Pulled Pork Sandwich (and some BBQ history)

Photo by Min An, Pexels

I recently had a great barbecue pulled pork sandwich at The Burger Joint in Houston (see video below). When I told several friends about it, all three Texas natives sneered. "Nah," one said, "ya don't put no barbecue sauce on shredded pork." Another said that only beef or chicken should be barbecued, not pork. 

I was mystified by that, dumb Yankee that I am. I've seen all three of those guys eagerly devour pork chops. Hours of research on the internet didn't help me find an answer to why some Texans have such an aversion to barbecued pulled pork. The only hints I could find lead me to believe it's the Texan worship of brisket. "If it ain't brisket," they seem to believe, "it ain't BBQ." Or maybe pulled pork in Texas just isn't made right most of the time. More on that in a moment.

Public domain image

Texas and BBQ are practically synonymous to some, but not all, people. Just as the ancients believed Earth was the center of the universe, many Texans think their state is the center of the BBQ Universe. It's not, although Texas BBQ is wonderful, but there are other great BBQ styles and recipes around the U.S. and, indeed, around the world. 

Since food preferences are subjective, there is no "right" or "wrong." Whatever floats your boat is what's best for you. Nobody can say you're wrong for liking any particular food or flavor. One man's treat is another man's trash, and vice-versa. (Anchovies, anyone?)