Why is bbq called bbq

No one is really sure where the term barbecue originated. By the 19th century, the culinary technique was well established in the American South, and because pigs were prevalent in the region, pork became the primary meat at barbecues. Corn bread emerged as the side dish of choice, owing largely to the fact that in humid Southern climates, corn grew better than wheat which was prone to fungal infections. Barbecue allowed an abundance of food to be cooked at once and quickly became the go-to menu item for large gatherings like church festivals and neighborhood picnics.

Barbecue varies by region, with the four main styles named after their place of origin: Memphis, Tenn. Memphis is renowned for pulled pork-shoulder doused in sweet tomato-based sauce eaten on its own or as a sandwich. North Carolina smokes the whole hog in a vinegar-based sauce. Today, barbecuing plays an especially large role in Southern cuisine, which is notorious for its rich and zesty flavor.

For example, the people of Owensboro, Ky. It's still a specialty in the town, where it's served with the world's only black barbecue sauce, Raichlen said. Got a question? Email it to Life's Little Mysteries and we'll try to answer it.

If any gastronomical treat could give the proverbially American apple pie a run for its money, it might just be barbecue. The culinary tradition of cooking meat low and slow over indirect flame the true definition of barbecue — imposters who grill, take note has become so prevalent over the years that BBQ itself represents a sort of pop culture, spawning TV shows , historically-focused road trips , and even fusion dishes like BBQ tacos.

From where did these traditions come, and how, in a relatively small region of the country, have they evolved along such different paths? The history of American barbecue is as diverse as the variations themselves, charting the path of a Caribbean cooking style brought north by Spanish conquistadors, moved westward by settlers, and seasoned with the flavors of European cultures.

The first indigenous tribes Christopher Columbus encountered on the island he named Hispaniola had developed a unique method for cooking meat over an indirect flame, created using green wood to keep the food and wood from burning.

Makes no sense. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Enjoy this article? Articles Food Language. Rolando November 29, pm. Ummm November 7, pm. Rolando Or you could just read the article and find that the word originates from the language and cooking styles of the Taino Indians… Shockingly, not all words are of European origin.