| The history of barbecuing dates to pre-Civil War | | | | early 1900s, since this was an ideal way to bring |
| years, when the pig was a very convenient food | | | | people to a political speech, or gather the sinners for a |
| staple in the South. Unlike cattle, pigs were for the | | | | Sunday session at the local church. Barbecuing was |
| most part low maintenance, could be turned out to | | | | relatively inexpensive, allowed the local women to bring |
| fend for themselves, then caught later to barbecue | | | | their favorite BBQ recipes, and often they'd have |
| when the hungry hordes came home from battle. | | | | contests to see whose recipe was the best. |
| While those early, (semi-wild) pigs were certainly | | | | There are quotes from early journalists saying |
| tougher and required more preparation than a | | | | barbecues were a way to bring people together, no |
| modern-day pig, they began a tradition for BBQ | | | | matter their class distinction or economic level. Of |
| recipes that continues to be refined, even today. | | | | course any time something becomes popular, |
| While pigs didn't have anything to do with did or didn't | | | | especially in America, the entrepreneurs flock to see |
| win the war, they were usually slaughtered and | | | | how something can be monetized, it was no different |
| barbecued in time for celebrations, and often the entire | | | | with BBQ recipes and restaurants began sprouting |
| neighborhood would gather for the event. It's only | | | | (especially in the south), each featuring its own special |
| natural a little bit of competition would intervene, (BBQ | | | | BBQ recipe. |
| recipes) to see who's pig would taste the best. This | | | | The restaurants of those days would be far different |
| caused a lot of strange, unusual, and flavorful BBQ | | | | than the BBQ specializing restaurant of today. Most of |
| recipes began to be created. | | | | these BBQ restaurants of yesteryear, evolved from |
| DEFINITION OF THE WORD BARBECUE: While there | | | | simple backyard barbecue pits, were often open only |
| are multiple opinions concerning the origin of the word, | | | | on weekends, then charged a competitive price for a |
| depending on which publication (or tall tale) you listen to. | | | | full plate of barbecued pig. |
| It's likely the word barbecue derives from the West | | | | Because the BBQ recipes have grown into big |
| Indian term "barbacoa," denoting a method of | | | | business over the years, it's interesting to look back in |
| slow-cooking meat over hot coals. | | | | history and realize the genesis began when one |
| Of course barbecuing is a term applied to how meat is | | | | person (probably an old trail hand) decided they |
| cooked, whether that meat comes from a pig or a | | | | weren't about to share their secret BBQ recipe with |
| cow, and the cooks of the old West were known to | | | | anyone but family and friends. |
| slow cook sides of beef to feed hungry trail crews. | | | | As America grew, so did the barbecue restaurants, |
| Whether these sides of beef were slow cooked | | | | with people traveling across town, often across |
| because of toughness or to experiment with a special | | | | country in order to visit that special restaurant, the one |
| secret sauce, is lost to sands of time. Either way | | | | everyone talks about, "If you're in Memphis, you've got |
| barbecuing and BBQ recipes have been a mainstay of | | | | to try the barbecue at the Rendezvous". |
| America history. | | | | Barbecue is as much a part culture today, as it was in |
| Speaking of history, barbecuing was known to be | | | | those long ago days of the old West, with the best |
| featured at political rallies and church picnics in the | | | | BBQ recipes still being guarded like gold. |