Whole side of beef

kc · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 10 Location: North Mississippi

I have noticed in several old westerns like "Chism" ,"McClintock" and "Giant" that you see whole sides of beef being cooked over an open fire with a liitle hispanic guy turning it like a rotessiere(msp). Is this done very often? Is this good beef barbque? How long would it take to cook on this manner? What do you mop on it? I want to try this but i can't afford a whloe side of beef for trial and error. Tell me what you know about this.

jess · Posted: Jul 08 2011 Post subject:

You also see them shoot a revolver thirty times between reloads Laughing

You can roto a side of beef but most of them are done pit style. Big hole,rocks, fire to coals, beef wrapped in burlap soaked in sauce, covered tight, then left alone for 8-12 hrs or till they sobered up...

Ira · Posted: Jul 09 2011 Post subject:

Anthony Bourdain did a show in Argentina where a chef did this at his home, and I think it was a WHOLE cow, minus head.

It's butterflied and laid flat on this huge metal rack, tied with wire, I guess. The rack is connected at one end to a chain going through a pulley, and raised to like 65 degrees, so it's leaning over an open fire.

I know--it doesn't seem to make sense because of the differing distances from meat to fire, but I guess they know how to build the fire so it works. I don't recall if they even turned it, or if you COULD turn it.

All I can tell you is it's the coolest thing you've ever seen.

Kurt_W · BBQ Fan Joined: 27 Apr 2011 Posts: 165 Location: SWTx

LBJ threw a huge BBQ at his place in Stonewall when he was Pres.
all the DC bigshots and press were there.
had a whole beef Qin' over a fire.
just for show...
they prolly served shoulder clods or brisket.
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Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jul 09 2011 Post subject:

about 6 months or so ago, this came up here- it was quite common a generation or two back in the south west - whole steer, slicing as it got done allowing the next layer to cook - all day feeds!! Guys posted all kinds of links to the stuff, my browser doesnt work with the new search engine..??!! - I suck at finding those things - any regular help a brother out here?!
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Pit Boss · Posted: Jul 09 2011 Post subject:

Whole cows were the original barbecue in North Carolina and Virginia back before pigs took center stage. Cooked the same way as our hogs are...over live coals.
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Pinkelephant · Posted: Jul 10 2011 Post subject:

there is a big clam shelled water tank next door in a scrap pile. it has an 8 foot or so rotisserie that went in it. it looks like a hog roaster on steroids. he told me it used to be a cow cooker.
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