Kawartha BBQ Competition. Tomorrow, from 11am-4:00pm. Judging at 3:30pm. 981 Hwy #7 East, Peterborough.
I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a meat geek. While I do try to have a well-balanced diet that is made up of plenty of local fruits and veggies, grains, legumes, you name it… I do kind of get worked up about the preparation of meats. And let me tell you, I’m not after supermarket cuts banged into the oven or torched on the BBQ. No sir. No ma’am. If I’m preparing meat, it is going to be good quality, prepared with care. I try to respect the cuts of meat that I buy.
So, yes. A meat geek. A meek for short.
And while it is said that the meek shall inherit the Earth, I’m pretty sure they’re not referring to me — although I did once inherit a 13-year-old Subaru Forrester (though that is another story).
Sometimes being a meek (and, yes, I did just make up the term) does have its perks though, and this weekend is a prime example.
For the second year in a row, I’ve been invited to be a “celebrity” judge at the Friendly Fires Kawartha BBQ competition. And, gosh darnit, I’m pleased as punch.
Here’s the deal:
- 20 teams, with a maximum of 4 people per team.
- Homemade sauces, rubs, and spice blends.
- Ribs are to be St. Louis style.
- Entrants provide their own smoker/BBQ.
Your judges this year will be: Candice Reardon (Extra 90.5FM), Shari Darling (The Sophisticated Wino) and Mike Judson (CHEX TV weather).
I’m particularly excited to be sharing the tasting table with Mike Judson, who gets excited whenever presented with quality foods. Look for him to be a happy camper when my Daily Foodie segment returns to CHEX Television in the fall.
Last year, was an incredible day, with a quality of ribs that ensured this meek was utterly blissed out.
This year, the event is going to be more family friendly than ever, with plenty of things to see and do:
- Free hot dogs for kids starting roughly 11:30
- Free bouncy castle for kids starting roughly 11:00
- Free pizza samples cooked on our outdoor wood-fired oven starting roughly 11:30
- Free rib samples slow cooked that day starting roughly 12:00 noon
- Live music courtesy of “Water’s Edge” starting roughly 11:00
- MS Society will have a presence for those wishing to make charitable donations
Wondering what exactly a judge is looking for when trying a competition rib? Look back here tomorrow morning, and I’ll let you in on a few of the secrets. SPOILER: That meat shouldn’t be falling off the bone.
Speaking of the meek inheriting the Earth… Why not enjoy a bonus bit of RUSH while contemplating ribs. Yes, you’ll have to wait until the end of the song for that classic line. Also: Does this make me the first food blog to feature Canadian Prog-Rock? I’d like to think so.