If all of the world´s cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion, architecture, literature, painting, etc..) was contained in a time capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of your country?

1. If all of the world´s cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion,
architecture, literature, painting, etc..) was contained in a time
capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of
your country?
Eastern Carolina Barbecue
February 6, 2014
Logan Hanner
Feb 10, 2014
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2. What defines culture?
 Music, language, clothing and costumes, religion and rituals, etc.
 Food is perhaps most inspirational and accessible method for
understanding a new culture
 Captures the daily routine of a culture
 Utilizes local culinary resources
 Embodies the spirit or lifestyle of a culture (which ethnicities appreciate
spicier foods, which ones focus on legumes/pulses, is there a
dominant protein, etc..) and helps elucidate their worldview
 Examples include tamales of Mexico, sushi from Japan, or the
borscht of Ukraine
Feb 10, 2014
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3. A Carolina Thing…
 As US is so large and encompasses so many regions, it is important
to differentiate these regions
 North Carolina was historically a poorer colony during British rule,
inhabited mostly by Scots and Irish and known primarily for
production of tobacco, cotton, and pork
 With such an abundance of pork, it became natural for southern
populations to master its cooking
Feb 10, 2014
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4. The BBQ Schism
 As the southern US states developed, and their cuisine evolved, a
divide began
 Four major barbecue styles emerged
 Carolina (even here, 3-5 subsets are distinguished)
 Texas
 Kansas City
 Memphis
 Today, each region naturally asserts theirs is the tastiest and only
true “barbecue” leading to many heated arguments
Feb 10, 2014
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5. Cooking
 Eastern Carolina barbecue is a labor
of love
 Usually, a pig begins smoking the
night before or in the early hours of
the morning
 The entire pig is used, coining the
phrase, “everything but the oink”
 Throughout the smoking, the pig is basted with a peppery, vinegar
sauce, keeping the meat succulent and moist
 When the meat is falling off the bone, all of it is chopped, tossed
together, and re-sauced
 The skin is often thrown back on the pit to cook further into
crackling
Feb 10, 2014
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6. The Event
 While the lone chef starts cooking the pig early, by the time day
breaks, the real fun begins
 Friends and family gather and help cook the pig, bring side dishes,
and help set up for a day of togetherness
Feb 10, 2014
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7. Accoutrements
 While the star of the day remains
the pig, all Carolinians know that a
pig pickin’ requires plenty of
vegetables for sides
 Greens: collards preferably, but kale,
turnip, and mustard greens
sometimes are found
 Okra: hot-pickled, fried, steamed…
it’s all good
 Field peas
 Fixins’: a bun and slaw for the barbecue
 Music is a necessity as well and often bluegrass, a
musical genre started in the NC mountains with
banjos, guitars, and fiddles is the music of choice
Feb 10, 2014
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8. In conclusion…
 The essence of North Carolina can be easily experienced with a
simple pig pickin’
 Events such as these are an invitation to be part of a family, relax,
laugh, toss a football, and enjoy good company
 The occasion marries the food endemic to North Carolina and the
simplicity with which it is made with the hospitality and joie de vivre
that locals to this region emanate
 In short, if I could submit one piece of North Carolina to the world’s
cultural collage, it would be our “true” barbecue!
Feb 10, 2014
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