Saturday, February 20, 2010

CancerSucksChicago BBQ Team

The Dudette (Pat) and I just spent an enjoyable weekend at a barbecue cooking class taught by Scottie Johnson and Mike Wozniak. Scottie is the head cook of the CancerSucksChicago.com BBQ Team. Mike Wozniak is the head cook of the Quau (pronounced Q-Wow) BBQ Team.

Scottie started the class by giving us his background in competition barbecue. Then he went into the sad reason on how he named his BBQ team. His wife Corliss died from cancer 7 years ago this month, leaving him with 2 young daughters. On the eve of his winning the Jack Daniels World Invitational BBQ contest his Father died from cancer. Through out the years, Scottie has dedicated his free time to raising awareness and money for cancer research.

Mike is a perennial top 10 cook in the Kansas City Barbecue Society team standings. A few years ago Mike tied for team of the year with Mike Davis of Lotta Bull BBQ Team. Unfortunately KCBS says there can be only one number 1. So Quau lost to Lotta Bull.

The object of this class was to raise money for cancer research, share information to help everyone cook better, network and have fun. I believe the class achieved all its objectives and then some.

Friday evening started with us being served dinner by Uncle Bubs Barbecue in Westmont. The food was great! As we ate Scottie showed us how to trim briskets and pork butts. I did learn a different way to trim pork. Then Mike and Scottie talked to us about chicken and its preparation. Scottie showed us his trimming of pork ribs. The class ended Friday evening about 10pm with Scottie putting the briskets and pork butts in his FEC100 cooker.

The morning began at about 6:30am with it snowing. Scottie showed us how he wraps his briskets and butts. Then Mike took over the class and show us his custom "Quau" cooker. It is one slick cooker. Then he worked on chicken and Cornish hens.

Mike and Scottie tried to do the class in "contest" time. They gave everyone in attendance the feel and flair of contest timing. Not everyone attending the class were contest cooks. There were some amateur or backyard cooks.

Knowledge, fun and food was shared by all. By the way, this class raised over $13,000 for cancer research.

5 comments:

  1. Nice write up Steve. Do you mind if I re-print it in the next ILBBQS Weekly(ish) eNewsletter? I'll be sure to place a link back to this blog.

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  2. that's a nice way to raise both money and awareness. the cancer foundation truly appreciates it - and so do I as a survivor.

    have you written anything about those ceramic eggs yet ? I'm thinking of getting one this summer to do smoking. I've got a webber kettle grill which is wonderful, but I want something smaller since there's just the two of us now.

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  3. Great story, thanks for sharing it and yes Cancer Sucks!

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  4. this is a lovely blog, layout and content :)

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  5. Sorry Da Dude--

    I haven't stopped by in awhile. I have been in a self imposed exile. I was leaving ASSprints, all over the blogosphere. I had to take a good Hot Shower, and come clean.

    Love all of your stuff. Love the Que!

    Peace, Love, and Understanding--Elvis Costello

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