People magazine hails Bessinger's

People magazine gives a Southern salute to one of Charleston's oldest barbecue joints in its special March "country" issue.

The magazine named Bessinger's, 1602 Savannah Highway, as its best "Barbecue of the Month." Established in 1946 by "Big Joe" Bessinger, the restaurant uses wood-burning pits of hickory and oak logs to slow-smoke its meat for up to 18 hours. The pork is hand-pulled and served with three house-made sauces.

People calls attention to the restaurant's German heritage, the huge donut-style onion rings and its chopped pork sandwich. The magazine also shares six pictures of the restaurant and a version of Bessinger's sweet mustard-based gold sauce.

"If I gave you the whole recipe and my father found out," Michael Bessinger tells People, "I'd have to move to Canada."

The issue already is on newsstands.