Barbecue. Photo by Jessica Merz
The author of a forthcoming book says his tribal ancestors from Virginia invented the Southern barbecue tradition. Joe Haynes of Obsessive Compulsive Barbecue traces the origins of the cuisine to the slow roasting techniques of the Powhatan Tribe. European settlers and African slaves added their own touches as the style spread throughout the South, the author tells Washington Post food columnist Jim Shahin. “I realized I hadn’t talked to her enough about her and her family,” Haynes told The Post, explaining how his mother's death prompted him to take a closer look at the tribe's food traditions. “My mother’s family was Powhatan Indian.” But other research argues that Southern barbecue originated with indigenous peoples in the Caribbean and was spread to the U.S. by Spanish and European explorers. The word "barbecue" is often traced to the Taino language. Haynes's book, "Virginia Barbecue: A History,” is being released in September. Read More on the Story:
Jim Shahin: Where did barbecue begin? Virginia, he says — and he stands by it (The Washington Post 8/28)
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