Did you know?

The first barbecuers may have been prehistoric cave dwellers. Anthropologists say they may have started roasting meat some 1.4 million years ago.

Contemporary barbecue involves cooking meat for long periods of time at low temperatures over a wood fire. Hard woods such as hickory, mesquite, pecan and the different varieties of oak impart a strong smoke flavor; maple, alder, and fruit woods such as apple, pear, and cherry impart a milder, sweeter taste.

While the standard spelling of the word is barbecue, other spellings are acceptable: barbeque, BBQ, Bar-B-Q and

Bar-B-Que.

Sweet or sugar-based sauces should only be brushed on at the end, but marinades made with vinegar, oil or yogurt can be brushed on throughout the grilling process.

Lexington, NC, which claims to be "The Barbecue Capital of the World," has over 20 barbecue restaurants - more than one BBQ restaurant per 1,000 residents. The town's month long October barbecue festival includes a Parade of Pigs on bicycles called the Tour de Pig.

Q Quiz

Test your knowledge of regional barbecue in a fun 20 question quiz food.aol.com

Local 'Cue Joints

- Dixson Bar-B-Q 1201 E. Magnolia Avenue 525.9305 (take-out mostly/limited seating)

- Fats BBQ 2701 Whittle Springs Road 524.1929 (take-out mostly/limited seating)

- M&M Catering 1031 Summerwood Drive 692.1003 (take-out only)

- Ott's Bar-BQ 12828 Kingston Pike 675.6887 (take-out mostly/limited seating)

- Scruggs Real Pit Barbecue

1920 E. Magnolia Avenue 524.4333 (full service)

- Sweet P's Barbecue and Soul House 6014 Glenmary Road 247-7748 (take-out & delivery)

- TD's Barbecue 5306 Middlebrook Pike 247.6653 (take-out only)

Smokin' Good Stuff

Tennessee River BBQ Sauce was created by Don Colyer and nephew Chuck for cookouts at Chuck's sawmill. In addition to the original flavor, you can now get spicy, blackberry wine, and cranberry delight. 376.5695 TN river bbq sauce

The Smoke Ring is a website for barbecue fanatics. Participate in discussions, compare notes on equipment, argue over where to find the best (and worst) barbecue, find recipes and locate barbecue competitions. The Smokering

Sili Gourmet Oil Jar and Brush This dishwasher-safe stainless steel and glass jar and silicon brush combo makes spreading oils and butter easy. Bliss Home + Art 24 Market Square 329.7370

Peace, Love, & Barbecue: Recipes, Secrets, Tall Tales, and Outright Lies from the Legends of Barbecue by Mike Mills and Amy Mills Tunnicliffe is a unique combination of cookbook, memoir, and travelogue from the only three-time winner of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis.

Bach for Barbecue: Grillin' and Chillin' with Johann Sebastian is from the popular "Set Your Life to Classical Music" series. This lively collection provides the perfect musical background for all your summer barbecues.

Potlatch Seasoning is especially good for seasoning salmon just before grilling. Williams-Sonoma. 7600 Kingston Pike 539.1070

Poultry Pal Starter Kit includes the poultry pal, promoted as a safer, better way to cook beer can chicken, and the accompanying book Zen and the Art of Cooking Beer Can Chicken, the definitive guide to cooking, brining, and injecting beer can chicken beer can chicken BBQ + Sides and

Desserts Too!

- BUDDY'S BAR-B-Q LaMuriel's Lemon Ice Box Pie provides a cool end to your meal (various locations)

- CALHOUN'S Tennessee Corn Puddin' will satisfy your craving for creamy comfort food (various locations)

- CHANDLER'S DELI Their meat and three are popular, but have you tried the ribs? 3101 Magnolia Avenue

- FAMOUS DAVE'S Wilbur Beans are loaded with smoked pork, brisket, hot link sausage and jalape–o peppers. 208 Advantage Drive

- SONNY'S Southern Recipe Brunswick Stew is a slow-simmered blend of tomatoes, vegetables and Bar-B-Q. 350 N. Peters Road

4th of July BBQ Cook-off

on Market Square

Knoxville's first annual 4th of July BBQ Cook-off, with contests for ribs, chicken, and pulled pork, will take place on Market Square. The event, which will take place during the regular Saturday Farmer's Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m., is free and open to the public, but contestants must register in advance by contacting Kevin@VirtuallyKnoxville.com or calling 865. 258. 1996 by June 10 ($250 fee) or June 24 ($350 fee).

Grilled Asian

Baby-Back Ribs

8 lbs. Baby-Back Ribs

3/4 cup Old Bay, divided

4 Bay leaves

1/4 bunch fresh thyme leaves

1/4 cup powdered ginger

1/4 cup ground cumin

36 oz. Heineken beer

Asian BBQ Sauce (recipe follows)

Toasted Sesame Seeds

Cilantro

Green Onion, diced

Rinse ribs. In deep braising pan, stand ribs up on bone and add 2/3 cup Old Bay with remaining ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap, then cover with foil crimping sides tightly around the lip of the pan. Cook on 300 degrees until tender enough to push your finger through the meat between bones. Remove ribs and sprinkle with remaining Old Bay. Baste with BBQ sauce and grill until lightly charred. Cut in three bone sections. Drizzle with more BBQ sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped green onion and cilantro.

3/4 cup prepared duck sauce

1/2 cup prepared plum sauce

3/4 cup soy sauce

2 T. Sambal Olek (add more if desired hotter)

3/4 cilantro, chopped

Sweet-Hot BBQ

Tater Fries

A four fork recipe from epicurious.com

2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices, each slice cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-wide strips

1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil

1 T. chopped fresh rosemary

1 T. (packed) golden brown sugar

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Additional olive oil

Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Place potatoes in 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Add 1/4 cup oil, rosemary, brown sugar, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to potatoes. Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Brush grill lightly with oil. Place potatoes on grill, spacing about 1 inch apart. Grill until potatoes are tender and slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes total. Transfer potatoes to bowl, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

Mister's White

BBQ Sauce

1 16 oz jar mayonnaise

4T Black pepper

1T salt

3/4c sugar

1c lemon juice

1c white vinegar

Meat (4 chicken breasts, 2 pork tenders, or 6 bone-in pork chops)

Wisk first 6 ingredients together in a large bowl.

Add meat and marinate for at least 2 hours, but not longer that 24 hours

Grill and serve