Eating with Our Hands

Our very first dinner date was in February, 1989. We went to a local barbecue joint, so there were none of those anxious, wondering what I should order, first date food fears. I remember laughing when we both ordered the same thing, a big, saucy plate of ribs. Smiling at each other, flirting, we forgo the napkins.

Our table etiquette was sauce covered fingers, with only occasional downward glances to pick up more ribs. Conversation was easy, the food was good, and a romance began over shared plates of lip smacking, messy barbecue. Our first date aside, one could argue that barbecued food just tastes better because it’s socially acceptable to eat with your hands.

It has that primal aspect of shared culinary history, that no matter where you’re from, eating with your hands is something our ancestors did. I like to think everyone at the table feels more comfortable when they’re eating barbecue. That there's more of a connection with the food. It’s a special camaraderie you only get through plates being shared.

Now, some 26 years later, we're still eating with our hands, flirting with each other, and I still somehow manage to always drip sauce on myself, only this time it's our sauce. With that in mind, I hope you have a great Valentine's, and if you're still deciding on what to eat, you can't go wrong with barbecue...especially, if it's served with a sauce spiked with potent and popular aphrodisiacs like chiles and chocolate.