| The word Barbecue (BBQ for short) comes from the | | | | tender. They figured out that tying the pig to a spit and |
| West Indies word, "barbacoa", which means to slow | | | | slowly roasting it over coals made from native woods |
| cook meat over hot coals. Barbecue has been around | | | | seemed to be the best way to make the pig |
| since before the Civil War, but BBQ is different than | | | | succulent, juicy and tender. This way of cooking the |
| grilling burgers and hot dogs on a gas grill. | | | | meat quickly became a very popular way of cooking |
| Cooking With Wood | | | | a pork roast or an entire pig. As a matter of fact, |
| Real, true barbecue is an all-day event where a | | | | entire festivals were created around the roasting of |
| scrumptious piece of meat is very slowly cooked over | | | | the pig. |
| coals that have been rendered down from hearty, | | | | Over time, southerners began to really take pride in |
| flavorful smoking woods. | | | | their slow-cooking technique and began raising pigs |
| By slowly cooking the meat over the wood, it | | | | that had more fat on them to give them more flavor. |
| becomes infused with a smokiness that cannot be | | | | Since they did not export their fattened pigs or the |
| cloned by any other type of cooking. Barbeque has | | | | meats, including the ever popular BBQ ribs they made, |
| long been associated with saucy, sticky meat such as | | | | this type of cooked pork became an exclusive |
| BBQ ribs but it really has more to do with the cooking | | | | Southern delicacy. |
| process than sauce. | | | | Modern Day Twists |
| It is amazing how many barbecue restaurants are | | | | Fast forward many years and BBQ has become a |
| popping up these days. What used to be more typical | | | | staple in American cuisine. But pig isn't the only thing on |
| of the South has become far more mainstream over | | | | the menu these days, even though BBQ ribs, pulled |
| the past couple of decades. Americans seem to have | | | | pork and smoked hams are some of the most popular |
| fallen in love with the slow cooked meat that is so | | | | meats. Beef, chicken and even seafood are cooked in |
| tender it literally falls off the bone. Meat that is cooked | | | | the way of traditional barbecue these days and are |
| in its own delectable juices has its very own unique | | | | just as delicious. |
| flavor, unlike any other style of cooking. | | | | Spits are still used, but modern chefs have added |
| Bring On The Pig | | | | many different cooking methods to their arsenal of |
| Many years before the Civil War, a staple in modern | | | | BBQ magic tricks. Smoking, indirect cooking and grilling |
| homes was pork. Back then people cooked every | | | | are all popular forms of barbecue cooking. Each |
| part of the meat. The meat was generally tough, so | | | | method brings a unique flavor to the meat, but one |
| cooks had to come up with a way to make the meat | | | | thing is for sure, they are all delicious! |