Barbecue season is back, baby, and I couldn’t be more excited!

If you’ve read my articles for more than three minutes, you know I’m obsessed with American food. I’m gonna cut to the chase because the title already says it all: you cannot get more American than good barbecue. It’s more American than apple pie. It’s more American than burgers.

If you want to really improve your cooking skills, I strongly suggest you try barbecue this year.

Why You Should Learn Barbecue

Foundational Techniques: American barbecue provides a solid foundation in fundamental cooking techniques. Barbecue involves mastering skills in fire management, temperature control, smoke direction, and slow-cooking. These techniques form the backbone of many other cooking methods, including grilling, roasting, and braising. By starting with barbecue, aspiring cooks develop a deep understanding of heat transfer, flavor development, and meat preparation, which are transferable to a wide range of culinary endeavors.

Beyond that, good barbecue often forces you to cook with basic ingredients, only adding in more complex things like sauces after you’ve nailed the essentials. You can’t go wrong by working on the basics, and barbecue will force you to do that like no other culinary pursuit.

Community and Creativity: Barbecue is as much about community and creativity as it is about cooking. Mastering barbecue involves experimentation, innovation, and collaboration. Whether participating in barbecue competitions, hosting backyard cookouts, or simply sharing a meal with friends and family, barbecue fosters a sense of camaraderie and connection. Learning barbecue encourages cooks to push boundaries, develop their own signature styles, and contribute to a vibrant culinary community.

Embracing the spirit of barbecue opens the door to endless possibilities for culinary exploration and personal expression. I never feel like I’m forging my own path so much until I’m fanning my charcoal and letting it caramelize the signature rub I invented to try to evoke the heritage and history of Utah.

Cultural and Culinary Heritage: Each regional style of barbecue—from Texas brisket to Memphis ribs—carries a unique history, flavor profile, and set of traditions. By delving into barbecue, aspiring chefs gain practical cooking skills as well as insights into American history, culture, and regional identity. Understanding the roots of barbecue enhances one's appreciation for the diversity and complexity of American cuisine as a whole. You can bet I’m going to riff on this for a while because it’s what the rest of this article is about.

Did You Know The Founding Fathers Loved Barbecue?

The Founding Fathers of the United States, including figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, were known for their keen interest in barbecue.

Many of the Founding Fathers were avid hosts of social gatherings and political events, where barbecue often took center stage as a culinary attraction. George Washington, for example, was known to host elaborate barbecues at Mount Vernon for guests ranging from fellow politicians to foreign dignitaries.

Barbecue was not just a culinary indulgence for the Founding Fathers but also a symbol of American identity and unity. Thomas Jefferson, a noted gourmand and epicurean, often served barbecue at Monticello during gatherings of political leaders and intellectuals. Barbecue became intertwined with notions of democracy and equality, as it was enjoyed by people from all walks of life, regardless of social status or background.

The Founding Fathers' appreciation for barbecue contributed to its prominence in early American cuisine and social customs. Benjamin Franklin, in particular, praised the virtues of barbecue in his writings, extolling its ability to bring people together and foster conviviality. As the fledgling nation sought to define its culinary identity, barbecue emerged as a unifying force that transcended regional differences and cultural divides.

Granted, Benjamin Franklin was also a little bit insane. He once put on an “electric barbecue,” where he killed a turkey with an electric shock and cooked it over an electrified grill (which he swore made the meat juicier), and he had his guests drink from electrified glasses where they got tiny little shocks to thrill them with the beverages. He then made a mistake with one of the turkeys and accidentally shocked himself instead. It knocked him clean out.

Point is, the founders of this nation were barbecue fiends.

Even before the Founding Fathers, barbecue was a common cooking method in colonial America, with colonists adopting Indigenous and African techniques of smoking and slow-cooking meat over open flames. The Founding Fathers' embrace of barbecue reflected this longstanding tradition while also elevating it to a symbol of national pride and cultural heritage.

No wonder we love barbecue on the 4th of July.

So What’s Your Point?

Barbecue isn't just about cooking meat; it's about preserving traditions, fostering community, and celebrating the diverse flavors of American cuisine. This barbecue season, fire up the grill, gather your friends and family, and embark on a new culinary adventure. Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or a novice cook, there's a new frontier to explore at your grill. Let's embrace the spirit of American cookery!