My dad was the King of the Barbecue Grill in summertime. Like my mom always reasoned, "why overwork the air conditioner with a hot oven when you can cook out?" Dad didn't mind one bit. He loved being outdoors for any reason and he'd always invite the neighbors over. Growing up, our backyard was the place to grab a bite during the summer months.

Before you get invited to your first (or next) backyard dinner party, I thought I'd share some of my dad's wisdom about barbecues and cookouts - mainly what the difference is. Believe it or not, it's actually a big deal to get your backyard etiquette right.

Ask any die-hard outdoor chef like my dad and they'll tell you that you can't call it a "barbecue" unless you're actually barbecuing (cooking over low heat for a long period of time). That means if you're grilling (cooking over high heat for a shorter period of time), you are socially compelled to call your outdoor gathering a "cookout". The most dedicated grillers and barbecuers will also argue the virtues of cooking over wood chips vs. charcoal vs. natural or propane gas. And don't even start a conversation about electric grills with the true fanatics!

Me? I don't much care. As long as the company is good, the food is edible and the weather is fine, I'm happy. So call it what you want and cook it how you want - just don't forget to invite me.