Tomorrow is July 1st and if I let my mind stray even the slightest from the practice of law, the first thing I will think of tomorrow will be the barbecue feast just days away. Yes, the barbecue gluttons and amateur pit masters are already salivating, and I am one of them.
Not to be misunderstood, I must confess that I enjoy playing amateur chef all year and partake in the best food I can get all year (I hope my cardiologist isn’t reading this!). I grill and even cook some pulled pork or ribs on the grill during the rest of the year. But July 4th is when the pit gets fired up. You see, the pit is big enough to cook 2 whole pigs at the same time, which I did one 4th several years ago, but usually on the 4th it is covered with multiple Boston butts, at least one beef brisket, probably ten slabs of ribs, a few pounds of smoked sausage and a bunch of chickens. For 12 hours that pit is my kingdom over which I am the proud ruler. Yes, I am the pit master on July 4th.
Now, living in Alabama and claiming to be even an amateur pit master is somewhat boastful. After all, no state has better barbecue than Alabama. Sure, I have a law clerk from Tennessee who probably thinks the best ribs are at the Rendvouz in Memphis, and another law clerk from Tyler, Texas that probably thinks you can’t get good barbecued beef brisket outside of Texas, but they are young. As they season in the practice of law I am sure their taste buds will also season and they will see the errors on the subject of the best barbecue.
I don’t claim my pulled pork will match Big Bob Gibson’s in Decatur or that my ribs will match Miss Myra’s in Birmingham or Dreamland’s in Tuscaloosa, but I cheat on July 4th. I have already purchased Big Bob’s red barbecue sauce, their white sauce for barbecue chicken, Dreamland’s rib sauce and the barbecue sauce from the famous Ollie’s barbecue, which has been closed for a number of years. Why make a sauce when the best in the world is at my fingertips and guaranteed to place my barbecue right up there with these famous names.
If I could just get a coconut cream pie from Big Bob Gibson’s in Decatur or Johnny Ray’s on Valley Avenue in Birmingham, or the cookies from Full Moon Barbecue in Birmingham. But that’s just fine, because our friend Sue comes every year with pies to die for. Nothing like trying to eat a few pies after a few pounds too many of barbecue. But I have great confidence I will be up to the task.
I am going to enjoy July 4th with family, friends and my pit. I hope you and your family have a great holiday! Please be careful — look at my previous blog on summer risks. And please, when you say the blessing on July 4th remember our service men, their families and the huge sacrifices they make for us as we continue to enjoy our independence because of them.
Lloyd W. Gathings
