NationStates Jolt Archive

I posted this essay in a couple other threads and haven't gotten quite the response I had expected. Since it has been posted, I have shown it to colleagues, students, family, and others and have had quite a variety of responses ranging from "interesting...." to "I never thought of it, but its really that simple!" to "...ya know what, you're right...".

Anyone know what a Trident Submarine is? If you do well....

America. Its great. I don't think u can put it any easier than that. Ya know what's the best thing about America? BBQs. That's right. BBQs and the great food we eat at BBQs. Sure our military is outstanding. Sure we plant democracy all around the world and let it grow. But until you've sit down, enjoyed, and appreciated a few dozen good ol' American BBQs, you don't know squat about US culture.

Now I know how we're the great melting pot and how what we've become is the result of what we have received, and to be honest, I'm very grateful for all the hard-working, dignified, conditioned immigrants that came here from all over the world just to make it big. But even they were grateful for the opportunity that they were provided with that no other country could match in the world. America's not perfect, but its the best we've got on the whole planet.

Some people say America is a very oppressive nation that doesn't care for foreigners. There was even an article in the Wall Street Journal explaining how annoying it is to hear that we are treating terrorists in Guantanamo Bay poorly because some morons decided to burn some copies of the quran and some captives had a chance to explain their feelings to the rest of the world. Somebody please explain the logic of how you can believe and revere what a terrorist who supported and effort to harm the American public said, while believing that the innocence of those of the most liberating country is flawed. Excuse me but I do not think any 5 yr. old kid playing baseball with his dad cheering him on is exactly being brainwashed by American Ideals. Sure we stand for freedom and independence and liberty, but even if you're nuts enough to stand against that, wouldn't you think just for a second that people like to enjoy their free-time and each other's company. How would you feel if someone was always coughing down orders on the back of your neck and if you didn't have any friends in the world?

Now don't get smart about that's exactly what the American armed forces are all about. Excuse me again por favor, but not one of those soldiers that are stationed around the world was enlisted or drafted into service. ALL of them were volunteers one way or another. Some felt that they should stand up for their country because they felt it stands for that which they believe in. Others joined because of educational and medical benefits (which in our great country can be easily acquired through many other means; even the poorest and most decrepit citizens can get a college education and supportive housing through U.S. and state grants). Others wanted to serve side by side with their brothers-in-arms and friends 'n' family. And yes. Sure. Someone joined because he wanted to hold a gun in his hand and get the chance to blow some "towel-head's" block off. But all of those enlisted stand for the common causes of freedom and independence and liberty.

Finally, there are those that think America is oppressing its own for the sake of counter-terrorism. To be blunt, tell me if you have read the entire Patriot Act because #1; that is the hardest document against civil liberties and #2; it DOESN'T INTERFERE with your civil liberties. Like nearly every other U.S. piece of legislation, there are exceptions to every rule, and every action the government is able to perform is something perfectly valid anyway since it applies ONLY TO SYSTEMS ALREADY PUBLICLY MONITORED.

For example, did you know that the government can watch everything you do on your computer? Guess what? It's been able to do that ever since the creation of the internet. Wanna know why? Because the government has network connections through all major communications providers. It's the same reason why police can use wiretaps for suspected criminals. And oh yah. The CIA, NSA, FBI, and INS as well as Federal Marshals and plenty other organizations use wiretaps without warrants legally as long as they show them to the proper analytical authorities which determine if valid evidence has been acquired for the recordings not to be destroyed.

Another example is how the government can check your library records. Guess what? The government's been able to do that since the creation of public libraries too. Guess why again? Because they belong to the government. Excuse me yet again but I would like to be able to look at my record-books that keep tally over what I own and have lent out and I'd bet you would too for your property.

In case your still interested here's a link for the Patriot Act.
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.pdf

Anyway, back to BBQs. BBQs give people the chance to get to know each other. That's why neighborhoods hold them whenever a new family moves in or whenever one is moving out or whenever anything important happens. And guess what else? Most people don't ignore each other at BBQs. They don't care if you're yellow, red, black, brown, or white. They don't care if you wear a cross or not as a necklace. They don't even care if they see you kissing someone of the same sex or not (well maybe if you're making out with someone in the middle of the front lawn but that's different). People like to get along and that's the keystone of America. I like BBQs. Almost everyone I know holds BBQs. Even restaurants try to feel like BBQs since they want to be seen as family places rather than bars (TGI Fridays, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday's; you know the places).

So if you don't like America, go to a BBQ. Go to a few. Go to a few dozen. You'll like 'em. Even if you're not invited, just walk in, introduce yourself, and enjoy the good time you're about to have. Find out what's so great about grandpa. Ask people what their plans for the future are. Ask people what their WORRIES for the future are. Find out who everyone thinks is going to win the World Series (unless you're a New Yorker going to Boston or vice versa).

BBQs. They're what makes today's America special, and nothing short of 'em.

whats so special about an American barbeque compared to, say, a barbeque anywhere else in the world?

edit: and half that "essay" is bullshit.

someone was going to say it

American BBQs Are The Best Because They Are Free.

BBQs in other parts of the world are paranoid affairs carried out in hushed tones, you never know who might report your opinions, and the people attending are lesser because they have false ideals.

Tactical Grace, I just HAVE to get you to a barbeque here someday. ;) Then you'll see why ours are pretty darn spiffy.

Damn straight. Especially 4th of July BBQ's.

I have long been of the opinion that to truly understand a culture you must eat their food.

You will never find me in a chain resturaunt outside of my home town (and not often there).

In every country I've been in I have specifically sought out the most obscure podunk resturaunts/pubs to eat in simply because it is genuinely authentic. (It's even better if I can't read the menu and there is no one who can translate...)

As for BBQs? I can't say they are all that culturally specific. True, certain aspects are - like the tail-gate party, or Kingsford Briquette & Naptha-flavoured meat, but most cultures outside of staid ol' Europe & Asia have outdoor Meat-cooking parties. Think Luau, or Shrimp in OZ, or Gauchos in South/Central America.

Again, what's important is the connection between a people and their food. Share their food and you come closer to understanding the people.

I'm sure that American BBQ's are pretty good but there's really nothing quite like an Australian BBQ.

Nah, the best part about America is take-out Chinese food.

It's a sad, sad day indeed when the honourable BBQ has been hijacked for political propaganda!

:p ;)

Damn straight. Especially 4th of July BBQ's.
That's just becaus it involves Children and explosives without invoking Mayrterdom... :rolleyes:

(building my arsenal right now...) :eek: :D

whats so special about an American barbeque compared to, say, a barbeque anywhere else in the world?


Everyone else grills and calls it barbeque. You only get barbeque in the US.

Everyone else grills and calls it barbeque. You only get barbeque in the US.

Everyone grills meat, eats it, and calls it barbeque. But only Americans think that when they do it, it is somehow special.

Let's get something straight.

Southern US Barbeque is not grilling. For the love of God, Buddah, Stalin, Allah, Ralph Nader, and the NS General Classic Liberal party, Southern US Barbeque is not grilling. Barbeque is derived from the word Barbacoa (I will refer to BBQ as Southern US Barbeque from this point forth) . BBQ is not something you do at a tailgate party, and if you are calling it BBQ, I will make a special trip to that specific sporting event just to slap you in the face and display my pretentiousness for American cuisine (and yes, BBQ is American. This specific style of cooking food is really only specific to the American continents at the very least. Barbacoa is big in the Latin American nations, but they do it a little bit differently than we do in the States).

Southern US Barbecue or Barbeque or whatever the hell you want to call it, it's cooking over indirect heat. It's in a smoker or something. It takes hours, and if it's not done right, it tastes like pork crap. That's another thing. It's usually going to be pork, but sometimes you'll get beef ribs. A good BBQ (This is subjective, but food is like music in my eyes, completely subjective in all aspects) isn't going to have the sauce on the meat, it's going to have a dry rub on the meat before and during the cooking process. A lot of the time, you'll get the sauce afterwards. Sometimes I won't even bother with the sauce, especially if the cook seasoned it right, and the sauce is of questionable quality. Of course, there are some completely kick-ass sauces out there, and they're almost always made by the cook of the BBQ him/herself. I don't care much for prepackaged BBQ sauces.

If there's one thing that the Southern US has done right, it's BBQ. That and peaches. But mostly BBQ.

Let's get something straight.

Southern US Barbeque is not grilling. For the love of God, Buddah, Stalin, Allah, Ralph Nader, and the NS General Classic Liberal party, Southern US Barbeque is not grilling. Barbeque is derived from the word Barbacoa (I will refer to BBQ as Southern US Barbeque from this point forth) . BBQ is not something you do at a tailgate party, and if you are calling it BBQ, I will make a special trip to that specific sporting event just to slap you in the face and display my pretentiousness for American cuisine (and yes, BBQ is American. This specific style of cooking food is really only specific to the American continents at the very least. Barbacoa is big in the Latin American nations, but they do it a little bit differently than we do in the States).

Southern US Barbecue or Barbeque or whatever the hell you want to call it, it's cooking over indirect heat. It's in a smoker or something. It takes hours, and if it's not done right, it tastes like pork crap. That's another thing. It's usually going to be pork, but sometimes you'll get beef ribs. A good BBQ (This is subjective, but food is like music in my eyes, completely subjective in all aspects) isn't going to have the sauce on the meat, it's going to have a dry rub on the meat before and during the cooking process. A lot of the time, you'll get the sauce afterwards. Sometimes I won't even bother with the sauce, especially if the cook seasoned it right, and the sauce is of questionable quality. Of course, there are some completely kick-ass sauces out there, and they're almost always made by the cook of the BBQ him/herself. I don't care much for prepackaged BBQ sauces.

If there's one thing that the Southern US has done right, it's BBQ. That and peaches. But mostly BBQ. Southern Pit Barbecue. Definately not grilling.
"The secret's in the sauce..." :p

But since when is Ohio a "Southern" state... ?

Manawskistan is obviously just a good ole boy "trapped" in Ohio, much like I am here in Osaka.

He is also quite correct in describing Carolina BBQ. For Texas BBQ, substitute beef for pork, and wet for dry.

And, unfortunately, the word has been co-opted by international users of English (and that includes GDYankees) to mean any sort of grilling.

Barbecues are communist.

Barbecues take all forces of production and means of commerce, as well as the exchange and distribution of products, out of the hands of private capitalists and manage them in accordance with a plan based on the availability of resources and the needs of the whole society.

Pot-Lucks are communist too.

I posted this essay in a couple other threads and haven't gotten quite the response I had expected. Since it has been posted, I have shown it to colleagues, students, family, and others and have had quite a variety of responses ranging from "interesting...." to "I never thought of it, but its really that simple!" to "...ya know what, you're right...".

BBQs. They're what makes today's America special, and nothing short of 'em.

Ya know what, it's not right. It's patriotic glurge.
Outdoor parties where meat is grilled by friends and family in almost identical settings are quite common all over the world. And that sure as heck isn't what makes the US special.
And looking at the US through rose-colored glasses isn't going to help, either.

Southern Pit Barbecue. Definately not grilling.
"The secret's in the sauce..." :p

But since when is Ohio a "Southern" state... ?


Unfortunately, my educational institution of choice was not situated south of the Mason Dixon line ;)

I'm a born and bred Southerner, however. I'll be returning to Charleston soon enough for Nuclear Power School :)

Everyone grills meat, eats it, and calls it barbeque. But only Americans think that when they do it, it is somehow special.

The best ribs take about 24 hrs to barbeque. I know of no-where else in the world that prepares meat this way. That's why americans think that what they do is special, because it is.

The best ribs take about 24 hrs to barbeque. I know of no-where else in the world that prepares meat this way. That's why americans think that what they do is special, because it is.

All right, I'm defeated, there is nothing I can say about that...

So let the Americans have their excellent BBQs, the best in the world.

We (ie the rest of the world unfortunate enough to be smitten with a total lack of BBQs) meanwhile will concentrate on our good ol' Aussie-Barbie and eat Kangaroos and Emu (has anyone seen that VB Ad? It's just awesome :D )
Also, we shall be busy living in the real world.
Let them have their BBQs. Every US-ian that's having a BBQ right now, isn't bringing democracy in form of a 250kg Bomb to yet another unfortunate BBQ-less family.
----
The BBQ bit was just a front put on a bullshit essay of yet another American nationalist, whose dangerous lack of knowledge about the rest of the world wasn't worrying me until Bush was elected, because I thought that kind of thinking could never become mainstream... :(

The South can have their BBQ's, as long as New England gets to have clam bakes

All right, I'm defeated, there is nothing I can say about that...

So let the Americans have their excellent BBQs, the best in the world.

We (ie the rest of the world unfortunate enough to be smitten with a total lack of BBQs) meanwhile will concentrate on our good ol' Aussie-Barbie and eat Kangaroos and Emu (has anyone seen that VB Ad? It's just awesome :D )
Also, we shall be busy living in the real world.
Let them have their BBQs. Every US-ian that's having a BBQ right now, isn't bringing democracy in form of a 250kg Bomb to yet another unfortunate BBQ-less family.
----
The BBQ bit was just a front put on a bullshit essay of yet another American nationalist, whose dangerous lack of knowledge about the rest of the world wasn't worrying me until Bush was elected, because I thought that kind of thinking could never become mainstream... :(

Unfortunately the type of "American" BBQ that this bit of glurgy mess extols should not be confused with a "real" BBQ, but the sort common to the world. Having a real BBQ pit at a residence is uncommon outside the Southern states.

Otherwise, right on.

I remember when I was stationed in Germany, we built a few really large barbecue smoker/cookers so that we could reproduce the slow cooked barbecue ribs I remember from my youth in North Carolina (as well as the pulled pork barbecue).

Well, we needed to buy pork ribs - but at the local schlacthof, ribs are considered waste and are thrown away. The butcher was quite amused when we offered to pay a fixed price for as much pork ribs as we could carry away (he thought it was funny that we paid for them).

We got about 300 kilos of pork ribs for 50 marks (in the late 1980s).

After a day of cooking it all down, we invited the butcher up for a taste, and he couldn't believe how good it was.

Apparently the person who wrote this thread has never been to Canada!

my BBQs kick ass. We grill everything from burgers and hot dogs, to chicken wings, sausage peppers onions, ribs, steaks, vegetables-zucchini & eggplant, tomatoes, sweet potatoes corn on the cob-pineapple- Everyone loves it and no one wants to leave. Tubs full of ice & beer, music-kids in the pool. Bocci and volleyball...Its a great time. I live at the shore so there are all those single engined planes flying overhead towing advertisement banners, seagulls-its summer and its great!!

We got about 300 kilos of pork ribs for 50 marks (in the late 1980s).

Please tell me this is still the case in Germany. I feel the need to make a trip.

Please tell me this is still the case in Germany. I feel the need to make a trip.

There are quite a few things that Germans won't eat that the typical American will eat. And I'm not talking about McDonalds.

Corn on the cob, for one thing. They view all corn as cattle feed.

And they have a long standing system for what is considered "waste" on a pig. The ribs, to them, are worthless. Go figure.

Then again, the typical German pork roast kicks serious ass.

Hosting a Barbecue

Summer is a great time to get outside and grill a delicious meal. Here are a few basic safety rules and outdoor-cooking tips to help make sure you and your family enjoy a tasty, safe summer cookout.


Marinate your ribs in bourbon before barbecuing. The best way to do this is by pouring the whiskey down your throat.

One safety tip to keep in mind while barbecuing is that you should never, ever light your house on fire.

It's important that you choose the right kind of fire for grilling meat. Class D magnesium-based fires are not the right kind of fire for grilling meat.

Whatever you do, don't shout the phrase "Johnsonville brats!" at the top of your lungs. Don't let your neighbors do that, either.

Do you have an entire set of tableware designed with a playful, summery watermelon-slice theme? Well, isn't that adorable. Let me see that spoon! Even the spoon is a little watermelon. Honey, come here and look at this spoon.

Don't forget to repeatedly baste your cooking pork in barbecue sauce, which will "mask the spoiled taste."

The endangered Cebu cinnamon tree of the Philippines is the best firewood for grilling. Use anything less, and you might as well be cooking your food on top of smoldering raccoon shit.

For optimal flavor, raise your own animals, make your own charcoal, and distill your own vinegar. For passable flavor, head on down to Smokey's Ribs & Things out by the airport.

When barbecuing veggie burgers, be sure to tie your long hair back. That will keep it away from the flames, you stupid hippie.

Maybe someone has already mentioned this, but:

Barbecue entails marinating/slow-cooking/basting of pork, beef brisket, or (perhaps) chicken. Wood is generally added to the cooking process to add flavor to the meat. The meat is generally either given a dry rub (mixture of dry seasoning literally rubbed onto the meat before it is cooked) or is treated with barbecue sauce.

Grilling is comprised of a bunch of people gathering around a grill, cooking hot dogs/burgers/brats etc. on said grill. (According to the great Hank Hill, the better option is gas, since the meat retains its natural flavor instead of taking on the stench of burned charcoal...). In America, such a feast generally includes potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, cole slaw, etc.

When many people refer to barbecue, they really mean grilling or grilling out.

Apparently the person who wrote this thread has never been to Canada!
Yeah, we have them year round.

Yeah, we have them year round.


I use the grill year round, but not with the whole deck party, obviously.

Maybe someone has already mentioned this, but:

Barbecue entails marinating/slow-cooking/basting of pork, beef brisket, or (perhaps) chicken. Wood is generally added to the cooking process to add flavor to the meat. The meat is generally either given a dry rub (mixture of dry seasoning literally rubbed onto the meat before it is cooked) or is treated with barbecue sauce.

Grilling is comprised of a bunch of people gathering around a grill, cooking hot dogs/burgers/brats etc. on said grill. (According to the great Hank Hill, the better option is gas, since the meat retains its natural flavor instead of taking on the stench of burned charcoal...). In America, such a feast generally includes potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, cole slaw, etc.

When many people refer to barbecue, they really mean grilling or grilling out.


Lots of people of southern extraction, including myself, have pointed this out. I'll also note, once again, that the word has been co-opted internationally to refer to the sort of cook-out described in the OP's glurge piece.

This is one of those words that demonstrates the lovely nature of living English. :)

I remember when I was stationed in Germany, we built a few really large barbecue smoker/cookers so that we could reproduce the slow cooked barbecue ribs I remember from my youth in North Carolina (as well as the pulled pork barbecue).

Well, we needed to buy pork ribs - but at the local schlacthof, ribs are considered waste and are thrown away. The butcher was quite amused when we offered to pay a fixed price for as much pork ribs as we could carry away (he thought it was funny that we paid for them).

We got about 300 kilos of pork ribs for 50 marks (in the late 1980s).

After a day of cooking it all down, we invited the butcher up for a taste, and he couldn't believe how good it was.
Heh. Reminds me of one Christmas in Babenhausen when the Kontakt Club I was in "acquired" a case of Meyers from the Class 6 and made up a bunch of Real Egg Nog for the Chriskindlemart fund raiser.

The Germans couldn't figure out hot "Egg Nog". We even called it EierLiquor, but that didn't work either. But after we gave away just 4 free samples, they bought us out in the following 30 minutes. We couldn't ladle fast enough. :D

That reminds me - I have a very evil recipe for homemade eggnog. Yes, it's one of those things that there's never any left when they taste it.

when i was in argentina, we spent a couple of days working in the rainforest helping with reforestation and stuff. there was a group of 18 of us.

there was a barrel on its side with a grill on top of it, so we filled it with wood and went and bought some meat. more than enough meat for everyone...big argentinian steaks, shitloads of ribs. lovely

then the people we were helping came with about the same amount of meat to say thankyou for helping., along with a hell of alot of beer.

so...we had double what we had thought was going to be more than enough

best. barbeque. ever. sitting in the rainforest, around a fire with a group of friends munching on our barbequed stuff, and getting pissed.

that was great fun

I use the grill year round, but not with the whole deck party, obviously.
Yeah, usually it's a matter of cooking outside and then bringing it in.

all *I* know is that if one is going to visit the united states one really NEEDS to attend a nice southern barbeque if they are going to claim to have seen the real US.

even if all you are doing is driving through alabama or tennessee (or wherever in the south) you GOTTA stop at the pit bbq place with all the pick-up trucks in the parking lot. you will never regret it.

You don't have to go to your elitest southern BBQ to "know" the U.S. I would say I got a better idea when I spent the 4th of July in Ohio with my grandparents, we went to my uncle's house and had a family BBQ and my uncle brought out the fireworks (which are illegal in Ohio) and set them off.

:)

all *I* know is that if one is going to visit the united states one really NEEDS to attend a nice southern barbeque if they are going to claim to have seen the real US.

even if all you are doing is driving through alabama or tennessee (or wherever in the south) you GOTTA stop at the pit bbq place with all the pick-up trucks in the parking lot. you will never regret it.

And if they give it to you without slaw, you know you're in the wrong place.

when i was in argentina, we spent a couple of days working in the rainforest helping with reforestation and stuff. there was a group of 18 of us.

there was a barrel on its side with a grill on top of it, so we filled it with wood and went and bought some meat. more than enough meat for everyone...big argentinian steaks, shitloads of ribs. lovely

then the people we were helping came with about the same amount of meat to say thankyou for helping., along with a hell of alot of beer.

so...we had double what we had thought was going to be more than enough

best. barbeque. ever. sitting in the rainforest, around a fire with a group of friends munching on our barbequed stuff, and getting pissed.

that was great fun

and without Deep Woods Off, I bet the giant insects feasted too! hehe

and without Deep Woods Off, I bet the giant insects feasted too! hehe
ah there was enough smoke from the fire to keep most of them away, so that was ok

although, i did get a bite in the rainforest on my forearm that resulted in a large-ish amount of skin disappearing, would have been about 2 inches by an inch. that was...interesting. had to get it dressed twice a day for about a month after that

fun fun in the rainforest :D

ah there was enough smoke from the fire to keep most of them away, so that was ok

although, i did get a bite in the rainforest on my forearm that resulted in a large-ish amount of skin disappearing, would have been about 2 inches by an inch. that was...interesting. had to get it dressed twice a day for about a month after that

fun fun in the rainforest :D

yah, i bet.

I was once bitten by a spider... that little beggar left me with a small indentation in my leg because (well, I was 12...) when the "zit" formed, I squeezed and xsqueezed and this chalky white stuff just... kept... coming... out... sort of like toothpaste.

At any rate, perhaps we can compare arachno-battle scars sometime. hehe

and by the way:

How is Belfast correctly pronounced?

Is it bel-FAST or BEL-fast?

yah, i bet.

I was once bitten by a spider... that little beggar left me with a small indentation in my leg because (well, I was 12...) when the "zit" formed, I squeezed and xsqueezed and this chalky white stuff just... kept... coming... out... sort of like toothpaste.

that sounds really quite strange. cool.


and by the way:

How is Belfast correctly pronounced?

Is it bel-FAST or BEL-fast?
definitely BEL-fast.

although the BBC news cant get it right, so they always pronounce it bel-FAST

English people :rolleyes: :p

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=423896

About a week ago I asked what's the best thing about summer. I'm assuming that you guys love your BBQs as much as any Patriotic American, including myself :) . I'd like to continue that poll and deter from the US vs the world arguments that have been coming up a lot. BTW, I'm very grateful that you guys are disputing the best BBQ experience ever instead of whether or not the US rocks. The essay was intended initially to highlight a detail in our great country, but was always warped so that people would think of it as an attack *sniff sniff*. I don't mind if you guys copy and paste the whole thing in anything you write . We're on a forum thread, so don't worry about integrity and giving me credit. So if you come across someone that doesn't like America just say, "Hey I've got one for ya," and show 'em this.

THX A BUNCH GUYS!!!
:D

There are quite a few things that Germans won't eat that the typical American will eat. And I'm not talking about McDonalds.

Corn on the cob, for one thing. They view all corn as cattle feed.

And they have a long standing system for what is considered "waste" on a pig. The ribs, to them, are worthless. Go figure.

Then again, the typical German pork roast kicks serious ass.

That's not quite true. We used to eat Corn all the time. Since I lived on the outer edges of Hamburg, there were a few farms not to far from us. We used to walk into their fields and steal Corn, then eat it with hot butter and Steak.

And yes, we never ate ribs, although I have to say that Americans have a long system of what is considered waste on a pig as well.
Do they eat veal brains in the US as well? Some people eat them in Germany...

That's not quite true. We used to eat Corn all the time. Since I lived on the outer edges of Hamburg, there were a few farms not to far from us. We used to walk into their fields and steal Corn, then eat it with hot butter and Steak.

And yes, we never ate ribs, although I have to say that Americans have a long system of what is considered waste on a pig as well.
Do they eat veal brains in the US as well? Some people eat them in Germany...
Veal (or calf's) brains, yes.
Pork brains, yes. Sliced, dipped in batter, and deep fried. Or mixed with scrambled eggs.
Also have had chitterlings (intestine)

Tripe is good if cooked correctly.