Current:Home > MyAt the ‘Super Bowl of Swine,’ global barbecuing traditions are the wood-smoked flavor of the day -Wealth Pursuit Network
At the ‘Super Bowl of Swine,’ global barbecuing traditions are the wood-smoked flavor of the day
Poinbank Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 09:42:46
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) — The smell of wood fire wafting on the breeze is the first sense that gets triggered at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis, where smoke is as essential an ingredient as salt.
For the teams that annually compete at the so-called Super Bowl of Swine, they’ve elevated backyard barbecue to fine dining under the sun, incorporating techniques passed on from generation to generation and creating a multi-cultural community united by food.
Held last weekend as part of the Memphis in May International Festival, the annual cooking contest has also connected people across borders as food culture, both online and in-person, has spread the word about the popular event for world-class pitmasters.
A company called Sociedad Mexicana de Parrilleros has sent a team from Mexico to Memphis for 10 years to compete against mostly American teams and to learn from them as well.
“Each country has its own traditions and regions. But I think everything merges together right now,” said Juan Garza of the Mexican-based team. “And with globalization and all of this, different techniques are going across borders.”
Out of the 129 teams competing this year, there were teams comprised of people from New Zealand, Norway, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, each one bringing their own culinary traditions and blending them with Memphis’ food scene. In the past, teams made up of people from Argentina, Canada and Puerto Rico have also joined in.
Garza’s team prepared pork shoulder, but they were also making a beef brisket and tacos and giving away samples of their salsas and sauces. Coming to Memphis every year and returning with pig-shaped gold trophies has helped them expand their sales in Mexico and beyond.
Brent Little, of Memphis, and Bruno Panhoca, a pitmaster from São Paulo, met over Instagram when Panhoca was demonstrating how to cook Memphis-style ribs for his Brazilian followers. Little invited Panhoca and another Brazilian pitmaster Adriano Pedro to join The Pig Diamonds, a team that has been competing in the world championship contest since before 1980.
“The Memphis style is a style that you can taste all the flavors of the meat, the dry rubs, and you can put a sauce on it,” Panhoca said.
Besides competing in the whole hog competition, The Pig Diamonds excel at unique submissions for the ancillary categories like beef, chicken, wings, seafood and sauces. Last year, they made coxinha, a popular Brazilian chicken dish. This year they made a wagyu brisket beef wellington.
“Barbecue brings people together,” said Little. “The bonds that you make in Memphis in May are so deep.”
Immigrants have always been defining and changing American barbecue styles and traditions. The standard for Memphis ribs was created by the son of Greek immigrants, Charlie Vergos. His famous Rendezvous restaurant popularized dry-rubbed ribs seasoned with paprika and other spices based on his dad’s chili recipe and slathered in a vinegar wash.
Kenneth Richardson, head chef of the Memphis-based team When the Smoke Clears, said those Greek flavors and spices from Louisiana and other regions along on the Mississippi River all combined to influence Memphis barbecue over the decades.
“We’ve got a really dynamic influence in our barbecue,” said Richardson. “It’s kind of hard to nail it unless you grew up in this region.”
Even though competition is stiff and teams often come within less than one point of each other, they often share techniques and ideas, creating relationships between teams run by well-known restaurant owners and hobbyists.
The Mexican team works under the mantra “El Fuego Nos Une,” which means the fire unites us, explained Garza. That’s good advice for any backyard griller looking to host a Memorial Day party with friends and family, he said.
“It’s about the time that you spend around the people that you care for and you love around the grill. That matters for us,” said Garza. “And that’s why we do what we do.”
veryGood! (7518)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- A tax increase, LGBTQ+ youth protections and more sick leave highlight California’s new laws in 2024
- Gypsy Rose Blanchard released from Missouri prison early Thursday morning, DOC confirms
- Texans quarterback CJ Stroud says he'll start vs. Titans after recovering from concussion
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Biden announces $250 million in military aid to Ukraine, final package of 2023
- Mikaela Shiffrin closes out 2023 with a huge victory for 93rd career win
- Almcoin Trading Exchange: Why Apply for the U.S. MSB License?
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Miller Moss, Caleb Williams' replacement, leads USC to Holiday Bowl win vs. Louisville
Ranking
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Wildfire smoke this year woke up places unaccustomed to its effects. Now what?
- Are bowl games really worth the hassle anymore, especially as Playoff expansion looms?
- Vikings tab rookie QB Jaren Hall to start Sunday night vs. Green Bay
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Group resubmits proposal to use paper ballots in Arkansas elections
- Ohio State sold less than two-thirds of its ticket allotment for Cotton Bowl
- North Carolina retiree fatally struck by U.S. Postal Service truck, police say
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Mom says pregnant Texas teen found shot to death with boyfriend was just there at the wrong time
Rare southern white rhinoceros born on Christmas Eve at Zoo Atlanta
U.S. launches retaliatory strikes after drone attack on Iraq military base wounds 3 U.S. service members, Pentagon says
Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
As tree species face decline, ‘assisted migration’ gains popularity in Pacific Northwest
Third mistrial is declared in Nebraska double murder case, but prosecutors vow to try man again
Social Security's high earners will get almost $5,000 a month in 2024. Here's how they got there.