1

Texas barbecue

Image: Andrik Langfield

Texas barbecue is heavily influenced by central European traditions . German and Czech immigrants settled in the state in the mid-nineteenth century introducing new ingredients. That is the main reason we find pork products like sausages in Texas-style barbecue, in addition to the classic beef brisket. In order to preserve fresh meat longer, they used to smoke it and cook it for a very long time. Over the years, this traditional barbecued meat, which originated in central Texas, spread throughout the state, so today we can enjoy not one but four different styles !

Central Texas BBQ is generally very straightforward, the meat is smoked over pecan, mesquite, or oak wood with just a salt and pepper dry rub. South Texas BBQ has Mexican influences and uses a molasses-based sweet sauce. East Texas BBQ is marinated in a sweet tomato-based sauce and slowly cooked via indirect heat. Finally, West Texas BBQ is prepared over an open flame using mesquite wood.

2

Memphis barbecue

Image: Philipp Kämmerer

No doubt about it, Memphis is one of the BBQ capitals of America . Unlike barbecue styles in other states, in Memphis, the meat is cooked using charcoal instead of hardwood logs. Pork ribs and pork shoulder are the signature cuts prepared with a tangy and sweet sauce based on molasses and tomato. Classic sides for the Memphis barbecue are sweet baked beans and slaw.

Barbecue originated in Memphis at the beginning of the 20th century , when African Americans began to populate the state. Often found in lunchtime pork sandwiches and late-night treats in nightclubs, Memphis BBQ style soon became a staple in the area. Many entrepreneurs opened new restaurants during this time, including John H. Mills, considered Memphis’s First Barbecue King. Rumor has it that even the great Bing Crosby was a regular at Mills’s place whenever he was in town.

3

Kansas City barbecue

Image: fstop314.com

According to the Visit KC website, "Barbecue in Kansas City is more than a menu item or a method of preparation. It’s an institution." The fact is that Kansas barbecue has a long history and is central to the city's culinary culture . Not for nothing is it called the "BBQ Capital of the World". With more than 100 restaurants, there’s even a Kansas City Barbeque Society in charge of promoting this style of cooking around the world.

Kansas City’s love for barbecue started in the early 1900s when a man called Henry Perry began selling slices of hickory smoked meat wrapped in newspaper. Soon after, others followed and started developing their own barbecue recipes. Nowadays, the Kansas City barbecue style involves grilling or smoking different kinds of meat seasoned with a dry rub, then finished with a tomato-based barbeque sauce. Sides include bread, pickles, baked beans, and slaw.

4

North Carolina barbecue

Image: Peter Bravo de los Rios

Whether at a backyard grill, or a traditional wood fire pit at a local restaurant, North Carolina has a proud barbecue tradition. This particular method of smoking and cooking meat has its roots in the emergence of hog cultivation . In the 1500s, Spanish settlers brought pigs to the region and natives on Roanoke Island contributed with their wood-fired slow-cooking method. Over the years, barbecue in North Carolina became a special feature in every celebration and special occasion.

Although recipes may vary between different regions in the state, pork is always the main ingredient . While in the East people cook the whole hog, western Carolinians prioritize the pork shoulder. The sauce is a matter of controversy too. The Eastern tradition calls for a thin vinegar and pepper sauce, whereas Western recipes add tomato or ketchup. Geographical customs aside, if you happen to visit North Carolina, order a local barbecue in one of the many great restaurants and you won’t be disappointed!

5

South Carolina barbecue

Image: @felipepelaquim

Some argue that South Carolina is "The Birthplace of Barbecue" . We won’t be able to settle this debate here and now, but what is certain is that the Palmetto State's barbecue tradition goes back at least five centuries. As with North Carolina, South Carolina barbecue also has its origins in the cultural exchange between Spanish settlers and American Indians . Europeans brought and raised pigs on the islands off the Atlantic coast and the natives knew exactly how to cook them.

The South Carolina barbecue style means cooking and smoking meat —preferably pork— low and slow over hardwood coals. Sometimes pulled from a whole hog, sometimes chopped from a shoulder or ham, South Carolina barbecue comes with a signature sauce depending on the region . You can find a blend of vinegar, salt, and some red pepper to spice things up or a yellow sauce made of cider vinegar, brown sugar or honey, and mustard. No matter which one you get, be prepared for an exceptionally tender and flavorful dish!

6

St. Louis barbecue

Image: Rachel Bramlett

Did you know St. Louis is said to consume more BBQ sauce per person than anywhere else in the country? St. Louisans are big on spare ribs, which may have been introduced in the local culinary tradition more than a century ago. As the legend goes, a steamboat cook named Henry Perry used to slow smoke discarded slabs of ribs from the Kansas City stockyards using locally harvested hardwood trees.

Nowadays, the St. Louis barbecue style includes a variety of seasonings and cooking methods . From grilling to slow smoking, ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, and pork steaks are smeared with a sauce made from ingredients such as salt, vinegar, black pepper, brown sugar, tomato, and even apricots. Unlike other types of barbecue, St Louis style does not require a dry rub and it cooks a lot faster. White bread is the side of choice, especially if you want to make the most out of all that BBQ sauce!

7

Hawaiian barbecue

Image: Tirza van Dijk

Yes, they have barbecues in Hawaii. Although you won’t get the traditional ribs, pulled pork, and brisket, the Aloha State is home to a delicious kind of barbecue. Influenced by its many immigration waves —primarily from China, Korea, Japan, Portugal, and the Philippines—, it has labor origins dating back to the late 19th century . While modern Hawaiian barbecue includes various cooking techniques, such as roasting, smoking, and grilling, the traditional way requires an imu , an underground oven lined with hot rocks, and banana and ti leaves.

Barbecues from the Paradise of the Pacific are often sweet, tangy, and tropical . You can find chicken, beef, pork, and even seafood. Marinades and sauces incorporate Asian flavors and ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar. Side dishes range from sticky rice to macaroni salad, complementing and balancing the bold flavors of the meats.

8

Alabama barbecue

Image: Rachel Bramlett

In the South, barbecue is synonymous with any meat that's cooked over the fire. Although pork is often the protein of choice, some restaurants in Alabama also feature brisket, chicken, and beef ribs. Barbecue became popular in Alabama during the early 19th century when difficult economic times required a clever way for the working class to bring flavor and tenderness to cheap cuts of meat.

Sauces involved in the Alabama barbecue style are as diverse as they come . Influenced by the neighboring states of the so-called "barbecue belt", you can find variations of tomato-based sauces, spicy marinades, mustard dressings, and even a white sauce made with mayonnaise, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Across Alabama, these mouth-watering smoked meats are often served on hamburger buns filled with dill pickles and topped with coleslaw.

9

Kentucky barbecue

Image: Luis Santoyo

Barbecues in Kentucky have been popular for a long time. In the Bluegrass State pork shoulders are a popular cut cooked on concrete block masonry pits for at least half a day. However, Kentucky is most famous for smoking mutton over hickory coals . Kentuckians also barbecue other meats like chicken, pork tenderloins, cured hams, and turkey breasts for sandwiches.

Kentucky is home to a diverse array of barbecue sauces with almost every county having its own take. For example, Hickman County uses mostly vinegar and cayenne pepper, while McCracken County sauces taste strongly of vinegar and chili powder. Others prefer an allspice Worcestershire-based dip. The signature sides for Kentucky barbecue are toast, vinegar slaw, and pickled eggs.

10

Florida barbecue

Image: Dim Hou

Florida may be best known for its fresh seafood but the Sunshine State also has its own barbecue style . And a soft spot for pork too! A testament to the important place pig meat has in Floridian cuisine is the Cuban twist on the classic BBQ sandwich found at many local joints.

What sets Florida barbecue apart from others is its Caribbean and Latin American influences. Florida BBQ often blends techniques of the Southern United States style barbecues —like the use of sweet tomato sauce or mustard sauce— with Caribbean flavors such as vinegar, fruits, peppers, and spices. It may not be the most traditional barbecue in the country but it is certainly worth a try!

1

Circle the wagons

Image: Dana Davis

Pioneer wagon trains literally circled their wagons at night for protection.

Creating a closed ring helped shield families, livestock, and supplies from raids, wild animals, and harsh weather—and the formation later evolved into a metaphor for any type of unified, defensive action.

2

Hold your horses

Image: Cemrecan Yurtman

Frontier riders needed to keep horses steady at all times, but particularly in chaotic and potentially dangerous settings like stage stops and river crossings.

By the mid-1800s, the phrase became a common command, later evolving into a figurative call for patience.

3

On the warpath

Image: Andrew James

This term originated as an English rendering of a Native American expression for wartime mobilization—specifically the route or course taken toward an impending conflict.

Euro-American settlers later adopted the phrase, and by the late 19th, century newspapers were using it metaphorically to describe anyone behaving aggressively or angrily.

4

Branding iron

Image: Jonny Gios

Ever wonder where the term "brand name" comes from? Frontier ranchers used heated irons to mark ownership on their cattle.

The idea of a distinctive identifying mark later moved into the commercial world, where "brand name" came to signify a recognizable product or company identity.

5

Come hell or high water

Image: Furkan Elveren

Ranchers driving cattle across rough terrain used this phrase to signal determination despite floods, storms, conflict, and whatever else the wild frontier could throw at them.

The earliest known printed use appears in an 1882 issue of The Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye, an Iowa newspaper. Railroads later adopted it in contracts requiring delivery despite natural obstacles.

6

Riding shotgun

Image: Paul Einerhand

In Wyatt Earp’s era, the seat beside a stagecoach driver was reserved for an armed guard carrying a shotgun to deter bandits.

By the early 20th century, the job had vanished, but the expression endured as a casual claim for the front passenger seat.

7

Belly up to the bar

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

Saloon bars on the frontier often lacked stools, so patrons had to stand and lean their bellies directly against the counter.

The phrase soon came to mean approaching something boldly, whether at a bar or any other challenge.

8

Kick the bucket

Image: Lucas van Oort

Rural butchers often suspended animals from a beam called a "bucket," and they sometimes kicked during slaughter.

The phrase was popular on farms and frontier towns, eventually becoming a euphemism for dying.

9

Dead ringer

Image: Annie Spratt

Frontier horse racers engaged in plenty of shady practices—and one of the most common was substituting a horse with a look-alike, a "ringer," to scam bets.

When the substitute was an exceptionally close match, it was called a "dead ringer," emphasizing its perfect likeness.

10

High noon

Image: CHUTTERSNAP

Before standardized clocks or reliable rail schedules, "high noon" was an easy way to tell time by noting the sun at its highest point.

It also became associated with showdowns and other events because midday offered the clearest visibility.

1

The Simpsons

The Simpsons , created by Matt Groening, premiered on Fox in 1989, starring a new family that defied conventional, picture-perfect TV norms.

Instead, an imperfect and dysfunctional family appeared — and because of that, they were relatable in profoundly new ways . The Simpsons was also a pioneer in adult animation, allowing children to follow the story while including complex political and social satire for adults. It not only coined permanent catchphrases but also had a surprising ability to predict world events.

2

The Sopranos

The Sopranos, created by David Chase, debuted on HBO in 1999. It followed the life of Tony Soprano (played by the late James Gandolfini) and his struggles as a mobster and the patriarch of his dysfunctional suburban family , all analyzed by his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco).

This show was radical because, unlike previous protagonists, the central figure Tony was deeply flawed and often unlikable, paving the way for more anti-hero protagonists like Walter White and Don Draper. Alongside its complex and ambiguous morality, the cinematography of the show began to rival that of Hollywood movies.

3

Lost

Lost , created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber, premiered on ABC in 2004, before streaming existed. The story follows the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 on a very peculiar tropical island. It kicked off as a gritty and character-driven survival story that eventually evolved into a sci-fi and mythological epic.

It was revolutionary because it introduced the "mystery box" trope, proposing complex questions and dropping clues that kept viewers hooked and constantly theorizing — arguably inventing modern, interactive TV fandom.

4

Sex and the City

Created by Darren Starr, Sex and the City, which premiered in 1998 on HBO, changed the cultural narrative around women’s roles through the lives of four female friends (led by Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw) living and working in New York City.

It was the first mainstream hit that featured women talking frankly about sex and sexuality — and proposed that female friends can be soulmates, and that those relationships can take precedence over romantic, marital ones. Rejecting outdated "traditional" roles, the show also destigmatized being single and childless, and instead embraced female financial independence, celebrating women who focused on their careers and personal development in their 30s and 40s.

5

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI, created by Anthony E. Zuiker and which premiered on CBS in 2000, followed the lives and work of a team from the Las Vegas Police Department (LVPD), led by Dr. Gil Grissom (William Petersen), who meticulously collected evidence to solve cases.

It shifted the focus for the first time from police and detective work on the streets to the indoor, behind-the-scenes dynamics of interrogations, forensics, and high-tech lab analysis. It also popularized the concept of "nerd squad", making lab and microscope analysis cool for the first time .

6

The X-Files

The X-Files, created by Chris Carter, premiered in 1993, and introduced a structure where each episode was a stand-alone story known as a "monster of the week," while also being part of an overarching mythic story that included government alien conspiracy theories and supernatural events.

This show flipped gender roles completely: the main female character, Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), was the intelligent and assertive medical doctor (inspiring many women at the time to pursue STEM careers), and the lead male character, Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), was the intuitive and instinct-driven character.

7

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, premiered in 2008 and is considered by many to be the ultimate catalyst that transformed television into a cinematic experience, elevated serialized storytelling, and, once it became available on Netflix, popularized the binge-watching model so common today .

Another crucial aspect was the main character: Walter White (Bryan Cranston) changed from a sympathetic, cancer-stricken high school chemistry teacher to the ultimate drug lord villain. Before this show, characters rarely evolved; instead, here the audience became especially invested in Mr. White’s persona.

8

Mad Men

Mad Men , created by Matthew Weiner and airing on AMC from 2007 to 2015, centered on the professional and personal lives of advertising executives, including protagonist Don Draper (Jon Hamm), on Madison Avenue in New York City in the 1960s. It was the first basic cable series to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series .

It revolutionized television at the time by proving that a sophisticated, slow-burning script with literary character development (including some of the best-written dialogue on television ever) could work. The show was also committed to historical accuracy and meticulous set design, raising the bar for visual and thematic storytelling.

9

Law & Order

Law & Order, created by Dick Wolf, premiered on NBC in 1990, flipping the usual crime drama formula on its head — splitting episodes into a two-part structure, presenting a police investigation, followed by a courtroom prosecution .

Therefore, it prioritized legal procedures over emotional drama, and the cases became the main character, presenting the difficulties and nuances of the criminal justice system, instead of the usual black-and-white representation of justice. With new episodes still airing (following a 2010-2022 hiatus), Law & Order remains one of the most successful series in TV history, launching numerous spinoffs including the popular Law & Order: SVU.

10

Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, aired on TV for the first time in 2005 and became the longest-running American primetime medical series ever. It centers on a hospital in Seattle and follows surgical residents as they become surgeons, while balancing intense life-and-death emergencies with complex personal life stories .

Most notably, the series created what was described as "Grey’s Effects": the approach to joyful and defiant female sexuality and to women unapologetically taking up space in a male-dominated professional field; it even shaped medical school applications and improved the public's understanding of real-world health issues.

11

The Wire

The Wire was created by former police reporter David Simon and detective Ed Burns, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest shows ever made , airing on HBO from 2002 to 2008. It is a drama series that analyzes the systemic issues Baltimore faces, examining a different institution in each of its five seasons.

Originally pitched as the "anti-cop show," it showed police departments slowed down by piles of bureaucracy, where chasing arrests became more important than actually solving crimes or improving lives. In addition, the city was the main character, portrayed as a gray, morally complex world.