The backyard barbecue evokes memories of that delicious scent wafting through the air. Most importantly, the good times to be had with friends and family. Whether you are from the South, the North, the East, or the West of the US you know barbecue. It’s not just an American thing either. So where did barbecue come from?
The Origins of the Backyard Barbecue
The word “barbecue” and its parallel words in other languages come from the Spanish word barbacoa. It would seem that the Arawak Indians of the Caribbean and the Timucua Indians of Florida also have the word barbicu. Therefore, when the Spanish explorers came over to the Caribbean they would have found a typical grill consisting of a wooden framework resting on sticks above a fire. This is the way the Taino people would have roasted meat when Christopher Columbus first arrived. As the flames flickered and the smoke rose, the meat would take on the flavor of the smoke. That was none other than barbicu.
In other lands, whole animals were placed in a hole in the ground and roasted for days. That was actually the traditional form of Barbacoa. For instance, in parts of Africa and pretty much all of Polynesia this was the method. I lived for many years in Hawaii and this is an integral part of a typical luau. This type of cooking is actually like having an underground steam cooker. In addition to the whole pig, breadfruit, bananas, sweet potatoes, taro, chicken, and fish might be included in this underground oven.
Backyard Barbecue in the USA
Barbecue is one of the most traditional foods in America, right up there with hot dogs and apple pie. The original technique uses smoke at low temperatures over a long period of time. This is also known as smoking. Grilling is done over a very hot fire, using charcoal, wood, gas, or electricity. The food is brought in direct contact with the dry heat.
In the US there actually is a “barbecue belt”. This region is made up of states in the South Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. There are four different styles within this barbecue belt. They are North Carolina, Texas, Memphis and Kansas City. For example, in North Carolina, they smoke the entire hog in a vinegar-based sauce. Texas is somewhat divided. In the eastern parts of Texas the pulled pork style barbecue is most popular. In western Texas, beef is king. So you will find that the most popular is smoky, spicy, mesquite grilled brisket. Memphis style means pulled pork-shoulder doused in a sweet tomato-based sauce, and Kansas City means wet or dry rub ribs.
Barbecue Sauce
Loads of meat, and the grill has been fired up! Therefore, what do you put on that scrumptious barbecue? Barbecue sauce, of course. Do you like smokey, spicy, or a little of both? You can have some Redneck Lipstick. What’s that? Based in Arizona this barbecue sauce came from the idea that all good barbecue originates in the South. Moreover, the owner learned to barbecue from his dad, and then honed his own skills. He decided to combine those 4 styles of barbecue in his Redneck Lipstick sauces. In addition, he has shared this with everyone. Check it out! Whether you like sweet, smokey, or hot and spicy there is something for everyone.
Furthermore, whether you will have wine, beer or some other drink with your barbecue, you need to see these tools. There are wine and beer openers, aerators, and vacuum wine bottle stoppers. You can have manual openers or even battery operated. All the tools you need are HERE.
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