The Atlanta barbecue scene is smokin' these days. In our Spring Dining Guide, we explore how Atlanta has emerged as a serious barbecue city. This guide highlights nearly three dozen barbecue joints that represent a variety of traditional and hybrid styles, and it shines a spotlight on the pitmasters who lend their personal touch to everything these places serve, from mouthwatering pulled pork to juicy brisket. Find out where to chow down on all of it in our guide. And, get ready for a road trip, because we're following the smoke all around this state.

The AJC Spring Dining Guide: The Barbecue Issue is published in Sunday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the AJCePaper on April 28, 2019. You can also enjoy the digital guide on ajc.com.

Here are some of the stories you'll find in the Spring Dining Guide. 

ajc.com
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COVER STORY: What is Georgia's barbecue identity? Atlanta's reputation on the rise as a 'a serious barbecue town,' by Jim Auchmutey, E1

ROAD TRIP: Four destination barbecue spots around Georgia, E2

PITMASTERS: What barbecue masters have to say about their art, E2-8

NEW BARBECUE: Four of the hottest spots to open in the past few years, E3

THE GATHERING PLACE: No place is more convivial than a barbecue joint, E3.

DESSERTS: Puddings, cakes, pies, cobblers: satisfy your sweet tooth, E4

SIDES: Three fun, unexpected sides you can find locally, E4

BRUNSWICK STEW: It isn't Georgia barbecue if it doesn't have stew, E6

SAUCES: What Jonathan Fox of Fox Bros. fame says about sauces, E7

OTHER CULTURES: Explore some of the world's other barbecue traditions in Atlanta restaurants, E8.

THINGS TO DO: Upcoming barbecue events in Atlanta, E8

VIDEO: See video interviews with metro Atlanta pitmasters at ajc.com/barbecue.

The AJC Barbecue Guide is published online and in Sunday editions of the print AJC and the AJCePaper on April 28, 2019.
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