I will have dinner plans all month

There are few things in life I enjoy more than barbecue; and, to have a whole month devoted to the flavor, fun and family enjoyment of good barbecue, or, barbeque, or BBQ, is like a dream come true for me.

May Day, May Day! The big holidays for barbecuing and picnicking are the Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July Independence Day celebration. However, the National Barbecue Association annually designates each May to celebrate and promote all things barbecue during National Barbecue Month.

St. Augustine certainly is the place for many unique tastes, but as far as barbecue is concerned, the best thing we contribute is the sunny weather, grassy backyards and sandy beaches to set up and get cooking on the open grill.

Nothing beats a slow-cooked, spice-rubbed pork roast; barbecued Carolina style with that salty-vinegary-mustardy infusion, grilled through-and-through.

Whether mustard based or tomato based, spicy or tangy, Memphis, Carolinas, Kansas City, or Texas style, you’ll have plenty of barbecues to sample.

So, as you celebrate in your own unique and stylish way this month, try one of the exceptional styles of barbecue that you may not have tried in the past. But, the best news about barbecue, whether it is chicken, beef, lamb, pork, fish or even whole turkeys, any month is a good time to engage your barbecue passion.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News archive photograph