If you're a fan of BBQ, you've likely argued over who has the best. You probably know the difference between a sticky red St. Louis sauce and a vinegar-based Carolina one. As with any other cuisine, you have your preferences. As many BBQ aficionados will attest, there are certain things you just don't mess with.
So you want to stay on your BBQ chef's good side? We tapped one of our local resources to learn what makes him cringe from behind the line...
[Note: Although we did just interview Howie Kleinberg from Bulldog BBQ, this list isn't from him... but it might be from someone close to him!]
5. You request that your meal be "lean."
"BBQ is supposed to be fatty! Fatty meat equals tender meat," says our BBQ pro. If you want to eat diet food, go to Sweet Tomatoes.
4. You use a knife and fork to eat your ribs.
"REALLY!?! Utensils are for fine dining, not BBQ. How 'bout ya man up, cowboy, and get your hands a little dirty? That's what the wet naps are for."
3. You ask for the baked beans sans bacon.
"Any chef worth his weight in dry rub will attest to the fact that bacon is one of the world's most perfect foods. To leave it out of baked beans is to commit dining sin. And speaking of dry rub..."
2. You request a light amount of rub on the ribs, or no rub at all.
"If I'm preparing your meat this way, you should trust that it's going to taste right. Every BBQ chef has a secret blend of seasonings that he or she holds as a closely guarded secret. To request that it be altered in any way is insulting."
1. You ask "Do you have anything on the menu that's not smoked?"
"This one seems like a no-brainer to me, but it gets asked rather frequently. So allow me to reiterate: You're at a BBQ restaurant. If you don't like your food smoked, you're coming to the wrong place for dinner."
Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB..
