BBQ competitions...

[Larry Gude]

Ok, we went to Swinetastic in Frederick yesterday and the tread on here has some of the same complaints; not being able to taste the competitors food.

This is, in short, insane. It's like going to see the Redskins and their game is held behind closed doors while some High School team plays for the public.

I can not tell you how many people I heard bytching up a storm yesterday about having to pay to get in, just to get in, then have to pay for food and then NOT be able to even sample the competitors meat. But, you can walk around and SMELL what they're doing!!! Madness! It's like the zoo in reverse; like 1,000's of lions seeing and smelling all those tasty people in their cages but, no touching!

Now, I realize competitors can't be cooking for 1,000's but, they are already. There were 65 pro teams up here yesterday. They ALL do multiples of everything, turn in their best and keep the rest. At 8#'s, that is at least 500 pounds of brisket alone left over. That's at least 2,000 4 oz samples. Add in chicken and pork and there, easy, would have been more than enough samples for everyone who showed up.

Now, as I am not a communist, I don't expect them to just give it away. There is a beer tent. Judges tent. This tent, that tent. Have a damn competitors tent. And charge for it. $1 a sample. $20 unlimited, whatever. Have the bins numbered and let the people choose the 'People's Choice' winner and let that pool of money pay out according to how you finish.

SoMdDude is right; if people think the vendors food is good, they simply have NO clue what good BBQ is. I mean, this is not a knock on the vendors. They CAN'T make money by doing their food that well, that much time, that much micro managing but, good lord, the BBQ world is doing itself NO good service by charging people to get in, charge them for food, not let them taste the GOOD stuff AND leaving them with the mediocre taste of vendor BBQ.

We made friends with one of the competitors yesterday (they are top 200 in the nation right now of something like 7,000 members), got a wonderful behind the scenes tour of their rig, their view of smokers 101, tips, tricks and hints and we got a sample of their brisket and pork.

Let me make this plain; I am picky when it comes to some things and I am a total brisket snob. I've had some pretty good brisket in Texas and Vrail has it down better than most. She really does. Yesterday, the morsels we were treated to were, by far, not even close, the best brisket I have ever tasted. Same for the pork. Texture, smoke, flavor, Oh my lord. I literally got goosebumps as the flavor just kept coming. Let's just say I had a moment.

In any event, the point is, if the goal is to promote BBQ, promote the recipes, the equipment, the lifestyle, the absolute joy of really good BBQ, that's how I'd do it;

Hold a BBQ competition where the PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE WHOLE thing, at least get a chance to sample some of it. Right now, it is the worst of all worlds.

 

[vraiblonde]

Someone said it in the other thread: health department regulations won't permit it. Welcome to Maryland.

The smokers and cooking environment aren't completely sterile and inspected thoroughly by state authorities; the food hasn't passed the microscope test; the pit masters aren't wearing full HAZMAT gear before they cook the food; commercial refrigeration is not available; etc etc etc.

I was thinking about this last night and if I were a competitor I wouldn't want the masses sampling my work. All it takes is one nut to complain that they got sick from your food, whether they really did or not, and now you have a lawsuit on your hands. Then there are the bandwagon jumpers who see an opportunity to cash in, and suddenly THEY were deathly ill as well.

Crybabies and aholes have ruined this country, and especially this nanny state, and it won't be long before it will be against the law to have any fun at all.

 

[vraiblonde]

PS, the event yesterday was a fundraiser for Civista hospital, not a straight BBQ competition.

 

[kom526]

Larry made happy in his pants.

 

[Larry Gude]

Always with the negative waves, moriarity, always with the negative waves.

So, how did you get to sample, judge, sign a waiver? Just have each ticket to sample have a waiver. The issue isn't regulating fun out as much as it is to ensure starving lawyers can make a buck in the process. And have a clause added to obamacare to cover cultural events

 

[vraiblonde]

So, how did you get to sample, judge, sign a waiver?

It's something along the lines of assumed liability, plus the coordinator didn't choose judges that were likely to be whiny litigious aholes.

Along those lines, and someone can correct me if I get it wrong, our little carnivals down here that have been a staple of SoMD summers since the beginning of time are now going the way of the dinosaur because of state regulations, inability or unwillingness to address behavior problems, and the aforementioned crybabies and aholes who can't stand to see children having fun and lay awake at night trying to figure out how to stop that tomfoolery.

This is why people don't like this state and can't wait for the opportunity to get out of here.

 

[MMDad]

How many people were there? 1,000? 10,000? Cooking enough brisket, ribs, and chicken to give each judge a platter is far from cooking enough to give each spectator a rib.

 

[MMDad]

BTW, the analogy would more accurate if you said that fans were bitching because they went to a Washington Redtails game and weren't allowed to return a punt.