Celebrating Cultural Diversity Through Cuisine at The Harbour School

The Story of American Barbecue

Food offers a unique way to bring us together in a world that often feels divided. Through our Culinary Anthropology classes, we’ve discovered that the histories behind our foods can bridge gaps and celebrate the common threads that connect us all. These culinary stories remind us of the beautiful things we can create when cultures and people collaborate, and nowhere is this more evident than in the evolution of American barbecue.

American barbecue is a perfect example of this. The word "barbecue" itself comes from the Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, who invented the method. The Spanish, in turn, adopted and spread it to other European colonial powers. As the technique spread, American colonists embraced it, adapting it to their tastes and developing unique methods of slow-cooking over an open fire. Enslaved Africans also brought their culinary traditions, blending them with Indigenous practices. They introduced methods of smoking, spicing, and saucing, helping barbecue evolve into an important Black tradition. The term "pitmaster" even traces back to the role of older enslaved African cooks who oversaw this process.

The diversity of cultural influences is also reflected in the sauces. Vinegar-based sauces, for example, draw from British traditions, while mustard-based sauces echo the tastes of German and French immigrants. Meanwhile, the sweet, tangy barbecue sauces that we recognize today began to emerge along the Mississippi River, where access to sugarcane and spices was plentiful.

From these many influences, barbecue has evolved into a quintessential part of American culture, especially in the South. Regional variations, like the prominence of beef in Texas, reflect the vastness and resources of the land and the influence of Mexican Rancher. Through barbecue, we can savor the intertwined stories of the people who helped build this nation—and remember the incredible things we can achieve when we come together.