Alabama Public Radio will premiere its new interview program “APR Notebook” later this month. One of my guests will delve into the world of barbecue. That includes its place in Alabama history, the state’s civil rights movement, and the centennial of the BBQ restaurant, known for its “white sauce.”
Big Bob Gibson’s in Decatur opened back in 1925. It’s perhaps best known for introducing the world to white barbacue sauce. Robert Moss is author of the book “Barbecue the History of an American Institution” for Unievrsity of Alabama Press. He says, like a lot of people in the barbecue business, Bob Gibson did something else before open a restaurant.
“Big Bob Gibson was a boilermaker for the element of railroad for decades. That was his career.” Moss said. “But he started cooking barbecue in his backyard for friends. And somewhere around 1925 he started realizing that he could, you know, cook a little extra and start selling it to people.”…