Sunday, November 6, 2011

Pig-Pickin' Explained



                                             



Last evening I posted I was going to a friend's house for a pig pickin'.  I received several comments that some really didn't know what I was talking about.  I really had a good laugh from some of the questions and statements.  Hopefully, I can help clarify things a little and one day, maybe someday, you might come to North Carolina for a pig pickin or some of our fantastic barbecue.

 
A pig-pickin (or pig roast) is usually a party or gathering of friends which involves barbecuing a whole pig on an open grill.  There's usually a lot of testosterone involved in this grilling.  It's definitely a man thing.   Some communities have cook-offs competing for prize money of who can prepare the best barbecue from the pig. It's very popular to have pig pickin's when tailgating at college football games and political rallies.   
                  

This party was catered, so a big grill was brought in to cook the pig.  Hardwoods are added usually to produce coals to slowly cook it.  Sometimes hickory wood or some other hardwood is added to flavor the smoke which enhances the flavor or the meat. 


Tables were set up outside our host's home to hold all the fixings and sides for our barbecue.  We had barbecued chicken along with the pork barbecue, hushpuppies (fried cornmeal occasionally flavored with onion), coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, and loads of desserts, sweet tea, and lots of beer!



Our fire felt really good.  It really was quite chilly and then quite cold as the evening went on.


Isn't her riding ring to die for. My daughter brings Ace over here from time to time or she rides one of their horses.  It is just beautiful back off the beaten path.  What I found out very quickly at this party was either you were a horse person or you were a tennis player ~ that's where all the conversation seemed to be.  So ... my husband and my daughter's boyfriend were very quiet.   


            People in North Carolina are crazy about their barbecue.  Eastern North Carolina's barbecue has a vinegar and pepper based sauce. Western North Carolina uses sauce with a tomato base similar to traditional barbecue sauce.  Some families and restaurants make their own sauce.  And mercy ... don't ask them for the recipe!  They will eye you down like a hawk and quietly say ... "this is a secret sauce, been in the family for years"..
                     
                                       There is a North Carolina barbecue trail from eastern North Carolina to Tennessee with 24 historic barbecue pits.  These eating establishments still use the old fashioned pit cooked method and the best of the barbecue you will find anywhere. 
                                              
                                                      
This is what you want right here ~ a good plate of everything whether you're pig pickin with friends or you stop in for a plate or sandwich along the way. 

I hope your week gets off to a really good start. Thanks everyone for all your comments. I find you are some of the most interesting bunch of people and I just love to hear from you.  ~ Debi
                        







   


14 comments:

  1. Aha! I got it now. Now, how can I get some?

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  2. OMGosh it looks so good, you are making me miss NC so much right now...I always regretted not getting to Fayetteville for the festival while living in NC...Though did get to enjoy a good one in Charlotte the yr before we left...Though I do have to admit there is some really good BBQ here in rural north Central FL too...After all the original Sonny's is just up the road aways :)

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  3. I went to NC a couple times on business and the locals took me to a small "by the side of the road" barbecue restaurant. It was sooooo good. It was the first time my pulled pork sandwich arrived with the cold slaw ON the sandwich. Yummy. We were near Raleigh so I guess that's the Eastern recipe?

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  4. Looks like y'all had a good time! Thanks for explaining 'pig pickin' to us. :)
    We do have pig roasts here in Ky, but it's neat finding out what people in other states call it. Now I'm suddenly craving some BBQ pulled pork! Haha

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  5. Mouth is watering......must pick some pig .....

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  6. I am going to have my husband read this post...his mouth will be watering for sure. Before we met he was at Ft. Bragg and during those years enjoyed this type of food. Sometimes he gets a far away look in his eyes when trying to explain the joy of it all. xo

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  7. Our daughter's wedding reception in June was a pig picking ... complete with a photo of the beautiful bride kissing the pig! The food was SO good.

    We collect barbeque places whenever The Husband and I are traveling. One of the best I have had so far is in the shadow of the Corolla Lighthouse on the Outer Banks.

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  8. LOL....i totally knew what a pig roast is both from living in wisconsin and in north carolina....it's funny that some people don't know what it is :)

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  9. Oh~~~~ so there we have it. Very simple. We have our share of pig roasts here, too! Not so confusing a name...but the same! Thanks for the clarification. It sounds like it was a great time!

    XO,
    Jane

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  10. Got it. Pig Pickin' = Pig Roast. I like the name pig pickin' better :-) Man that first pic with the sandwich looks GOOD!

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  11. Your sandwich does look good. Thank you for visiting me the other day...just looking at your sidebar and seeing such cute animals...your pups are adorable! xox

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  12. catching up here from traveling ... it all looks so good with great times!

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  13. Thank you so much for telling us all about it! I would love to experience a pick picking one of these days! Your plate just made my mouth water, and that rarely happens to this regular food blog reader! And I have to agree that riding ring is just so beautiful, even a little romantic when ones imagines certain lovely horses being ridden there.

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  14. Nice job on describing pig picking!
    I get a kick out of the barbecue sauce arguments and battle lines. My husband won't eat anything without a mustard-based sauce. I actually don't care for it. I prefer the ketchup based sauce. Ah... a battle in the making!

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