Wayne Monk is the founder of Lexington Barbecue in Lexington, North Carolina — one of the most revered whole-hog and pork shoulder BBQ restaurants in the Piedmont tradition. His restaurant, opened in 1962, helped define Lexington-style BBQ: pork shoulders over hickory coals, finished with a tangy red slaw and a vinegar-ketchup dip sauce.
Monk was named a 2019 Barbecue Hall of Fame semi-finalist by the American Royal, one of nine nominees that year alongside Jim Quessenberry. He is considered one of the living patriarchs of Carolina Piedmont BBQ.
Accolades
- Founder — Lexington Barbecue, Lexington, NC (1962)
- 2019 BBQ Hall of Fame Semi-Finalist (same class as Jim Quessenberry)
- James Beard Foundation American Classic Award nominee