What are your Barbecue Traditions?

[foodnfoto]

Thank you to all you kind folks for sharing your BBQ fun and memories with me. I gues I should do the same, so here goes....
I hail form NC where BBQ is a religion--always pork and "pig pickin's" are the favorite way to host any fun, casual event from wedding rehearsals to high school reunions.
The interesting thing about NC barbecue is that the style of the sauce (or mop)depends on which part of the state (east or west) you come from. Eastern mop is usually a very simple----vinegar, hot peppers, and maybe some sugar. The further west you go, the more additions to this formula you find --chilies, tomato, garlic and spices.
BBQs at our house here in NY start about 7 AM when we fire up the Weber kettle, let it burn down low (225?), add hickory chops and brined pork shoulder. Then we kick back, drink a beer, make some slaw and banana pudding and watch the grass grow while the pork slowly smokes. About 3 PM we start testing to see if the meat will pull easily from the bone. Meanwhile, Bill the dog is watching very carefully in anticipation of the bone to chew. The sauce we make is a lovely marriage of eastern and western NC-thin and very vinegary with NM chilies, garlic, spices honey and tomato. We serve the BBQ on unadorned white buns with slaw, sweet tea and old fashioneds (made with Jack Daniels or Makers Mark.)
Our fellow southern transplants to NY are very happy to come and stay the day while the pork smokes. Our new friends from around here come later and nervously wonder why we are all so ....um, animated, so early in the day. One bite of a bbq sandwich quells their fears and solicits guarantees to attend again next Labor Day.

Y'all come!

[lynne]

F&F, my NC tradition is very similar to yours -- but it's always on a potato roll and the slaw is vinegar based not mayo. Plenty o' beer drinkin' for the men folk! Tossin' around a football for the kids. Always very happy thoughts and memories.

I don't have too much of the Texan tradition down yet (and of course, to me BBQ will always be pulled pork!) but it has been neat to see how many of our honeymooners that come in from a ranching community and for the reception Dad killed a steer and his daddy killed some hogs, our aunts made the sides and we had a BBQ with the whole town at the reception-- as the glowing bride recites all the details with eyes glowing.

If you attend a bridal fair, half of the caterers are hawking BBQ. I think it's a way of life that is connected with family and good times and what a great way to start your new life together! Pretty cool.

[DanniC]

Hi! This is my first posting....and I have to say that the topic is one close to my heart!
I'm from Australia, where the BBQ is not just whipped out for social occasions, but it's more a way of life. If you have one, you use it all the time (and here, most people have one.) My favourite tradition (which has survived for several generations) is mud crab and chilli prawns on the barbie! Yummo! Cannot be beaten! Especially if you caught them yourself. The biggest tradition in our family is the Melbourne Cup BBQ. This one goes all day on the first Tuesday in November. It's the biggest horse race in Australia, and although not a designated public holiday, nobody seriously does any work. It's the best day of the year!
Thanks for letting me join in.
Hopefully will talk to you all soon.

[foodnfoto]

Thanks Papa and Danny-The international perspective on BBQ is really helpful. Apparently, barbecue is a real big social thing in Korea too.
Anyone know anything about Korean Q?