Assignment 2-1 Weekly Written Analysis

America’s Greatest Pastime the BBQ
Michael Thomas
Assignment 2-1 Weekly Written Analysis
HUMN341-E2WW
January 20, 2008

I chose to do my weekly written analysis on BBQ in American culture. BBQ has been apart of our culture since George Washington’s time, but it has become more popular over the years. How far would you travel for good BBQ? David Plotz traveled to two of the four regions trying to find out whose BBQ was the best. Some people have traveled anywhere from a few miles to several thousand miles trying to find out who serves the best BBQ.

When we talk about BBQ most people think of a backyard BBQ putting steaks and burgers on the grill and having a quick great tasting meal. However authentic American BBQ is a pit that cooks pork, beef, sausage, or ribs slowly at a low temperature, giving the meat a smoked flavor.
Everyone has their own taste and what they like when it comes to BBQ. There are four main regions that serve BBQ and they all say theirs is the best. These four regions are the Carolina’s, Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas. Each region has its own distinct taste for BBQ.

Both Carolina’s like pork for BBQ. Depending on what area you are in determines what part of the pig is used, some like to use the whole hog, others use just the shoulder meat. Usually the meat is cooked over hickory, chopped or pulled apart, and then served with sauce.

Memphis BBQ uses pork shoulders and ribs for their choice of meat. The meat is cooked over coals and is served either wet or dry. Serving wet ribs means they are covered in sauce, and serving ribs dry means they are covered with a dry rub.

Texas BBQ meats are beef, pork, ribs, and sausage. Texans cook the meat over post oak or mesquite wood. Seasoning the meat is very minimal using only salt and pepper. Texas BBQ is usually served sauce less, they want you to taste the meat not the sauce.

Kansas City is the last region. Kansas City’s style for BBQ is they want you to taste the sauce and the meat. Meats cooked for BBQ are beef, pork, and ribs. Cooking methods are oak, hickory, and charcoal. The meats are either served wet or dry depending on what you like.

Personally I like BBQ beef or ribs best. I love them smothered in sauce with a side of coleslaw. BBQ is growing more in popular culture. There are so many BBQ competitions people compete in every year to see who really has the best BBQ.

References
Plotz, D. (2005). An American Barbecue Pilgrimage. Slate.
Retrieved January 13, 2006, from http://www.slate.com/id/2118542/entry/2118537/