# What is barbeque (barbecue(BBQ))? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174 "2006-05-03T00:22:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/81 "2006-05-05T14:11:45Z")
Since there appear to be disagreements as to what the term(s) really mean(s) it may be useful to offer some support for the different versions. Here’s what [Barbecue From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue) has to say on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/82 "2006-05-05T14:47:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The best hush puppies I have ever had were at a place called Bridges BBQ in Shelby, outside of Charlotte, NC. Just the perfect amount of spice. Been there, done that. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/83 "2006-05-05T15:11:11Z")
I was recently watching the documentary “Little Dieter Needs to Fly” about a downed American pilot in Vietnam who was captured. The Vietnamese would build fires at night, and during the day, the would put some of the hot coals in a little can they carried at the end of some wire. As they walked through the jungle, they would catch birds and insects with this “rake” that had sticky stuff on it. They would take the prey, and throw it right on the coals in the can to grill it up and eat it. THAT’S some grilling. For grilling/barbequeing from all around the world. . .Asia, South America, Africa, Australia, Carribbean check out “The Barbeque Bible”. Makes you realize that Americans do not have a monopoly on Barbeque. Although, we do do it great. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/84 "2006-05-05T16:24:21Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Been there, done that. How did they make those things, anyway? IIRC, they were…extruded. Like a churro, only hush puppies. California has a noted lack of decent BBQ. Time for a road trip! ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/85 "2006-05-05T18:08:42Z")
I think you’re being a little anal on the subject. I don’t mind, but you’re taking some very narrow definitions. For Example: > [@The Swan](#): > > 1. Barbeque isn’t “barbequed”. It is smoked. Always. No exception. > [@Bob Lyon of NBBQN](#): > > [Barbecued brisket has a life of its own…](http://www.barbecuenews.com/news/article_04.asp) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/86 "2006-05-05T21:18:52Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > My Mind left the road at high speed when I read this. A steak is a steak. Barbecue is barbecue. They are not, have never been, will never be, the same thing. With a dad from coastal NC, I was raised to KNOW that barbecue is pulled pork with vinegar/pepper sauce (No tomatoes, honey, sweeteners, “Smoke flavoring” or other debased dilutants). I have since learned that barbecue can be sliced as well as pulled. But even this liberal, forgiving definition can only be stretched so far. Yeah, well, Carolinians are just a tad _leeeeetle_ bit too conservative with their definition of BBQ (which is a synonym for “pulled pork”). For most people outside the Carolinas, barbecue is a method of cooking, not a specific prepared cut of pork, and is applicable to many types of meat. ---
**Author:** ![Frogmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@Frogmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frogmore)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/87 "2006-05-06T01:34:06Z")
[http://www.scottsbarbecuesauce.com/](http://www.scottsbarbecuesauce.com/) This is hands down the best bottled BBQ sauce in the world. I still think my Grandpa can make it better, but when I can’t go home I order Scotts. BBQ Sauce containing tomatos is an abomination. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/88 "2006-05-06T02:31:24Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > I think you’re being a little anal on the subject. I don’t mind, but you’re taking some very narrow definitions. For Example: Folks are free to cook anything they like and call it barbeque. Certainly, there are some valid reasons for their doing so. However, the cooks who take barbecue seriously rarely do so in an environment devoid of smoke. Some may try to duplicate the results of smoked barbeque if they do not posses the necessary equipment, and their food is often mouth-wateringly good. I cook many “barbeque” cuts in the oven when I don’t want the smoke flavor (rarely). However, I wouldn’t consider the “smoked” claim as narrow minded. I just consider barbecue made without smoke to be an effort to duplicate barbecue. In response to a different post: For the record, I never said NC pulled pork was the best. I only said that this is the area most famous for it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/89 "2006-05-06T02:34:51Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > I think you’re being a little anal on the subject. I don’t mind, but you’re taking some very narrow definitions. For Example: Wait wait waitwaitwaitwait. Where in the link does he say anything about barbeque that hasn’t been smoked? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174/90 "2006-05-06T02:39:14Z")
> [@The Swan](#): > > Wait wait waitwaitwaitwait. > > Where in the link does he say anything about barbeque that hasn’t been smoked? Never mind, I see what you mean. He uses the word “barbecued” as a verb once. I concede your point, though the use of this term by barbecue cooks, in my experience, tends to be rare. I expect that you will see it increasingly used in this manner in the future. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-barbeque-barbecue-bbq/355174.md?page=4)