smoking Should I test my skills?

Rajun Gardener

Rajun Gardener

There's a local restaurant throwing a BBQ Comp for charity to support Healing House, it's about 6 miles from me and I really want to see where I end up in a comp. I know my food is better than any bbq joint around but I'm not sure I can cook real bbq brisket. Each pitmaster has to cook 15 lbs of meat to be sold, that alone will be a challenge to turn out 45 lbs of 3 meats at the same time. Turn in is at 11:00 for everything. Crazy right?
 
The 3 meats are ribs, chicken and brisket. 
 
Here's the problem, People here cook brisket like a pot roast stuffed with onions, garlic, peppers and celery. They brown it a little on the fire then into a covered pan with a broth till tender. I'll be cooking a Texas style brisket. I want all the smoke and make people say DAMN!!
 
It's cheap enough to play, I should be able to cook all the meats and entry fees for $200-250.
 
The prizes are crap unless you win Grand Champion and hit at least 1 1st place but this is for charity so I don't mind not getting all my money back for the chance to see where I rank.
 
Here's the prizes"
Our BBQ Cook-Off prizes are as follows:
The Grand Champion will receive a Trager Pellet Grill, $50 Fezzo's gift card and a $200 CASH prize. This prize is valued at $750. Thank you to Advanced Signs & Graphics for helping sponsor it.
The Judges choice for Best BBQ Chicken will receive a Seasoning gift basket, 15" by 10" medium oval roaster, $50 Fezzo's gift card and a $50 Nunu's gift card. The prize value for all of our judges choice awards are valued at $200. Thank you to PSC Supply & Hardware, NuNu's Fresh Market and Guidry's Hardware for helping sponsor our amazing prizes.

The judges choice for Best BBQ Brisket will receive a 14" Old Smokey, 25-quart igloo Ice Chest, $50 Fezzo's gift card and a 3 month unlimited car spa package. Thank you to Classic Auto Spa for helping sponsor these amazing prizes.
The judges choice for Best BBQ Ribs will receive a 1-night stay at Rip Van Winkle Gardens, movie passes to Celebrity Theater, $50 Fezzo's gift certificate and a $25 Walk On's gift card. Thank you to Rip Van Winkle Gardens and Celebrity Theaters Broussard 10 for helping sponsor our prizes!
Here's the sign up sheet with rules. https://digitalmarketing.blob.core.windows.net/7334/files/IGNITE_Registraiton_Form.pdf
 
 
Give me you thoughts, ideas, call me crazy or just tell me to go it.

 
 
Hell yeah, RG! Go for it, man! :cheers:

I've been looking online for local "entry level / hobbyist / newcomer" / "backyard" / "patio" style BBQ competitions around here, but as far as I can tell, they were all back in early May :mope: I'd love to enter one just for the experience.

I absolutely say "go for it," dude! I think it'd be a lot of fun! We all know you've got the skills, brother! I'm rooting for you! :party:
 
As much as you enjoy cooking/smokin RG, I'd say hells yeah! Now with that said, from what I've read, I wouldn't use this "comp" as a measuring stick of your skills. I don't know how or who is judging this, so my guess is it's gonna be a crap shoot. To really see how you measure up, I'd suggest a Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition. They have trained and certified Judges, so you supposedly will be judged fairly.
 
Bottom line, I'd do this for fun and the experience and to support an excellent cause.
 
As for you Mike, think https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/event/harpoon-bbq-festival/
 
I believe they are having both Backyard and Pro competitions. Just sayin.
 
Alrighty then, I'm in and cooking ribs for sure. I just picked up 5 racks of Swift Premium St. Louis ribs(on sale, perfect timing). I'm not sure what chicken parts to cook. There's gonna be judges and peoples choice so I'm thinking thighs or drumsticks that they can hold easy and I won't have to slice 1/2 chickens and serve it. What say Ya'll?
 
I'm still debating on the brisket. I gave my UDS to my son and will have to build another one but I do have 2 drums waiting on me to get started. I plan on cooking on the pellet smoker to make it easy but having a drum for the brisket would be nice and I like the flavor better compared to pellets.
 
     I'd go with thighs. Besides being my favorite, they have a uniform shape and thickness as well as some fat. They're easy to deal with, they take flavor well and they're more forgiving than other pieces.
     Also, GO GET 'EM! You know you got this. From what I've seen come off your smoker, excellence is your par.
 
+1 x 1,000 on chicken thighs! :party:



Rajun Gardener said:
I'm still debating on the brisket...
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Still "debating"?
Dude, you HAVE TO smoke a brisket!!! ;) :D
 
In the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, competition chicken turned in is probably 95% thighs, 5% drums, but drums are gaining some traction. You rarely see breasts because they dry out so easily. I have seen breast meat pulled and sauced, like pork butt. I'm not a fan, but some like it. I'd cook thighs. If you're worried about bite-through skin, consider removing it. It's a little trickier, but done right you don't realize the skin's not there.
 
Have some fun!
 
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