Taking Garden Barbecues to the Next Level and Beyond
Where I come from, barbecues are not just lazy Sunday affairs, instead barbecuing is actually considered a competitive sport. No, I am not kidding about this, there are teams that are formed to travel across the United States to compete for titles like Grill Master. The members are hardcore, and they mean business when it comes to these events.
Of course there is always an element of fun involved, which is evidenced by some of the names that these teams and competition groups have chosen. At this point I absolutely cannot resist sharing at least a couple of my all time favourites with you now. In Fairfax, Virginia there is the Dizzy Pig Championship BBQ Team and in Fairfield there is the Pit Pirates Competition BBQ Team. While in Massachusetts there is one called I Smell Smoke, and Florida has the Swamp Boys.
With this kind of heritage, and as I am preparing to go back to my birthplace of New Orleans, Louisiana I must do a lot more than schedule flights and pack a suitcase. For during my stay I will be attending a bunch of summer barbecues, and hosting one of my own in my parents garden. So, I have been working to perfect my barbecuing technique, and sauces.
I have been planning this trip back to NOLA for more than six months now, and have been very cognizant of the fact that I will be the one in the spotlight at the feast we hold at my family’s home. Though I am seriously looking forward to indulging in all this good food, I also feel a little nervous about whether my own cooking will stack up. As such I have been doing a lot of practice runs on our own barbecue, and spent a lot of time testing potential secret ingredients for what will become my signature sauce. It eventually came to me to use a bit of carob in the mix.
Pretty soon I will have to leave the familiarity of my own garden bbq behind and take off for the Gulf Coast of the United States and the land where grilling is king. Then all that will be left to do will be to mentally prepare myself to play with those who dominate the gas barbecues on the other side of the pond. Wish me and my carob infused bbq sauce good luck, I think we are going to need it.