The men spend the time between inspections chatting about the news of the day, the weather, sports, politics, and all other subjects that arise from the confluence of roast pork and hard liquor. In a traditional pig pickin' the woman are far from idle while the men accomplish the arduous chore of watching the pig and drinking. The side dishes at a pig pickin' are legendary. It is an opportunity for everyone to pull out old favorite recipes, some handed down from grandmothers on deathbeds, to delight the palate and impress friends and neighbors. Various salads, casseroles, pickles, preserves, and a whole host of desserts are prepared for the event.
Some items are mandatory.
Cole slaw, for instance, must be served, although the exact recipe varies from region to region and family to family. Boiled potatoes, with a cup full of barbecue sauce added to the water is also obligatory. Of course the bread accompaniment is the ubiquitous hushpuppy, the fried cornmeal staple of Southern life since Colonial times. And gallons and gallons of fresh brewed sweet iced tea, sometimes flavored with lemon, complement the usual celebratory beverages. A word here about the sauce.