Grilling/BBQ question

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Lol I’m neither, I’m grill out. “We’re going to grill out steaks tonight.”

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

So (and I realize this makes no sense), we go to a BBQ where people grill food which is a typical summer party...as in "XYZ is having a BBQ". If we are making food at home on the grill then I say "do you want to grill burgers (or whatever) tonight?" I find the phrase "grill out" to be more southern but I could definitely be wrong. I currently live in Philadelphia, but grew up on Long Island. I never expect slow cooked or smoked BBQ at a BBQ (backyard party by my definition), but wouldn't be surprised to see it. Again, I realize none of this makes any sense when you really think about it, but that's how we tend to define things.

 

[sasywtch]

Everyone I know calls it bbq'ing. If it's outside on the Weber (or whatever brand name) whether charcoal or propane, it's bbq.

 

[RedAngie]

In my experience those terms are pretty much used interchangeably.

 

[mamamary]

I’ve called it bbq’ing or having a barbecue since I grew up in NY. Here in Maryland they tend to say having or going to a cookout.

 

[gmi3804]

I knew I'd be sorry I participated in this thread as soon as I hit the "post reply" button.

How many different ways can people explain the difference among the three definitions? And who cares what I call it anyway?

 

[tzolkin]

To me, barbecue is a specific type of food. (There are many different varieties of barbecue, but they all fall under the broader category.)

Where I currently live (NC) people will say they are grilling or having a cookout. No one would say barbecue unless they were actually talking about barbecue-style food.

Growing up (NY & FL), people would generally use the verb grill ("Let's grill burgers tonight") but would refer to any party or gathering that involved grilled food as a "barbecue" (even if they were serving hot dogs and hamburgers).

 

[PollyannaMom]

If we're making dinner outside, I say we're grilling. But if there's a party involved, I say we're going to a cookout.

Normally I just say grilling. If we were having a bunch of people over then I’d say we were having a cookout. I never say BBQ.

This. (I'm in the northeast.)

 

[GAN]

Yeah, down here we say grilling if that's what we are doing- i.e. burgers, hot dogs, etc. We say barbecue if we are smoking some meat or having such things like pulled pork, ribs, etc. When I was a kid visiting my datd in RI I was told we were going to a barbecue - I was shocked to find that there was no barbecue actually there, only beurgers and dogs. Reminds me of this:

Brian ....we call it a cookout in these parts! At least most people I know around here, but in reality it probably changes by general area even though the State is so small.

 

[Kitty 34]

We don't cook food outside anymore but when we did we called it grilling.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My husband's family will often say "wanna grill out" meaning use the grill

Cookout would normally refer to the same thing but may not be grilling involved but still people over to have food and hang out. Although get together is also been used.

BBQ I feel like here (or at least IME) seems more when you're actually having BBQ foods like ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken (when it's made BBQ style), etc. If it's just hot dogs and burgers I feel like most just say grill out some hot dogs or burgers.