It does still make my ancestry frown to see people call this setup a barbecue when they are obviously grilling.

RiderFan said:

It does still make my ancestry frown to see people call this setup a barbecue when they are obviously grilling.

honestly ive never really been told at all in my life that there was a difference. gotta love learning things in danbooru

barbecue:

- A grill, pit, or outdoor fireplace for roasting meat.

- A whole animal carcass or section thereof roasted or broiled over an open fire or on a spit.

- A social gathering, usually held outdoors, at which food is cooked over an open flame.

I see no contradiction here.

Is that Waldo in the background?

LilithRed said:

honestly ive never really been told at all in my life that there was a difference. gotta love learning things in danbooru

It’s both regional and contentious. Wikipedia gives a nice overview of some of the regional aspects:

In American English usage in the Southern U.S, grilling refers to a fast process over high heat while barbecuing refers to a slow process using indirect heat or hot smoke, similar to some forms of roasting. In a typical U.S. home grill, food is cooked on a grate directly over hot charcoal, while in a U.S. barbecue the coals are dispersed to the sides or at a significant distance from the grate. However in the Northern U.S the term barbecuing includes grilling; for example in northern states barbecue fare often includes grilled hot dogs and hamburgers (which in the southern states would be considered fare for grilling or a cookout). In British usage, barbequeing refers to a fast cooking process done directly over high heat, while grilling refers to cooking under a source of direct, moderate-to-high heat—known in the United States as broiling.

In practice, things have become a lot more muddled since the internet has broken down some of these regional distinctions. (It’s why we’re discussing it on danbooru!)

As for the contentious part… Well, let’s just say some people take the distinctions very seriously. Here’s what The Campaign for Real Barbecue has to say:

Barbecue embodies history and tradition. Since its obscure beginnings, it has been cooked with heat and smoke from burning wood or wood coals. Wood smoke defines Real Barbecue. Without it, one has merely roast meat – “faux ‘cue.”

The Campaign for Real Barbecue exists:
1. to celebrate and to promote barbecue’s wood-cooking heritage,
2. to identify and to honor those who stay true to the traditions of their place and provide the benchmark for Real Barbecue, and
3. to educate eaters about the barbecue tradition and the difference between Real Barbecue and faux ‘cue.

By that definition, grilling’s completely out.

Here’s a fun article solely focused on regional barbecue in North Carolina. It doesn’t even touch on Texas, Memphis, Kansas City, or any other regional traditions. It has a great line:

Southern barbecue is the closest thing we have in the U.S. to Europe’s wines or cheeses; drive a hundred miles and the barbecue changes.

alexlapin said:

Is that Waldo in the background?

I think so.

Some people miss the forest for the trees they don't realize barbecue is about the social event, not about the way food gets cooked.

Just because I'll bathe on a public open area with water doesn't mean I'll get picky because it's not a bathtub or a bathroom.

EDIT: Imagine my ancestors crying because I'm taking a shower under a cascade... or in a bathtub with shower. Or even better, on a bathtub because I didn't know there was no shower in the barhroom.

Is that a raccoon in the background next to the guy’s nose?

Looks more like a tanuki than a trash panda.

ilnarnar said:

I think so.

Comments on the original Tweet are saying the same thing. Adding tag.

I found Wally