Origins of the word BBQ

Caribbean Pirates were more correctly known as Buccaneers. The mid 17th century term was used originally denoting European hunters in the Caribbean. from French boucanier, from boucan, a frame on which to cook or cure meat’. The French learned how to smoke from the native population. After the Spanish banished the French settlers, many of them took to the seas and raided the Spanish ships.

The Spanish morphed the term boucan into barbacoa, which became shortened into BBQ.

So now you know why we pitmasters love our big, sharp knives and our rum!