In our household recently, there has been a lively debate over the manner in which one is to consume barbecued ribs. We decided to voice our respective opinions on this blog and allow our readers to share their opinions in the form of comments and votes in our poll (on the right).
Tad:
There is nothing more American than barbecue ribs. They are enjoyed often at picnics, barbecues, restaurants, and even inside cooked in an oven. 
This great American food can only truly be enjoyed to its fullest in a somewhat messy fashion; they must be picked up with the hands and eaten. Now this is most likely too messy for some, for instance the snobbish French. But in our American culture without divisions between classes, poor and rich alike can enjoy this delicacy the way God intended it to be enjoyed. We are above thinking that such things are barbaric and instead understand the efficiency and the necessity of eating ribs in this fashion. May God Bless the USA and ribs.
Aliesha:
For me, the idea of consuming barbecued ribs conjures up images of wild animals picking at the carcasses of other animals. Say, this image, for example.
Actually, maybe this one is more accurate…
At any rate, I find the act of picking up barbecued ribs with one’s hands and picking the meat off with ones teeth an uncouth practice. I prefer to eat my ribs with a knife and fork, which is less messy and still makes me feel like a human being created in the image of God.
Your turn:
Leave a comment and vote in our poll on the right! (Poll open until 2/8/10.)
I’m with Tad on this one. I love, love, love ribs…but haven’t learned yet how to cook them well. However, my mother-in-law does an excellent job with ribs; and when eating hers or when eating them in a restaurant, I’m all about the hands. 🙂
This is, btw, Nicholas talking:
Are you kidding? The only way someone can truly enjoy the glory of eating the food called “The Rib” is to attack it like a carnivore. Seriously, what’s the point with eating ribs if you’re not going to eat them in a way that you can get the most meat out of them.
I ate ribs last night, and they were delicious. But only after a used my hands could I get a fair amount of meat off of them. I vote Tad!
French helped us fight in the Revolutionary War, from which we borrowed several practices of battling. But we have also adopted several other things from the French: French fries, French horn, etc. Polite and correct way of eating is also one of those things the French have rubbed off on us (the extra forks, the handsome tableware, etc.). Ribs are messy and consequently must be eaten in the most neat fashion or it is just plain messy and rude. Even other “American foods” like corn-on-the-cob and chili dogs and funnel cakes are messy. But unless you are at a theme park, let’s keep the chomping and gorging to a minimum and use the tines of the fork to raise the food to your mouth (not your fingers soon to be dripping in red sauce).
~PDB
I’d have to go with Tad on this too. Eating ribs with a fork and knife is sort of like eating buffalo wings with a fork and knife. It just doesn’t seem right. Part of the fun is getting messy!
Angela,
I think Drew would be with me on this one…haha!
Aliesha
Angela,
I think Drew would be with me on this one…haha!
Aliesha
I’m sure he would be! Aunt Aliesha is always right!! 🙂
No comment 🙂 I don’t do ribs.
O great – now Dad and I are starting. He is reminding me that when we have had our ‘Mother-Daughter Teas’ for Mother’s Day – he has always wanted to have a Father – Son Rib Eating! He claims that eating ‘ribs’ is MANLY! I must side with Aliesha – – I have to side with DREW – grandkids always win EVERYTHING! love you – mom