We've seen a thousand bbq threads over the years, and this is not it. Rather, this is a story of something unsettling that happened to me this weekend that I feel compelled to share.

Like many of you, I've grown up in North Carolina all my life to parents who themselves grew up in North Carolina. I've eaten a ton of bbq around this state, whether it be Lexington, western, or eastern, and enjoyed it all. I definitely know what bbq is. As I got older, I'd sometimes make bbq but also grill in general while drinking beers and participating in classic bullshittery. Making steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs, braughtworsts, etc.. These are fond memories of mine. I've always enjoyed grilling whether it be at a tailgate, by the pool, or just because. Grilling has been a favorite past time.

This weekend I was walking through the neighborhood and smelled the classic smell of charcoal and meat working their magic. As I got closer, I could definitely see it was burgers and was excited about the good time this man and his friends were having. When I passed by, we had a casual exchange and as he said it's a great day to cook outside I responded with it's always a good day to barbecue.

Let me break that down for you. A good day to barbecue. As in, barbecue was a verb. This startled me. I've never said that before and, frankly, don't hang with many people who ever would use it that way. BBQ is pork. Barbecue is a style of food. Grilling is what you do during a cook out. Everyone knows this and there is no dispute here. Yet, while my influences have always been undoubtedly very North Carolina (family, schooling, friends, wife, where I live today), the northern use of barbecue has found its way into my vernacular. This has disturbed me a great bit and I'm not sure how it happened. But I never want it to happen again and hope the trend stops there.

I felt the need to ven this here because TWW is a blog.

1/29/2019 12:39:26 PM

I feel your pain, brother.

I sometimes use barbecue as a verb, but only when referring to low-and-slow on the smoker. I never use it in reference to cooking steaks, burgers, etc. at higher temperatures.

1/29/2019 12:53:58 PM

barbecue / BBQ is a noun

1/29/2019 1:13:13 PM

Barbecue is syntax fluid.

1/29/2019 1:27:31 PM

just smokin meats, smokin meat, some brisket, smoking some ribs, over here smokin meats

1/29/2019 1:28:02 PM

I expect your spatula and "kiss the cook" apron on my desk in the morning.

Good day, Sir.

1/29/2019 1:30:11 PM

This is where the last two decades of carpetbagger migration to our state has brought us. You’re far from the only one affected by the refusal of these invaders to assimilate. Next thing you know there’s gonna be taco trucks bagel shops on every corner. You’ll be letting “wicked awesome” slip and ordering warm tea before you know it.


Listen, we cannot rebuild our culture with someone else’s babies. Keep your birth rate up, teach your children our values. In doing so we can grow our population, we can strengthen our culture, and we can strengthen our way of life.

1/29/2019 1:44:25 PM

I don't even remember how to pronounce pecan, and if it's a crawfish or crayfish

1/29/2019 1:48:45 PM

Someone needs to go ahead and put you out of your misery.

1/29/2019 8:14:26 PM

Some people call soft drinks “pop”. Worlds a mess.

1/29/2019 8:18:03 PM

Quote :

"I responded with it's always a good day to barbecue. "

Jebus man. What in the world would possess you to say some shit like that? You don't sound like the socially anxious awkward type. Wow.

1/29/2019 11:29:43 PM

1/30/2019 12:06:29 AM

^ ex-fucking-actly

1/30/2019 12:18:12 AM

Mods, handle this.

1/30/2019 12:30:42 AM

https://www.wral.com/colbert-calls-nc-bbq-fans-poor-flavor-deprived/18158380/

c’mon, WRAL

1/30/2019 3:04:39 PM

they REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY want your clicks

1/30/2019 3:17:52 PM

1/30/2019 3:24:28 PM

https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1090701113349885955

1/30/2019 3:24:35 PM

Quote :

"crawfish or crayfish"

Crawdaddy65

1/30/2019 9:30:04 PM

what bothers me more than using barbecue as a verb is when people use it as a noun replacement for "grill".

"You fellas should come over later to have some pop and see the new Weber barbecue I got."

1/31/2019 11:15:33 AM

You guys should come over, I'm going to barbecue some barbecue on my barbecue.

1/31/2019 11:40:33 AM

Send him the link to this song, and it will explain everything, especially about how he's wrong.

I had to educate my NY neighbors on the same thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubTQfr_tyY

1/31/2019 1:00:06 PM

I do like how that Colbert article above has a poll for best type of bbq. Eastern is the number one favorite of 87+ percent.

1/31/2019 4:40:45 PM

Weird, an Eastern NC TV station poll is led by the Eastern NC style food. WHAT ARE THE ODDS???

1/31/2019 4:51:06 PM

Raleigh is not eastern NC, so it'd be hard to guess on the above.

2/1/2019 9:51:39 AM

Yes, Raleigh is in the Eastern half of NC.

2/1/2019 10:02:38 AM

1. It’s pretty central and was turned into the capitol for that reason.

2. The state is divided by thirds, with Raleigh’s region bring the piedmont.

Looks like someone struggled in fifth grade.

2/1/2019 5:16:15 PM

Ok then why is Lexington style mistakenly referred to as western, smart guy? It's also in the middle/piedmont.

2/1/2019 5:18:40 PM

Alright folks.

So I was a transplant to NC. From a different country entirely, where barbecue is actively used as a verb. This is actually a common thing in the rest of the English speaking world. I have since seen the light, however, after tasting the absolute deliciousness of Eastern NC bbq, so I therefore have adopted the local vernacular to typically referring to it as a noun.

What is the correct verb for cooking the actual bbq meat? I had assumed up until now that "barbecueing" it was right, but after reading more into this thread, I stand corrected. I attribute my ignorance in the subject to NC dialect not being my first language. Clearly you aren't grilling the meat. I am not as well versed as a lot of you, but it can be prepared without being smoked, right? I've seen pulled pork made in a slow cooker before and it has been decent. I'm by no means an expert, but after living in NC for a good enough portion of my life, I can at least tell what is decent bbq.

Sidenote: Please do not ever try Alabama bbq. It is nasty.

2/1/2019 5:53:58 PM

in eastern NC, it's just "cooking a hog"

2/1/2019 6:10:40 PM

^^ Roasting is the word you're looking for.

Though I imagine you'd get shot if you ever said "I'm going to roast some barbecue!"

2/1/2019 6:13:24 PM

Quote :

"but it can be prepared without being smoked, right"

not well

meat needs wood

2/18/2019 3:07:29 PM

Quote :

"I've seen pulled pork made in a slow cooker before and it has been decent. "

While this can be true, the end result wouldn’t be bbq. It’s just pulled pork.

2/18/2019 3:16:12 PM

Quote :

"The state is divided by thirds, with Raleigh’s region bring the piedmont. "

Not with barbecue, son.

2/19/2019 9:02:08 AM

That shirt is dumb and wrong

2/19/2019 9:12:49 AM

In Memphis tonight. Gonna have some ribs, but not BBQ.

2/19/2019 12:55:14 PM

Went to Charles Vergo's Rendezvous. Was awesome.

2/20/2019 9:32:43 AM

^literally the worst ribs I've ever had.

Go to Central BBQ.

2/20/2019 9:38:36 AM

Weren't the best I've ever had, certainly not the worst. I'll try Central if I make it through there again.

2/20/2019 10:20:30 AM

it's cute that North Carolinians think they have some sort of birthright over the use and meaning of the word barbecue.

2/20/2019 10:33:08 AM

Quote :

"That shirt is dumb and wrong"

I hate to agree with Mr. Cantankerous, but he's right.

2/20/2019 11:25:39 AM

it's cute when yankees come to NC and think anyone gives a shit about their opinions on NC

2/20/2019 3:29:47 PM