Q – Alabama’s Barbecue Legends to Show at Sidewalk, Alabama Public Television

USA - English

• USA - English

Birmingham, Alabama (PRWEB) August 27, 2015 -- The Alabama Tourism Department is proud to introduce Q – Alabama’s Barbecue Legends, a first-of-its-kind documentary highlighting the stories behind the most popular dish in the state. The film will make its Alabama debut at the 17th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival Saturday, Aug. 29, at 4:30 p.m. in the historic Carver Theatre. Q will also be broadcast on Alabama Public Television Sunday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m.

Alabama barbecue is the basis for a compelling story, and the film tells that story in multiple ways. It showcases the diversity among restaurant owners, pit masters and barbecue experts within the state, as well as the diversity of the barbecue itself – from white sauce in the north to red sauce in west Alabama.

“If Alabama had an official smell, it would have to be hickory smoke,” said Lee Sentell, Director of the Alabama Tourism Department. “Memphis, Kansas City, the Carolinas and Texas each have their own defined style of barbecue. Alabama has become the center of the barbecue world because we adopted the best of all these different styles and also added a few unique ones of our own.”

Other storylines extend beyond the people to the food itself, from the main attraction – be it pork butt or ribs, chicken, beef brisket or sausage – to sides and desserts, from collard greens to banana cream pies. Storylines in the film also address the variety of sauces from place to place and among regions. Each restaurant sets itself apart from the next with its own unique approach.

Interviewed in the film:
● Sam Nakos, Demetri’s BBQ, Homewood
● Cliff Mortimer, Barbecue Stop, Clay
● Earlie “Bam” Threatt, R & B Bar-B-Q, Lincoln
● John Bishop Jr., The Original Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Tuscaloosa
● Van Sykes, Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q, Bessemer
● Dale Pettit, Top Hat Barbecue, Blount Springs
● Chris Lilly, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur
● Don McLemore, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur
● Mike Holley, Chuck Wagon BBQ, Madison
● Melvin Rogers, Melvin’s Place of BBQ, Huntsville
● Tim Fife, Tim’s Walk Hard BBQ, Leesburg
● Wade Reich, Butts To Go, Pell City
● Rusty Tucker, Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, Leeds
● Beth Tucker, Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, Leeds
● Carolyn Jackson, McMillan Bar-B-Que, Mobile
● T.J. Allen, Hog Wild BBQ, Gulf Shores
● Caitlin Glosson, Hog Wild BBQ, Gulf Shores
● Jeff Frazier, L.A. Barbecue, Summerdale
● Mike Hancock, Hancock’s Bar-B-Que, Selma
● Lula Hatcher, Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot, Selma
● Alphonso Hatcher, Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot, Selma
● Danny “Fat Boy” Loftin, Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch, Prattville
● Nick Pihakis, Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Birmingham
● Matthew Statham, Saw’s BBQ, Homewood
● Willie Gardner, The Original Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Tuscaloosa
● John T. Edge, Director, Southern Foodways Alliance
● Chef Frank Stitt, James Beard Award Winning Chef/Restaurateur
● Dr. Joshua Rothman, Professor of History, University of Alabama
● Annette Thompson, Travel Writer, Author of Alabama Barbecue
● Lee Sentell, Director, Alabama Tourism Department

The story told by the Alabama barbecue documentary complements such initiatives as the 2014 book Alabama Barbecue, the Masters of Alabama BBQ photo exhibit/tour and the Alabama BBQ Trail mobile app, all launched as part of the 2015 Year of Alabama BBQ. To learn more about the Year of Alabama BBQ, please visit alabamabbq.com.

Maree Jones, Luckie & Company, +1 2058779795, [email protected]