Barbecue

The word barbecue transparent png download derives from the Taino language, which is spoken by a Caribbean Indian group. Barbacoa is the Spanish word for grilling on a high wooden grate. According to Planet Barbecue, the word first appeared in print in a Spanish explorer’s description of the West Indies in 1526.

Barbecues have a long and unexpectedly patriotic history as a favorite American activity and summer tradition for many.

According to Planet Barbecue, they began when a human ancestor known as Homo erectus began cooking meat with fire around 1.8 million years ago (Workman Publishing, 2010). Barbecues, as we know them now, originated in the Caribbean, with meat cooked over a grill or pit, covered with spices and basting sauce.

Barbecues’ popularity has grown exponentially since then. Barbecuing has a long history in America, dating back to colonial times, and it has remained a part of the culture ever since. In fact, during the 1650s, one of the first ordinances enacted in the province of Virginia prohibited the discharge of firearms during a barbecue.

The milestones were remembered with barbecues when America won the Revolutionary War, laid the cornerstone of the Capitol, and built the first bridge across the Missouri River, according to Steven Raichlen, author of Planet Barbecue and host of PBS’ Primal Grill.

Our presidents were also known to enjoy this leisurely sport. Barbecues are mentioned frequently in George Washington’s journals, including one that lasted three days.
According to Raichlen of LifesLittleMysteries, George Washington was a huge barbeque fan. When Abraham Lincoln’s parents were married, they had a BBQ for their wedding feast.
Famous inventors left their stamp on the American barbeque along the way: in 1921, Thomas Edison planned and built the first commercial charcoal briquet factory, which was built by Henry Ford.

Barbecuing now plays a particularly important role in Southern cuisine, which is known for its rich and tangy flavor. For more than 150 years, the folks of Owensboro, Ky., have been grilling mutton, not dainty lamb, but huge, gamey mutton.