As for Barbecue, BBQ, etc...
I'm partial to North Carolina Style Chopped Pork BBQ which is basically a smoked pork shoulder with a red pepper-vinegar sauce - no tomato in sight. The Bill's Barbecue chain in Richmond does it well. However...
Memphis-style ribs - "dry" and "wet" - from Rendevous in Memphis.
http://www.hogsfly.comMemphis-style pulled pork bbq from Corky's - also in Memphis.
http://www.corkysbbq.comCuban-style beef ribs from Kuba-Kuba in Richmond, VA.
Etc., etc., etc...
Even the Filipino
ihaw-ihaw is pretty darn tasty when done right. It's basically some simply marinated meats - usually in vinegar and/or soy sauce and black pepper - simply grilled.
Oh... and I've tried a couple of the BBQ places here in NYC, and, so far, so good... Dallas BBQ, Virgil's, Spanky's, Texas BBQ & Rotisserie, Sawa (which is run by a Chinese man who fell in love with bbq a couple of years ago, and recently opened a small storefront on 9th Ave.), RUB (Righteous Urban Barbecue), etc...
And the mustard-based sauce beef ribs at Carlyle in Arlington, VA, as most definitely finger-licking-good! -Although, their allure could be influenced by the accompanying macaroni and cheese.
Carlyle