Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Blowin' Smoke 001 - BBQ (sp)

In researching and visiting hundreds of barbeque joints around the great State of Texas, I've come across more ways to spell barbeque than you can shake a stick at. In all that time I have witnessed and read about countless arguments varying from which wood is best for smoking, to whether sauce is a necessary addition to smoked meat. Not once have I heard an argument about the correct spelling of the very term whose definition these arguments try to refine. The most common spellings that I have come across include:

Barbecue
Barbeque
BBQ
B-B-Q
Bar-B-Que
Bar-B-Q
and even BBCue

According to Webster, both "barbecue" and "barbeque" are acceptable, and that easily translates to the shorthand "BBQ". In my humble opinion, the term has no room for hyphens, so I declare that we stop using them to describe our favorite smoked meats. I think three choices should be plenty.

- BBQ Snob

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DISCLAIMER:

Each joint is judged on the essence of Texas 'cue...sliced brisket and pork ribs. Sausage is only considered if house made. Sauce is good, but good meat needs no adornment to satisfy. Each review can only be based on specific cuts of meat on that particular day. Finally, if the place fries up catfish or serves a caesar salad, then chances are they aren't paying enough attention to the pits, so we mostly steered clear.

-THE PROPHETS OF SMOKED MEAT