what is BBQ? - Spin off from Ed's post

PrairieMom wrote: Now I'm wondering. When you make/order BBQ what so you get?

is it beef or pork? what kind of sauce?

Here if you order a BBQ you will totally get a sloppy Joe. Ground hamburger in a tomato based sauce.

To me real BBQ is pit smoked pork, pulled, on a bun with a vinager based sauce. slaw on the side please!

CantWait replied: BBQ is a method of cooking.
You can either use propane, or charcole. (forgot Electric, I think it's rather new)
It's grilling (anything from meat to vegetables) outside.

kimberley replied: well to me, it is anything cooked on the grill outside

but yes, pulled pork rules . never been served that sloppy joe stuff before

luvbug00 replied: to me a bbq is hamburgers or hot dogs cooked on grill, maybe a steak or chicken but I've never had pulled pork..and to me sloppy joe is ground meat in that tomato sause stuff.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Yes, bbq is grilling outside. In Texas it's normally smoked. At most bbq places here you can order bbq brisket, bbq ribs, bbq pulled pork, etc. And the sauce can be on the side or on top. Bun or no bun.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I agree with Aimee. But if you go to a BBQ restaraunt then BBQ could be as she mentioned, but it is usually smoked.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: When I hear someone is having a BBQ it usually means brisket and sausage on the pit. There is almost always a pot of beans and lots of bread. But I don't really think of a sandwich as BBQ unless we say lets get a BBQ sandwich

PrairieMom replied: here BBQ is something you eat. If you cook it out side on a grill, its grilled.

Our Lil' Family replied: Bar B Que is a way of life in the south! It can take ALL DAY and usually includes alcoholic beverages and lots of sides!!

I typically prefer pork or brisket over chicken. And of course hamburgers and hot dogs...but it's almost a waste of a good set of coals if it's just burgers and dogs.

mom2my2cuties replied: Pork & Brisket for me...Pulled Pork, Sliced Brisket, and only PORK RIBS!!!

And the sides sometimes almost grandstand the meat!!!

luvmykids replied:
Same here, unless someone is having a bbq then you never know what you'll get but it will have been grilled

It's a broad term around here, it can simply mean something has sauce thrown on it or it can be true bbq, smoked or roasted in a pit. The big deal around here is to have a matansa, where you dig a hole in the ground, put a whole pig in and cook it for days. Then there's a big party after with tons of food, a band, and usually a lot of drunk idiots.

mom2my2cuties replied: You know what I think stinks though - BBQ is really an art...Not just something you can "throw together"

There are SOOOO many BBQ places, but the majority of them really do suck. We have 3 within walking distance of our house, and after trying them all...Only 1 was worth eating at.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Barbecue, (also spelled barbeque, or abbreviated BBQ) is a method of cooking food with the radiant heat and/or hot gasses of a fire, the cooking of food in a sauce that includes vinegar, the end-result of cooking by one of these methods, or a party that includes such food. Barbecue is usually cooked in a covered environment heated by an outdoor open flame of wood, charcoal, natural gas or propane. ...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBQ

So we're all right.

My3LilMonkeys replied: In my area, BBQ is generally pulled pork, but can also be chicken or beef cooked with a BBQ/vinegar based sauce. It is also a popular kind of potato chip .

CantWait replied:
That's it, I'm moving South!!!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Interesting! BBQ is the style of cooking IMO...so it's putting something on the grill. Typically with either bbq sauce or just olive oil. If I go to a restaurant and order BBQ ribs, I assume it means the style it's cooked and the sauce that's on it. We don't have many restaurants here that just do BBQ food. But I've been to them before and yes, it's usually pulled pork sandwiches and ribs, lots of sauce.

redchief replied: Yep, BBQ, when it is called that, is usually slow, hardwood smoked meat. If there's no other descriptor they're usually talking pork. Slow cooked BBQ, done right, is to die for. It's also hard to find anyone really good at it in NJ.

CantWait replied:
It's funny how things differ from place to place. I believe what you're talking about is called smoking here. There are actual meat smokers instead of bbq's for that process which allows you to use wood chips.

WoW you learn something new everyday.

redchief replied:
No, smoking is done here too. That's done at under 100'F, also using wood smoke. BBQ is low heat temperature cooking, usually around 140', and the meat is cooked through, whereas in smoking, the meat takes on the characteristics of the salt and wood instead of actually cooking. That's the difference here anyway.

CantWait replied:
That sounds about right. I've never actually SMOKED meat, so I don't know the exact differences. Oh all the wonderful things you can do to meat.

A&A'smommy replied: okay ribs, pork, boston butt I like my fILs sauce I'm not really sure how he makes it.. I also like it with cole slaw, and potato salad YUMMY I love bbq

PrairieMom replied: I'm so excited, in 18 days I am going on vacation to NC, and I plan on having all the carolina BBQ I can eat! yummy! that and fresh sea food. I'm gonna do nothing but eat for a week streight.