Jim Neely
“BBQ spaghetti is Memphis. People laugh when they hear about it, then they eat it and they understand. This city does things its own way.”
Jim Neely founded Interstate Bar-B-Q in 1978 in South Memphis, building it into one of the city's most beloved BBQ institutions. Neely is credited with popularizing BBQ spaghetti — a uniquely Memphis dish that combines slow-smoked pulled pork with a BBQ-spiced tomato sauce over pasta. His wet ribs, basted with a sweet-tangy tomato sauce, are the benchmark for the sauced style in Memphis.
Philosophy
South Memphis BBQ is different from the rest of the city. We cook for the community, not for tourists. The food has to be right because these are our neighbors.
Technique
Slow smoking over hickory wood with a wet baste applied during the last hour of cooking. The sauce is a proprietary blend of tomato, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices that caramelizes on the ribs during the final smoke.
Recognition
- Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest — Multiple Awards
- Tennessee Governor's Award for Excellence in the Culinary Arts