BBQ - Thanks Africa and a tip of the hat to Native Americans

[packman]

As you grill and burn that meat over the coals today, give pause to thank the originators -

," in colonial and antebellum North America, enslaved men became barbecue’s master chefs: woodcuts, cartoons, postcards and portraits from the period document the role that black chefs played in shaping this very American, and especially Southern staple. Working over pits in the ground covered in green wood – much as in West Africa or Jamaica – it was enslaved men and their descendants, not the Bubbas of today’s Barbecue Pitmasters, that innovated and refined regional barbecue traditions. If anything, German, Czech, Mexican and other traditions in South Carolina, Missouri and Texas were added to a base created by black hands forged in the crucible of slavery.

In some ways barbecue is true Independence Day food. As European Americans acclimated themselves to the custom of forsaking utensils and even plates to eat more like enslaved Africans and Native Americans"

I'm from Pennsylvania, sad to say, not known for its BBQ delights. At family gatherings when we did BBQ, the main attraction was to watch a half-drunk uncle pour lighter fluid over the charcoal and light it. The "WHOOSH" of the bonfire was awe-inspiring. I can still remember the oily taste of the burnt hamburgers and hot dogs - good times.
Now living in the South, a wee bit better.



http://extragoodshit.phlap.net/index.php/barbecue-is-an-american-tradition-of-enslaved-africans-and-native-americans/#more-310659

[malthaussen]

1. I dunno, I'm from Pennsylvania myself...

... but while I lived in South Carolina for awhile, I was subjected to the travesty of a barbeque sandwich with cole slaw in it. Mind you, I'm prejudiced, since I hate slaw to begin with.

But you can get a good roast pig sandwich around here.

-- Mal

[femmocrat]

2. Also from PA, and we always referred to charred hot dogs and hamburgers as "barbecue."

I was in shock when we were invited to a BBQ by neighbors from Arkansas and they served shredded pork instead! That was the first time I had ever eaten it (1970s).