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Virginians went nuts this week after a viral photo of weak-looking barbecue and deconstructed mac and cheese claimed to be from somewhere in its state. So Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Va.), the pro tempore president of the state Senate, carved time out of her busy re-election campaign schedule to do some digging on its origin on behalf of her confused constituents.
The 79-year-old longtime legislator for southeastern Virginia’s 18th District revealed the source of the barbecue plate in a simple Tweet on Monday, March 13 that now has over 10,000 likes:
I’m aware of this fake photo circulating around the internet of Virginia BBQ. Nothing like this has ever been served in our Commonwealth. After some research, we learned that this picture was actually taken in Texas, so I refer any questions to her.
Turns out, the picture was pulled from the Yelp page for Ritzy B’s Smokehouse & Grill, an unassuming roadside restaurant nestled the north Texas town of Decatur. The post, which appears to be almost a year old, depicts small slices of white meat, white bread, and perhaps the most egregious: a styrofoam cup of DIY mac and cheese with a side of shredded cheddar and jalapenos.
Damn, yall...she right. pic.twitter.com/n4jzd7GJ8N
— Santee Jackson Sr (@SanteeJacksonSr) March 13, 2023
“Thank you for setting the record straight!! VA is EXONERATED,” wrote Twitter user @hautepjones.
If anything, the great barbecue plate debate rallied each state to stand behind—and show off—their respective smoked meats.
Nah, this is what Texas bbq looks like https://t.co/SnJcEJyymr pic.twitter.com/xWuAhBy1GY
— Johnny "Roast Beef Hands" Shackleford (@CuckerT06683866) March 14, 2023
I don’t know what that dried out mess is. This is what the BBQ looks like near where I live in North Texas. pic.twitter.com/ruOeLvfXHk
— Pearl Jolly #FreeAssange⏳#TheDawnOfEverything (@PearlJolly) March 14, 2023
On the Virginia front, another Twitter user pointed to Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que in Williamsburg:
Look. Virginia BBQ is Pierce’s. There will be no further questions. pic.twitter.com/VGqKep3bOY
— A Liberal Dad (@LiberalFathers) March 13, 2023
Lucas, who credits the whole bi-state Twitter fiasco for a bump in her already-large social media following, moved on from the issue by hoisting up a pair of barbecue sandwiches in her kitchen:
I was out campaigning until late tonight but all this BBQ talk had me hungry when I got home! pic.twitter.com/n0Y73ydjj2
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) March 14, 2023