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10:35:00 AM EDT
Hearing Criminal -- Fiona Apple
Barbeque!
This is fun: Slate has one of their writers going across America looking for the perfect barbeque -- real barbeque, not grilling (there's a difference):
I should make a point that will be obvious to many: What most Americans call barbecuing is not barbecuing. When you throw some charcoal on the Weber and sear some T-bones and burgers, you are "having a barbecue" but you are not "barbecuing." You are "grilling." When you grill, you cook fast over high, direct heat. But when you barbecue, you cook meat slowly, over low heat (as low as 170 degrees), and with smoke. Grilling is a transatlantic flight on the Concorde. Barbecuing is a cruise on the QE2. Grilling is a quickie on the kitchen table. Barbecue is tantric.
This is fast-food nation, but barbecue is America's own slow food. It is impossible to barbecue well quickly. It is also difficult to barbecue alone. And it is no fun to barbecue without alcohol—all of which make barbecuing one of the most sociable hobbies imaginable.
If you're a fan of food, and of barbeque, you'll want to check this out. Good grilling!
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I am not surprised from all the other Tennessee folks (Knoxville here) taking pride in their barbecue, given Memphis in May and Jack Daniels Cook Off both take place in TN. I suspect some folks from Texas, Kansas City, North & South Carolina will be chiming in shortly. My personal favorite (next to mine, of course) is Eastern Carolina style pulled pork made by the Lisbon (NC) Volunteer Fire Deparment for their annual pig picking. That was perhaps the most succulent food I have ever eaten. I still can't get used to Memphis folks putting slaw on their pork.....
http://journals.aol.com/swibirun/Inanethoughtsandinsaneramb lings/entries/708
Chris
http://journals.aol.com/swibirun/Inanethoughtsandinsaneramb lings/ -
Yes indeed my family has misused the word "barbeque" for years. It was a long-standing family tradition to have a big ol' family barbecue at either my grandparent or uncle's house. Although it was usually searing burgers and steaks, and burning hot dogs, I do recall a few times when he barbequed two chickens, in a slow and smoky cooker all day long. My ADHD brain wanted it to be done so we could hurry up and eat. I'd bug him, he's just say (after a swig of beer) "I'm barbequing today Michael and these things take time. Now run along and play."
Which I shall do now. -
I am a barbecue snob. Being from Memphis, the self-proclaimed Pork Baebecue Capital of the World might have something to do with it. True barbecue is an epicurean delight. Thank you for letting people know the difference between barbecuing and grilling. It's one of my pet peeves when people call grilling barbecuing.
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John,
I can't believe you used that word to describe barbecuing... But soooo true.
The best barbecue I've had was in Tennesse. The ambrosia lasted for days *wink*
Barb @~>~~~
5/24/05 6:17 PM
Food on the grill as you describe it is so much fun for a family unit or a group of friends assuming that the weather is not too hot and there is a breeze.