Beef brisket is THE Texas barbecue staple. Salt and smoke are the main ingredients because simple and straightforward is what Texas is all about. There are still some sauces here and there, but it's all about letting the meat speak for itself. Michael Symon joins pitmasters at Cedar Fest in Cedar Park, Texas, where he gets into the nitty gritty of what makes the best brisket.

Chicken is king in Alabama barbecue, so Michael Symon heads to Gadsden to explore their world of barbecued bird. The white, mayonnaise-based sauce created in Alabama started with the chicken, but it has grown to be incorporated on all types of barbecue. In competition, this chicken is like nothing you've ever seen or tasted.