FAIR FOOD Some new twists on old favorites are among the food off erings at this year's Carolina Classic Fair. The fair, which opened Oct. 4 and runs through Oct.
13, continues to court local food trucks to fill the gap left by declining participation by civic club and church groups — and to off er more variety to supplement the funnel cakes, turkey legs and other usual concession items. This year, Tim Clodfelter, a radio show host on WTOB, and I found a few new choices in the classic categories of pizza, barbecue and doughnuts. In addition to longtime fair vendor and area food truck Hickory Tree Barbecue, two new barbecue vendors are participating in the fair this year.
Martin Lawrence and RJ Perry have operated Lawrence & Perry Barbecue in Warren County, N.C., since 2016, specializing in Eastern-style pork barbecue.
Though they do whole hogs, they are cooking pork shoulders at the fair for practical reasons. They offer pork and chicken sandwiches ($10) and trays ($12), as well as smoked and deep-fried ribs ($18 for one-third of a rack). But the best-seller is the $20 slop bucket — a loaded and layered affair with chopped pork, French fries, beans, slaw and mac 'n' cheese.
The literal bucket comes with a lid and handle for easy portability — and is enough to feed two. If you want to whet your appetite, ask if you can walk around the back of the truck to watch Lawrence pull a shoulder out of the smoker and chop it up on site. People are also reading.
.. Over near the clo.