11/07/18
About 90 minutes east of Raleigh sits tiny Ayden, NC, and Skylight Inn - the home of the best BBQ pork I've ever had. This family run operation has been passed down for generations and hasn't changed much in the 70 years it has been open. When you walk in the door of this little joint, two things stand out - the smell of smoked pork and a rhythmic drum-like sound that comes from pork being chopped on a wood board nonstop in the kitchen. If you make it to this legendary spot, the chopped whole hog BBQ is the only thing you need to order. You can get the meat plain, but I like the classic eastern NC sandwich with cole slaw. The pork is sinfully good: perfectly smoky, tender, with a slight tang and spice from a vinegar/pepper sauce that is applied conservatively to not overwhelm the meat. Meat from all over the hog is chopped together, so you get different tastes and textures, including little crunchy, salty pieces of the skin. The slaw is chopped finely and adds a crunch, sweetness, and freshness. The simple white bread bun does its job and holds up to the contents of the sandwich. Grab a sandwich (or two or three) and a sweet tea an you'll be a very happy camper. The ribs at Rodney Scott's in Charleston still reign supreme for me in terms of overall BBQ, but for pulled/chopped pork, Skylight Inn can't be beat. Lines can be long, but they move quickly.