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Writer's pictureKerri Lister

An Origin of BBQ: Did Ancient Cavemen Just Really, Really Hate Salads?




Ever wondered why we love grilling meat so much? Why no summer is complete without the scent of smoky ribs wafting through the air? Spoiler alert: It’s not just because we can grill—it’s because we must. Our obsession with BBQ goes back a lot further than you might think, right to our caveman ancestors. And, while historians might argue about when the first fire was controlled, we’re pretty sure it happened because ancient humans really, really hated salads.



A Brief History of Grilling (Or something..)

Picture this: thousands of years ago, some hungry caveman is gnawing on a handful of leaves, wondering if there’s more to life than this sad salad. Then, boom! Lightning strikes a nearby bush, setting it ablaze. A curious animal wanders too close, gets charred to a crisp, and our hero caveman realizes something magical—meat tastes way better when it's cooked.

Now, was this the official start of BBQ? Maybe not, but it’s definitely the start of something big. Cavemen didn’t have grills, smokers, or BBQ sauce, but they did have fire, meat, and the instinct that cooked meat was better than anything nature could put in a bowl. Sorry, salad lovers.



From Cavemen to Cowboys: The Evolution of Meat Cooking

Fast forward a few thousand years. Humans have come a long way from burning meat over open flames to the sophisticated grilling methods we have today. Ranchers, cowboys, and homesteaders have been slow-cooking meat over fires for centuries, perfecting the art of BBQ and passing down techniques that would eventually lead to the modern BBQ culture we know and love.

At this point, meat wasn’t just food—it was an event. Cowboys would gather around open fires after a long day of herding cattle and cook up some of the finest beef cuts (well, finest by 1800s standards). Barbecuing wasn’t just about filling your belly; it was about community, celebration, and a love for perfectly cooked meat.





The Grill of Today: Why We’re Still Obsessed

Now, here we are in the 21st century, still gathering around grills, smokers, and fire pits to char our favorite cuts of meat. Some might argue that grilling is in our DNA, passed down from those early days when cavemen ditched the salads and embraced the magic of fire. And honestly, they’re probably right.

After all, nothing quite beats the satisfaction of a perfectly grilled steak or a rack of ribs that’s been smoking for hours. In fact, grilling is so deeply rooted in our psyche that we’ve created entire holidays, competitions, and TV shows around it. We don’t just love BBQ; we live for it.


Why BBQ Will Always Beat Salad

So, the next time you fire up the grill, take a moment to appreciate the long (and delicious) history behind what you're doing. You’re part of an ancient tradition—one that started with a caveman who just wanted something better than a pile of leaves for dinner. Grilling isn’t just about meat; it’s about heritage, connection, and frankly, it’s way more fun than tossing greens in a bowl.

Plus, if you really think about it, salad might be healthy, but has anyone ever written love poems to a salad? We didn’t think so.

So, grab your tongs, load up on T-N-T Market’s pasture-raised meats, and honor your caveman ancestors by doing what they couldn’t—grilling with skill and a side of BBQ sauce. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over millennia, it’s this: meat over fire will always win, hands down.


 

Ready to embrace your inner caveman? Stop by T-N-T Market for the finest pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken, and lamb. Your grill (and your ancestors) will thank you.


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