The History of Barbecue

The true history of barbecue cooking is like many things in human history is shrouded in unknowns.  We can research the old records but the story is incomplete, even when and how and by whom barbecue was first introduced into north America. 

We begin our adventure into the history of barbecue with an essay written in 1997 by Laura Dove, then a student at the University of Virginia.

Southern Cultural Icon

by Laura Dove

When traveling through the South, your best bet for authentic and carefully prepared Southern cuisine is any of the many barbecue restaurants that dot the landscape.  Don't be fooled by the casual atmosphere in most of these barbecue joints;  these are the places where the legacy of Southern food is vigilantly protected. In the Southern United States, barbecue is a cherished cultural icon.

Go To Dove ESSAYS >>

American barbecue conjecture - the origins of barbecue

Since the the dawn of man and his first use of fire, he has been cooking meat over or in a wood fire.  Those who study ancient man tell us that soon after he discovered and learned to control the making and use of fire, he used fire to cook the meat he hunted and killed.  Building a fire and letting it burn down to red-glowing coals and then throwing on a whole freshly-killed animal is the earliest form of cooking and barbecuing. As early man experimented and learned, this form of cooking became more sophisticated.  The meat was no longer thrown onto or into the coals but was skinned, cleaned and roasted or grilled on sticks held above the coals.  This new method of cooking meat was more efficient as little of the meat was burned and it provided for a more tasty product.  Early man then went on to develop barbecue rubs and barbecue sauces to enhance the flavor of his meat.  Oh, perhaps we getting ahead of ourselves a bit.

The authentic origin of American barbecue--the American barbecue conjecture--is described in these essays.  It is not the authentic history of barbecue because as of today, that history is unknown and the best we can do is to conjecture on its origins.  So click on the links below to read more.

Go To Conjecture Essays >>

Go To Background Essays >>