| Alright, since we have already established how pigs | | | | church one Sunday back in the Carolinas where after |
| (pork) came over here to America, let's keep moving | | | | the porky meal they put on a Civil War Enactment. |
| on. The pigs were just left to wander the wild. The | | | | Here is one difference that you can have even in the |
| weather conditions were such that it just was not | | | | same town: it is the difference or various types of |
| very conducive to raising cattle; most of them | | | | sauces, rubs, wood you BBQ on. Some cooks swear |
| perished and died back east in that climate so raising | | | | by a specific type of wood to smoke by and others |
| pigs became the norm. | | | | vary it up. Others use just salt and pepper and let |
| So we have now established that pork is the | | | | the true flavor of the meat come through. And still |
| featured BBQ meat of the South. We call it Southern | | | | other cooks use BBQ rub very liberally. |
| Style BBQ Pork. But what exactly is true barbecue? | | | | Final destination: You just take a pork shoulder and if |
| This way of cooking is so old and every part of the | | | | you chose to use BBQ rub, put it on there liberally, |
| region has its own way of doing things, it is hard to | | | | then put it in your smoker and let er rip! s l o w l y. |
| deliver on a definition of exactly what 'pulled pork' is. | | | | Hours and hours and hours until the internal |
| Because when you are talking Southern Style BBQ | | | | temperature reaches 165 degrees F., which is the |
| Pork you almost always come to the conclusion that | | | | correct temperature for pork. We do not need |
| you are talking about 'pulled pork.' | | | | anyone getting sick on us. |
| At its very lowest level of definition, pulled pork is | | | | That is the first benchmark for safety, however, you |
| pork that is cooked very slowly over a low, smoky | | | | can cook it longer so that it will be easier to pull apart |
| fire. This is cooked to the point where the pork can | | | | and it will definitely be more tender, but do not |
| be 'pulled' apart with the hands. In other words, | | | | exceed 190 degrees F. After you have removed the |
| Southern Style BBQ Pork is just Southern Style | | | | pork shoulder from the smoker allow it to rest for a |
| barbecue or as they call it: pulled pork. We can call it | | | | minimum of thirty minutes. The temperature will |
| smoked pork. | | | | continue to climb for about another 10 degrees. That |
| My wife and I have traveled in every state and | | | | is ok. The reason you cook it this way is to melt all |
| eaten BBQ in every state except Maine. We know | | | | the fat away and the tough connective tissues which |
| BBQ. We know pork. (MAINE is on the agenda for | | | | are called collagen have broken down. And now the |
| 2010) In our travels we have found that this pulled | | | | pork should be so tender as to enable you to pull it |
| pork can be delivered to you in many different ways. | | | | apart by hand easily. |
| It can be pulled apart by hand. It can be chopped, | | | | Remember, though, you can just as easily slice it. |
| sliced, diced. It can be shredded as they do for BBQ | | | | You can shred it. You can chop it. Most |
| burritos or enchiladas. Now that is an interesting | | | | establishments down South serve it with white bread |
| combination: Southern Style BBQ and Mexican | | | | or rolls. If you happen to be in the Carolinas they will |
| cooking. | | | | put the pulled pork on a hanburger bun and top it |
| However you define it, Southern Style BBQ is way | | | | with coleslaw. Yeah, that's right, coleslaw right on top |
| more than just food or a meal. It is just simple a | | | | of the pulled pork - in the sandwhich. Fantastic!...and |
| way for people to gather and have fun. Whether it | | | | as my good friend, Alton Brown, would say, "That's |
| be for a social occasion, political, a BBQ after church | | | | Good Eats!. |
| on Sunday. My wife and I even went to one after | | | | |