The Freedom to Barbecue ... Competitively!
| By SoCapJohn - Jun 18th, 2007 at 10:22 pm EDT |
| Also listed in: 2007 Social Capital |
On Saturday evening, I strolled up to a friend's house toting a shopping bag full of hamburger patties and hotdogs, fully equipped for that most hallowed of outdoor cooking events - the barbecue. The very word sends waves of hunger, nostalgia, and even patriotism coursing through the veins of virtually every American. Barbecue. That's what we do. That's who we are.
When the weather gets hot and there's some national holiday to celebrate, we roll out the grill, fire it up, and throw on some raw animal flesh. Even vegetarians participate, throwing on Boca burgers and vegetables. The condiments and fixings are secondary. Meat and beer are what really make a successful barbecue, and these two ingredients are rarely divvied up in moderation. In fact, most barbecues worth their salt end with at least two burgers and two hotdogs each and enough beer to fuel an army.
Which brings us to Memorial Day weekend - the unofficial kickoff of the barbecue season. For whatever reason, grilling and honoring those who've given their lives for our country have become inextricably linked. For my part, I honored the occasion at multiple events, attending three barbecues in one weekend.
This could all be mere coincidence, yet on the heels of Memorial Day, we fire up the grill once again for that most patriotic of all American holidays - the Fourth of July. There's nothing that says "freedom" like a well-cooked steak, and if Francis Scott Key were around today, he'd throw in a line about New York strip.
But seriously folks, this is all very serious business. Having grown up in Texas, I should know. I can remember back to those sweltering college days when barbecuing was a way of life. My roommates, friends, and I would fire-up the grill on a daily basis, and we're not just talking about burgers. I mean serious grilling - T-bone, sirloin, ribeye, chicken, and ribs.
Yet this all seems like mere child's play in the face of Washington, DC's 2007 National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 23-24. Granted I haven't been to one of these, but this could be the motherload, arguably the most serious of all barbecue events to ever grace this nation. I'm withholding final judgement for now, but the competition looks to be fierce.
Whatever the outcome, I aim to see this grilling phenomenon through to its farthest extremes.
When the weather gets hot and there's some national holiday to celebrate, we roll out the grill, fire it up, and throw on some raw animal flesh. Even vegetarians participate, throwing on Boca burgers and vegetables. The condiments and fixings are secondary. Meat and beer are what really make a successful barbecue, and these two ingredients are rarely divvied up in moderation. In fact, most barbecues worth their salt end with at least two burgers and two hotdogs each and enough beer to fuel an army.
Which brings us to Memorial Day weekend - the unofficial kickoff of the barbecue season. For whatever reason, grilling and honoring those who've given their lives for our country have become inextricably linked. For my part, I honored the occasion at multiple events, attending three barbecues in one weekend.
This could all be mere coincidence, yet on the heels of Memorial Day, we fire up the grill once again for that most patriotic of all American holidays - the Fourth of July. There's nothing that says "freedom" like a well-cooked steak, and if Francis Scott Key were around today, he'd throw in a line about New York strip.
But seriously folks, this is all very serious business. Having grown up in Texas, I should know. I can remember back to those sweltering college days when barbecuing was a way of life. My roommates, friends, and I would fire-up the grill on a daily basis, and we're not just talking about burgers. I mean serious grilling - T-bone, sirloin, ribeye, chicken, and ribs.
Yet this all seems like mere child's play in the face of Washington, DC's 2007 National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 23-24. Granted I haven't been to one of these, but this could be the motherload, arguably the most serious of all barbecue events to ever grace this nation. I'm withholding final judgement for now, but the competition looks to be fierce.
Whatever the outcome, I aim to see this grilling phenomenon through to its farthest extremes.
!
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