With the recent D-Day 70th anniversary celebration, and the Fourth of July just around the corner, we want to do our bit for the patriotic frenzy pulsing though America. The best thing the Weekly Volcano can do is to preach the gospel of barbecue. It is, after all, the only truly American culinary technique. No foppish French sautés for us. We red-blooded Americans like our meat smoked, cooked long and slow until it's tender enough to be cut with a sharp glance. Travel with us to the town of Steilacoom to hear Pat Maddock, championship pitmaster with Pacific Northwest BBQ Association and Kansas City Barbecue Society, share secrets of competition barbecue we can use behind our office building. Maddock covers barbecue types, smoke woods, rubs, sauces, cookers and meats, and demonstrates the way competition chefs prepare winning pork ribs. We salute you, Pat Maddock!

BARBECUE CHAT, 6 p.m., Steilacoom Pierce County Library, 2950 Steilacoom Blvd., Steilacoom, free admission, 253.548.3313