jdbower Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 It's the root of all civilization, of course! An interesting article theorizes that it was the ability to cook food that was the driving distinguishing feature that allowed humans to become the dominant species. I guess that makes a KK the pinnacle of civilization, then
johnnyboy Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Jeff, now tell us what exactly is BBQ? Coming from the West; cooking on a outdoor grill was called BBQing. We barbecued everything from hot dogs to burgers to steaks. There was no pork butt or anything...... Ha!!! Then I learned in the midwest it's called grilling! My first couple years in the mid west everyone thought I was putting BBQ sauce on everything, because I always said I was BBQing!!! Ha!! Kinda funny...
Sanny Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Yup. Head south and BBQ becomes a noun, not a verb. Go figger...
jdbower Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Posted February 20, 2009 That's actually quite the interesting question. I'm sure there are regional differences, but there may also be differences depending on what part of speech "BBQ" is. For me (growing up in NJ with parents from PA farmland and the greater Cleveland area): "A BBQ" was any family get together that happens outdoors. I think it's assumed that something will also be cooked outdoors but I think a few exceptions were made. "BBQ" the food group was seldom used but often relegated to the pulled meat variety with sauce. At a BBQ, ironically, BBQ was rarely served at my house. "BBQ" as a verb wasn't used much either. One grilled. And it's what I still call grilling, high temperature cooking over a flame. I suppose the open pit cooking of chicken including a BBQ sauce baste that we did on the farm could have been called BBQing. Now I consider BBQing to be cooking anything from about 250-350F over charcoal (usually with smoke, but the sauce is definitely optional). Grilling is 400F and above and should be charcoal, but I'll allow gas in a pinch (350-400F is ambiguous and can go either way). Anything less than 250F or so is smoking. Not really hard and fast definitions, but they work for me
johnnyboy Posted February 21, 2009 Report Posted February 21, 2009 Aparantly, and I agree, BBQ is used with multiple meanings. The funny part is, thinking the ones we're talking to understand; when in reality they may not!! Ha!! I now keep it simple; no sauce no BBQ. It's either grilling or doin a low and slow........ add sauce, it's BBQ.
