Obamas Bring Dems to BBQ Mecca (Well, Near It)

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Porky LeSwine

As you have probably heard by now, the 2012 Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, NC.  Here’s what the First Lady had to say about the selection in a letter to supporters, which is excerpted below:

I am thrilled to make sure you are the first to hear some very exciting news. Charlotte, North Carolina will host the 46th Democratic National Convention in 2012.

Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an “up by the bootstraps” mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South. Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue.

Barack and I spent a lot of time in North Carolina during the campaign—from the Atlantic Coast to the Research Triangle to the Smoky Mountains and everywhere in between. Barack enjoyed Asheville so much when he spent several days preparing for the second Presidential debate that our family vacationed there in 2009…

We hope many of you can join us in Charlotte the week of September 3rd, 2012. But if you can’t, we intend to bring the spirit of the convention—as well as actual, related events to your community and even your own backyard [Editor’s note: Is the First Lady hinting at good old fashioned political pig pickin’s?]…

Looking forward to sharing this together,

Michelle

Fox News, not exactly supporters of the Prez, ran this story reporting on Michelle Obama’s letter.  The story includes an oh-so-classy dig at the First Lady’s work to prevent childhood obesity but is notable mostly for its misinformed stock photo of someone eating ribs, meant to portray NC barbecue. Fair and balanced? No comment. But certainly ill informed on the important matter of North Carolina barbecue.

As to whether the First Lady is right in her assertion that Charlotte has “great barbecue”?  Debatable, even among the most likely defenders, such as Charlotte Observer readers and staff (and yet again).

Filed under: BBQ in the News | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Groundhog Day 2011: The Ghost of Groundhog’s Past

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Porky LeSwine

Typically, when we talk about ground hog on this website we are referring to sausage, but today we want to wish you a happy other kind of groundhog day.  And what better way to celebrate Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow watching party than with a little groundhog news?

Evidently not all groundhogs are as peaceful as good ol’ Punx Phil, as this article illustrates.  The short version: “A rabid groundhog attacked a family having an outdoor barbeque at their home in Salem… .”  That would be Salem, MA, home of those infamous witch trials that we read about in school.  Salem resident/groundhog revenge victim numero uno Nick Konstadt, perhaps showing the ill effects of his brush with Punx Phil’s cousin by exhibiting incoherent speech, described the groundhog attack as follows: “It like, run at me, come out from right there, and I’d like stick my foot out, and then it would run into the raspberry bush, and then it would come back out again. It would make this really high-pitched sound… It was trying to be playful maybe, like it was like a younger groundhog or something.” I hope you got your rabies shots, Nick, just to be safe.

Let this cautionary tale be a lesson to all.  Indeed, it’s far safer to eat ground hog than to watch a groundhog or his shadow. (Editor’s note: When the jokes are that lame, we’re surely bound for six more weeks of winter.)

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