Memorial Day

Let me begin with thanking all the veterans (past and present) and our fighting forces wherever they may be for their military service. You guys are the greatest!

Don Chute has a great little video with Gene Simmons that you all should see. A tribute to all the branches of the military. Great music for great people!

Now I know you are all wondering how I did in Westmont's Red, White & BBQ contest. Well, the answer is not to good. We were 31st place over all out of 52 teams.

However, my ribs did not come in last place. Let me explain that last comment. The first year we competed there, my ribs cost me a Grand Championship. We had a 3rd place chicken, a 1st place pork and a 4th place beef brisket. My ribs were dead last which put us 7th place over all. The next year my ribs were 2nd from the bottom and last year they were 3rd from the bottom. This year they were 35th out of 52.

Oh well, may next year.

BBQ Stadium, Westmont IL.

Ahhh! Its Saturday! One week from today I'll be back on the floor of BBQ Stadium (Ty Warner Park in Westmont Il). The smell of napalm in the morning...opps I mean the smell of smoking hickory and oak in the morning. Don't ya' just love it? Will Dr Porkenstein do a 4pete? Is this be a come back to competition win for the Porkrastinators? Will Uncle Bub give out his secret recipe for fried Mac & Cheese? I guess we'll have to wait for the smoke to clear next Sunday.

If you didn't know, this is a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned contest. We have to cook 4 meats and they are chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder (picnic, butt or both) and beef brisket. The hard part is the turn in times on Sunday. The chicken is due in at noon, the ribs at 12:30, pork at 1pm and brisket at 1:30pm.

I don't know exactly how many teams will be there. Last year they said that they were capping the number of entries at 48 or 54 teams. Also last year they had entries from as far away as New York and five different states. The current point leader (Quau) in the KCBS team of the year standings will be there. CancerSucksChicago.com the 2006 Jack Daniels World Champion will be there.

If you're in the neighborhood stop down and say hi. Also, on Sunday, after turn in, most teams will put out samples of their Championship BBQ. Don't expect the samples to last too long as there are a lot of great tasting food.

Winter Burn 2010 Results

Well gang, the old Dude didn't fare to well at the Winter Burn. The best I did was 7th place in pork. There were 17 teams out in the bowling alley parking lot. There were 18 paid teams but one team had to back out at the last minute. BTW, this was the 5th year for the Winter Burn.

Winners...

Over all
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> Mike Rib BBQ

Sausage
1> Porkrastinators
2> Butt Smokers
3> Smoke Rings

Chicken
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> KRE Smokers

Ribs
1> Mike Rib BBQ
2> Won't Get Smoke Again
3> KRE Smokers

Pork
1> Porkrastinators
2> Brew B Que
3> Ma & Pa Kettle

Now we have to look at our scores and see what needs to be changed. We experimented with different recipes and sauces this time out. Back yard contests like this is the perfect time to try out new recipes and sauces.

Winter Burn 2010

You've probably have watched the countdown clock above and wondered, "What the heck is a Winter Burn 2010?" Well... Winter burn is a one day barbecue contest between old and new friends in a bowling alley parking lot. More of a bragging rights thing.

For the last several years backyard and professional barbecue cooks get together to cure their cabin fever and to raise money for N.O.A.H.

This year we will be 12 to 17 teams cooking sausage, chicken, pork ribs and pork loin/tenderloin. There will also be a peoples choice chili contest. Whew! That's a lot going on in one day.

The teams will be arriving about 6am and the first turn in will be at 1:30pm and every half hour thereafter. If you want to talk barbecue, come early. If you want to taste some bodacious, and some not so bodacious, barbecue come closer to 1:30pm.

February 14th (Yes, Valentine's Day)

River Rand Bowl
194 S River Road
Des Plaines IL 60016

Phone: 847/299-1001

Barbecue Friends

To all my Wisconsin friends (OK everybody else also)---

There is a brand new contest in Montello Wisconsin, June 11th & 12th, 2010 that you might be interested in. Its called the "Poor Que". The reason why its called the Poor Que is because the entry fee is $80! As you might guess the prize money is on the low side.

It is at a campground so your cooking space will be big with water and electricity to all sites. Hot showers close by and you can stay extra nights for $30 a night. It is a campground with all the campground amenities.

The good part is it is K.C.B.S. sanctioned and is a Wisconsin State Championship Contest. I also think that since this is a low money payoff, the big teams won't be there.

I feel this is a great contest for new teams or back yard cooks that want a taste of contest life. For little more than the cost of a camping weekend you can have fun, share comradery with fellow BBQrs and see how your barbecue stacks up against others.

No, I don't have anything to do with this contest. I may judge but I have no other interest except to promote BBQ and BBQ contests. It is being run by 2 good friends, Anita and Tony Moore. Great BBQ people that like to promote and cook barbecue.

Check it out at, Poor Que.

Check out the campgrounds at Wilderness Camp Gound. It looks like a nice place to spend a weekend. No, I don't have an interest in the campground either.

Da Dude