Carne asadas are a way to keep up with family and friends. There is not always something specific being celebrated, like a birthday or anniversary, but having the opportunity to see your loved ones is a blessing, and getting together out of the blue is a way to show your appreciation for the people you love.
This type of love is part of the culture of Monterrey. Sometimes, the people can seem a little distant, but as soon as you get on their good side, you can count on an invitation to the next carne asada.
One of the things that we notice in a lot of countries is that people have dinner far later than we do in the United States. A common reason is that other countries do not have air conditioning on at all times, and having dinner during a hot part of the day is not very comfortable. The organizers of Tengo Orgullo de Ser del Norte joked that a carne asada in the northern part of Mexico is an all-day event. People arrive at around 3:00 p.m. with snacks and cold drinks, and they stay inside to chit-chat. They do not go outside to grill until after 6:00 p.m., and they do not eat until around 8:00 p.m.!
The popularity of cabrito (goat) is also linked to the heat of the area. When Spanish colonizers first arrived to the area and brought farm animals with them, they found that goats were a lot better suited to the harsh heat than cows. Later, these cows were brought in anyway, and Monterrey is now known for having high-quality meat of all sorts, but the popularity of goat persisted.
