Eating delicious barbecue during cookouts on warm days is a cherished American tradition that many associate with carefree days surrounded by friends and family. The cuisine, featuring smoked meat seasoned with spices and sauce, is a staple of all types of gatherings, from company outings to wedding receptions.
If you want to have a catered BBQ-themed gathering but have never cooked this type of smoked meat yourself, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of barbecue so you can make sure you get exactly what you want for your event. The following guide can serve as your BBQ primer when you talk to a catering company.
Texas-style Brisket Barbecue
As the nation's top cattle-producing state for beef, Texas has a thriving barbecue scene. Connoisseurs enjoy prime beef brisket from young, well-fed cattle.
Texas barbecue may look black when it comes out of the smoker oven, but the meat is actually very tender and juicy with a delicious smoky taste. The ends of the meat slices will be charred yet delicious and the interior perfectly moist.
Chefs treat the brisket with a spicy salt rub. Depending on your preference, you can eat the meat as is or have the caterer add a light tomato-based sauce. Popular sides with Texas barbecue include pinto beans, corn bread and potato salad.
Kansas City and St. Louis Style Ribs and Pulled Pork
Missouri is another famous hub of barbecue. If you want to wow your guests with ribs and pulled pork, ask your caterer to provide you barbecue that is popular in the "Show Me State."
Missouri-style barbecue ribs and pulled pork are slow-cooked. You can choose from beef or baby back pork ribs with meat that will fall off the bone. Cooks prepare pulled pork barbecue in a slow cooker on low heat for several hours, a task that takes a lot of patience.
The sauce used in this region for the ribs and pulled pork is distinctive as it features vinegar, tomatoes and brown sugar among other ingredients added at the discretion of the chef. But the vinegary taste is a main characteristic of Missouri-style barbecue.
Do not forget to ask for loaves of white bread for your Missouri style barbecue. White bread is a staple with the smoked meat in the state.
Alabama White Sauce Barbecue
Alabama-style barbecue stands out because of its distinctive sauce. Chefs use a white sauce that is slathered over barbecue beef ribs and pork shoulder. Barbecue chicken is also popular in Alabama.
The ingredient that gives Alabama barbecue sauce its color is mayonnaise. Other common ingredients mixed with the mayonnaise include black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. You can also have the white sauce prepared by your caterer to use as a dipping sauce for sides.
Carolina Style Barbecue
If your favorite type of barbecue is shredded or chopped meat that is great for sandwiches, order Carolina-style BBQ. The barbecue from the region features smoked pig meat that is chopped and seasoned with a rub and topped with a tomato and vinegar sauce. All of the meat from the pig is used and mixed together for the pulled pork.
In some regions of the Carolinas, chefs also add mustard to the sauce.
Memphis Wet and Dry Barbecue
The city of Memphis has its own barbecue styles. It features pork meat that is served wet or dry. Chefs slow cook pork shoulder and ribs. For wet barbecue, the meat gets basted during the smoking process and then covered with a barbecue sauce. For dry Memphis barbecue, the meat gets a dry rub of herbs and spices before it gets smoked for hours.
Memphis barbecue sauce is usually a tangy tomato sauce that can also be spicy. Typical side dishes of Memphis barbecue include cole slaw and baked beans.
For more information, contact a company like Bassett Caterers.
Share12 April 2016
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