What's so special about "Cornell Barbecue Chicken Sauce"?

[ipsedixit]

I've looked at the recipe on-line and can't really fathom what's so special about it.

Or is it special?

[AmyH]

I was skeptical at first, too. But it really is quite good. And smells wonderful while it's grilling. I live in Albany and all the BBQ fundraisers use this sauce. I don't know what the egg does. Maybe adds moisture or helps it stick to the chicken. Are you concerned about the salmonella possibilities? I think if you cooked your chicken throroughly it wouldn't be a problem. Any more than the salmonella on the chicken itself would be a problem. By the way, you can get the marinade bottled. The brand is "State Fair". It may only be available in NY, though.

[ipsedixit]

I'm not "concerned" about anything.

I'm just curious what makes this marinade so special. I'm guessing that the copious amounts of oil and egg createsa nice char on the chicken.

[pitterpatter]

I know the recipe seems weird, but I grew up on this chicken (Ithaca, born and bred) and the aroma it gives off on a charcoal grill is astonishing. I omit the egg.

[monku]

What do you think the purpose of the egg is?
...and why don't you use one?

[ipsedixit]

If there is no egg, then isn't it just your typical oil-vinegar based marinade?

[monku]

I concur!

[monku]

It's not only a sauce, but a marinade too.

[ipsedixit]

... and a moisturizer!

[monku]

Wonder if this Dr. Robert C. Baker invented the chicken nugget to parlay his sauce fortunes.
I haven't checked....but I assume he has a patent on the chicken nugget.

[ipsedixit]

Nope.
http://www.whoinventedit.net/who-inve...

[monku]

Interesting he would invent it but have no patent?
....an idea ahead of it's time.

[ipsedixit]

He's an academic after all, and not an entrepreneur.

Plus, if he did secure a patent, it might ultimately belong to the university and not him.

[al b. darned]

It sounds like this sauce:

http://www.spiedie.com/Merchant5/merc...

It is popular in central NYS, at least. A lot of "fund raiser" BBQ's (churches, fire depts, etc.) use it.

I use it primarily as a marinade. I usually mix it 50/50 with either Bone Suckin' or Dinosaur Sensuous Slathering Sauce. MMMM!

[monku]

Dr Robert c. Baker inventor of Cornell BBQ sauce also invented the chicken nugget.

[monku]

Sounds like it was a marketing idea to move chickens....kind of like Huli Huli chicen in Hawaii.

[ipsedixit]

What piqued my interest is the seemingly large proportionate use of oil in the sauce/marinade.

[monku]

The amount of vinegar and egg got my attention. It could almost be a salad dressing.

[ipsedixit]

More like mayonnaise.