Smoke show: Baton Rouge’s BBQ culture – On any given day in Baton Rouge, its easy to find delicious food.

On any given day in Baton Rouge, it’s easy to find delicious food. From food trucks to family-owned restaurants that have been around for decades, there is a little bit of everything in the Red Stick. Still, I sometimes find myself longing for a true, gritty barbecue joint. Although the city is home to a number of restaurants in the genre, it may be one of the food frontiers that Baton Rouge has not quite conquered. Still, the Baton Rouge barbecue scene offers a wide variety of options and flavors.

One of my favorite examples is Pimanyoli’s Sidewalk Café and Catering (Map it!). The husband-and-wife duo in charge has 35 years experience in the catering business. They expanded their operation after gaining success with local clubs and bars and in 2008 opened their doors to the public. Located in a strip mall on Airline Highway, this eatery has attracted attention for its slow-smoked St. Louis-cut spare ribs. These are smoked Louisiana-style with pecan wood and served with a side of a vinegar-based barbecue sauce, which is the only sauce on the menu. Influenced by various barbecue styles across the South, Pimanyoli’s hits all the marks when it comes to ribs. Click here to read more about BR’s BBQ scene. —Jay Ducote