Skip to content

Our 2024 Print Your Own Calendar is now on sale! Buy now!

Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.

Anthony Bourdain

There’s one thing that truly tells you that it’s summer, and that’s the rich savory smell of barbecue floating through the air. In every small town all over the world, the smell of starter fluid and charcoal is a sign that something beautiful is happening in a backyard somewhere. National Barbecue Day was created to laud this age-old cooking practice, and to encourage us all to get out and try our hand at creating delicious backyard cuisine.

Learn about National Barbecue Day

The word ‘barbecue’ is used to describe the name of a gathering or meal, style of food, grilling device, or cooking method whereby barbecued foods are cooked and served. A barbecue can refer to a type of social occasion that features this sort of cooking. It can also refer to the way the meat is cooked, as well as the cooking method that is used.

We love nothing more than getting our friends and family together on a warm day and enjoying delicious barbecued meat with a fresh and crispy salad and other tasty side dishes. When the sun comes out, even if we only experience a mere glimmer of light, the country transforms and a BBQ is the first thing on everyone’s mind.

If you are planning on hosting an event, whether it is a celebratory occasion or a mere get together, an outdoor BBQ never fails, and National Barbecue Day celebrates this! Not that we need an excuse to get the barbecue out!

Barbecuing is typically done outside by smoking meat over charcoal or wood. Of course, you can also barbecue fish and vegetables as well. There are a lot of different countries that practice barbecues, with a number of regional varieties. You can spend some time reading up on the different styles of barbecue and the various traditions. Look at the different items that are popular in various areas. For example, pulled pork sandwiches are a big hit in Memphis and North Carolina. In Maryland, pit beef prevails as the main choice, with mutton being popular in Kentucky.

There are a number of different techniques that can be used when barbecuing. This includes grilling, roasting, and smoking. The technique after which a barbecue is named incorporates cooking while using smoke at very long temperatures, as well as long cooking times.

History of National Barbecue Day

First let us begin with a simple definition, what is barbecue? Barbecue is a process by which food is prepared over an indirect heat, and is flavored by the smoke produced by the source of that heat. In that one simple sentence, you begin to get an idea of just how complex the process of proper barbecuing can be. Everything you do when preparing a barbecued meal changes the flavor of the end product. That’s where you get the term “apple smoked” or “mesquite grilled”, these meals have all been touched by the flavor of the wood-smoke they were cooked over.

The origins of barbecue seem to lay with the indigenous Haitians encountered by the Spanish when Columbus first arrived. They discovered them cooking meat on sticks suspended above the fire, flavored by the smoke and heat, and brought the process back home. So it was that term barbacoa entered the Spanish lexicon, and it didn’t take long from there for it to become barbecue. The process has spread all over the world and is now used to prepare all sorts of things, from every type of meat imaginable to fruits and vegetables. Anything is possible with National Barbecue Day!

How to celebrate National Barbecue Day

Get your friends together for an outdoors barbecue in your backyard. Everyone loves the taste of freshly grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and steak! Those who don’t will certainly enjoy grilled pineapple and eggplant, and that’s just the beginning of what can go on your grill.

Do you like Mexican food? Fantastic! Try making fajitas with grilled bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Of course, our personal favorite is barbecue chicken, especially with a rich and savory barbecue sauce. Ultimately you can do whatever you like, but remember that National Barbecue Day is all about family, friends, and food, so spend the day appropriately!

If you’re worried that you are going to set your hair on fire, you can even get BBQ caterers! There are several things you should be mindful of, though. You need to find a company that places a strong emphasis on quality.

From the cooking equipment and machines used to the ingredients cooked, everything needs to be the best of the best. You should also take a look at the various menu options they have available. Make sure you are happy with the dishes that are on offer. One of the best ways to determine the worth of a catering company is to read the reviews that have been left by others.

What do they have to say about the service they received? Would they recommend it? This is the best way to get an honest assessment. You will instantly get a feel as to whether this is a BBQ catering company you want to hire. Of course, we would definitely encourage you to try and do your own barbecue! However, if you can’t, this does not mean you need to miss out. Plus, a bit of help means you can enjoy time with your friends and family members!

Also on ...

View all holidays
View all holidays

We think you may also like...

Calendar