Map took Joe Veazey nearly two years to finish. Map: Courtesy of Joe Veazey.
An Atlanta-based artist has taken his first-hand experience eating at barbecue joints across the country and created a work of art that pays homage to the complex history of this sacred style of cooking.
Why it matters: Each state has its own spin on barbecue, and while we can spend hours debating which is superior, we can't deny how satisfying it is to sink our teeth into a plate of perfectly cooked ribs or brisket.
The latest: Joe Veazey, the illustrator behind the wildly popular Atlanta Rap Map that was released in 2021, will unveil the American Barbecue Map at a release party on Saturday at the Museum of Design Atlanta.
- It will be available to purchase at the party or on Veazey's website following the event.
By the numbers: This eye-catching illustration highlights nearly 200 restaurants, 22 types of sauces, 20 regional styles of barbecue and popular sides and desserts.
- Most of the map spotlights the South and mid-Atlantic states, with nods to Hawaii, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago and Baltimore.
- There's also a timeline of barbecue history, including the 25 men and women who played a significant role in its development.
What they're saying: Veazey, who told Axios it took him about two years to perfect the map, said the idea stems from his passion for barbecue.
- He regularly takes road trips across the country and has visited close to 200 barbecue restaurants over the years.
- "I love the South," he said. "It's just fun exploring it. It's fun to plan a trip around a legendary old school spot."
Zoom in: Atlanta's JJ's Rib Shack and Fat Matt's Rib Shack are both featured on the map, as well as Clearview BBQ in Columbus, Old Clinton Barbecue House in Gray and Southern Soul Barbeque on St. Simons Island.
- The map also features the typical barbecue plate served in Georgia: pulled or chopped pork, Brunswick stew, Cole slaw, baked beans, and a slice of white bread.
- Georgia's barbecue sauce of choice is described as tomato-based, sweet and generally mild.
- One of Veazey's favorites is a newer place, Owens and Hull along the Chattahoochee River in Smyrna.
- "Their brisket is the best I've ever had in my life," he said.
The intrigue: Some restaurants in Georgia have incorporated components of other barbecue styles into their own menus, Veazey told Axios.
- For example, Zeb's Bar-B-Q in Danielsville, a small town about 21 miles northeast of Athens, has a thin, vinegar-based sauce that's served in a glass container.
- If you go south of the Columbus-Macon-Augusta line in Georgia, you're more likely to see restaurants that serve a bright orange, mustard-based sauce that's "creeping in from South Carolina," he said.
The bottom line: Veazey told Axios that America is traditionally not lauded for its food, but the barbecue map could spark a conversation about how different cultures have contributed to "truly an American thing."
- "I really don't think we're giving ourselves credit for, especially in the South, what's been made of our culinary gifts to the world," he said. "I think it should be celebrated more. I think it's a lot more special than everyone gives it credit."