Grilling and BBQ; people use the words interchangeably to describe a  type of food, a way of cooking food, or the social gathering that often  occurs when this food is being cooked.  But ask any Texan who loves his  BBQ brisket, and you will find that there are several differences  between grilling and BBQ.
 Used literally, the term "grilling" refers to cooking food over a  direct flame or other high-heat source.  BBQ, on the other hand, has  three distinct differences.  One main difference between grilling and  BBQ is the heat source.  BBQ uses indirect heat or low-level heat to  cook foods - usually meats.
   
 With high quality cuts of meat, low-level heat can suck out the  moisture, leaving the meat tough and dry.  This is why grilling experts  recommend using high heat that cooks quickly and sears the outside  layers, locking in the juices.  But BBQ typically uses less expensive  cuts of meat that must be cooked slowly for long periods of time to  become tender.  Which brings us to the second difference between  grilling and BBQ.
 With grilling, it takes somewhere around 15 minutes to cook a steak  and a bit longer for chops.  Authentic BBQ takes all day, or even  several days, to fully cook.  This is due, in part, because of the  low-level, indirect heat needed to cook the meat so that it becomes  tender.  But longer cooking times also allow the flavor to fully  develop, helped along by the third important difference between grilling  and BBQ.
 True BBQ will have a thick, tangy, mouthwatering taste that comes  from adding wood smoke during cooking.  No matter how many fancy gadgets  and flavorings you add, you can't get the same taste from grilling.   You might get a hint of smoky BBQ flavor, but it's just not the same.   Food has to cook several hours to fully absorb the wood smoke, and you  only get that from BBQ.
   So there you have it - the three main differences between grilling  and BBQ.  Both are thought of as art forms that require skill and  practice, and each has its own following of devotees.  But truth be  told, most people won't get too worked up if you call your grill a  barbeque.  And whether you're grilling or barbequing, it usually means  the same thing in the end  -- good times and good eats.