Brisket – that most temperamental of barbecue meats – emerges from the smoker with a bark that provides just the right amount of resistance before giving way to buttery, melt-in-your-mouth beef.

New Jersey may not be a heralded barbecue destination, but it is a melting pot of traditions that creates unique flavors.

Thanks to a diverse melting pot of influences, Chicago-style BBQ as interesting and distinctive as any other of the country's ...