‘Cue on Tape

“Professional back-yard barbecuer” Louis Williams claims to have developed a foolproof method to produce tender, flavorful chicken and ribs on a charcoal grill--without preboiling or undercooking. His 50-minute instructional videotape “The Better Bar-B-Que Video” is $19.95 (plus $4.50 shipping); call (800) 238-1559.

Do You Have Decaf Barbecue Sauce?

Billy Blues, a line of barbecue sauces (regular, hot & spicy, smoky pecan) that will be available at supermarkets such as Lucky and Albertson’s this month, claims descent from the sauce developed by 19th Century Texas pioneer Herman Haak, the first brewmaster at Pearl Brewery in San Antonio. The traditional secret ingredient--coffee--gives the particularly well-balanced sauces a certain brooding authority.

Whatever You Say, Dear. Whatever You Say, Dear.

A poll conducted by Kingsford Charcoal shows that men, by a margin of 50% to 37%, are the ones who decide to have a grilled meal (they also tend to light the charcoal and do the grilling), but it’s women (57%-25%) who decide what to grill.

Deep Thought for Memorial Day

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.”

--Mark Twain

Throw Another Shrimp On, Barbie

For the past year, Barbie has been cooking. The Barbie Party Bake Oven not only has doll-sized model foods for Barbie to serve but a lightbulb-powered oven in which a child can make real cookies, brownies and fudge.

Get Smart, Cookie

What’s a smart cookie? The free cookie that participating Mrs. Fields Cookie Stores will give to any child who shows a 1992-1993 report card (kindergarten through eighth grade) between June 10 and 30. Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies, says the Smart Cookie program is designed to “reward kids for staying in school and trying their best.”

This? Um, It’s Only Vodka

According to “For God, Country and Coca-Cola” by Mark Pendergrast (Scribner’s), Marshal Georgi Zhukov, chief Soviet military officer in World War II, was a Coca-Cola fan. After the war, the company secretly sent him supplies--but a specially formulated clear Coke, so he wouldn’t have to be seen drinking the imperialist beverage.