Cookout Capitals List 2009

So, the email bucket has been overflowing this year with interesting information on all things BBQ/grilling.  I received a list today of the top 100 cookout capitals in the US produced by the folks over at Blue Rhino, purveyors of top line propane.  Here is the criteria for inclusion on the list:

"The list, in its third year, ranks markets with populations equal to or greater than 99,000 based on the number of ideal grilling days reported during the months of May through August, which are defined as days under 90 degrees and having no precipitation. Weather data was compiled from the National Weather Service."

Cities one through five are all located in CA, with the number one position going to Los Angeles.  You have to crawl all the way down to number twenty two before a East Coast city makes its way onto the list - Philadelphia, PA (really?).  A true southern city finally makes a showing at number thirty eight - Charlotte, NC.  Atlanta came in fifty sixth.

While lists are really fun, I think a few key criteria may have been overlooked.  First, ANY day is a good day for grilling.  Any John Doe can BBQ/grill on a sunny day.  Try it on Xmas eve when it is 22 degrees and rainy and you have a 15 lb. pork shoulder on the smoker at midnight cooking for Xmas dinner the next day.  THAT is cooking.   The ninety degree cutoff will certainly anger a few swamp rats in Florida who cook some righteous BBQ.  I'm not sure if you actually get days under 90 degrees in Florida between May and August.....which leads me to the most vexing part.  Miami is number 100.  How did Miami make the list?  Last time I checked you could get to Cuba from Miami via innertube if you could paddle a mere 90 miles.

Anyway, like any good list it should provoke lots of discussion.  Check out the whole list here .

Comments

[Lucas]

LA!
Yeeeah.
Keep in mind people putting unseasoned frozen beef ribs on a grill can be considered "grilling" so the level of expertise out here in SoCal varies greatly.
Thanks for the info amigo.
-LM

[j biesinger]

How did they measure "grilling"? I assume it was based on propane sales. so weren't they really measuring how popular propane is among various cities?

you can grill without propane. it is possible.