The Movers.com Blog

Mmmm...barbecue...

The backyard barbecue is a staple of American culture. And, due to the warm weather in store for much of us this weekend (not to mention the start of May), many people across the country will be firing up their grills for the first time this year. I plan to take part in this American tradition this weekend as well.

Cooking food over a fire is perhaps the simplest method of cooking, but it has evolved throughout the world into the many styles of barbecue. The United States alone has many, many regional styles of barbecue, each one using different types of meat, flavors, and cooking styles. Depending on how much you love grilled food, you may just decide to move to one of these top ten places known for their unique barbecue.

1. Memphis - This Tennessee city is perhaps the most famous location for barbecue in the country. Memphis is known for its ribs and pulled pork that have been given a dry spice rub and smoked.

2. Kansas City - While pork is the meat of choice for Memphis, Kansas City barbecue style can use either pork or beef ribs. No matter what type of meat, you can be sure that it will be slathered in a thick layer of sweet and tangy Kansas City style barbecue sauce.

3. The Carolinas - Whether you move to North Carolina or South Carolina, you expect to eat plenty of chopped pork, adorned with a thin, sharp sauce made up of mustard and vinegar.

4. Texas - Rounding out the big four regions of barbecue is Texas, famous for its brisket and other cuts of beef. Barbecue in Texas is usually cooked “low and slow” and smoked with mesquite, pecan, or hickory wood.

5. New England - If you love seafood, you might want to move to New England and participate in one of the regions legendary clambakes. You can enjoy clams, lobster, corn, and potatoes all cooked together on a fire at the beach.

6. Hawaii - Hawaii is famous for its luaus, and the most famous dish of a luau is a whole pig cooked underground. This unique method of grilling involves digging a whole, putting hot volcanic rocks in it, placing a pig wrapped in banana leaves on top of the rocks, and burying the whole thing until it’s cooked.

7. St. Louis - Though not as famous as Kansas City, St. Louis still is a hotspot for barbecue lovers. In addition to ribs, this city specializes in pork steaks and “crispy snoots,” which are barbecued pig snouts.

8. Seattle - Salmon is a staple throughout much of the Pacific Northwest. In Seattle and the surrounding area, it is customary to grill salmon on a cedar plank, which gives the fish a richer, smokier flavor.

9. Central California - This part of California is famous for grilling up an obscure cut of beef - the tri-tip. The small town of Santa Maria made this dish its specialty, and now the rest of the state enjoys it as well.

10. New York City - Though New York might not have its own regional barbecue specialty, this culinary capital of the world has plenty of restaurants serving all of the above dishes. Aside from American barbecue, you can even sample barbecue styles from the rest of the world.