Every year, the Northeast BBQ Society (NEBS) sponsors a grilling competition in the early, cool months of the season, called the Snowshoe Grilling competition. When I saw the categories advertised online for this year’s contest (WOW!), and in the hopes of touching bases with BBQ buds I haven’t seen since I retired from the circuit years ago, I sent in my application to be a judge for this contest.
Yesterday was a chilly, windy day at the VFW in Whitman, MA – as almost always, the weather conditions contributed to the challenges of outdoor competition cooking. Since I was going to judge, I couldn’t “fraternize” with any of the teams as they cooked, for fear that I would recognize the entries once they were placed in front of me to judge (it’s blind judging – we don’t know who cooks what).
The cooks must prepare their entries using charcoal and/or wood as fuel – no gas or electric cookers. They must present 6 portions for each category.This year’s four categories were Pizza, Bacon-Wrapped, Burgers, and Chef’s Choice.The aroma in the air in that parking lot was magnificent!
We weren’t allowed to take photos of the entries, not that any of the judges would upload photos to the internet before the judging was over, but …..
There were 2 tables of six judges, for 11 teams, meaning each judge would sample either 5 or 6 entries in each category. Even if you take only one bite of each entry, it’s a LOT of food!
Pizza entries included a BLT pizza, one with bacon, smoked gouda and carmelized onions, and a cheeseburger pizza. All pretty good – none remarkable.
Some of the Bacon-Wrapped entries were extremely creative! Bacon-wrapped macaroni and cheese (beautifully presented, but bland) and Bacon-wrapped faux sushi, and the more traditional Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Scallops.Oddly enough for me, the shrimp was my favorite.
All the Burger entries were beef burgers, I think. One had some hot sausage in there, I believe. Some were regular-sized burgers cut in half, and some were sliders. I was kind of hoping to get maybe a salmon burger or lamb burger, but maybe the other judging table got one of those.They were all more well-done than I’d like, but all were juicy and flavorful, just none outstanding.
Chef’s Choice ran the gamut from desserts (trifle of fruit and chocolate cake, a crème brullee, a chocolate cookie sandwich with peanut butter, banana and bacon filling) to rack of lamb with anchovy pesto. The latter was my favorite.Some of us were very skeptical that some of the teams misunderstood the rules about GRILLING their Chef’s Choice entry and may have knocked off a point or two, accordingly.
I did get to see some of my old buddies, who warmly welcomed me back after so many years. Made me feel great!And I had a ball!
And I was stuffed!
I brought home some leftovers (only one of the Chef’s Choice desserts – a spectacular warm cinnamon roll with a brown sugar glaze, topped with chopped bacon) and cut off the bitten parts, and warmed them up for my friend, Kathy to try. Unfortunately, I tossed the pizza leftovers before I realized I could take some home.
So, I didn’t have dinner last night, Kathy ate her fill of leftovers, I had my fill for lunch today, and I STILL have another lunch’s worth, LOL!
A wonderful day!
Yesterday was a chilly, windy day at the VFW in Whitman, MA – as almost always, the weather conditions contributed to the challenges of outdoor competition cooking. Since I was going to judge, I couldn’t “fraternize” with any of the teams as they cooked, for fear that I would recognize the entries once they were placed in front of me to judge (it’s blind judging – we don’t know who cooks what).
The cooks must prepare their entries using charcoal and/or wood as fuel – no gas or electric cookers. They must present 6 portions for each category.This year’s four categories were Pizza, Bacon-Wrapped, Burgers, and Chef’s Choice.The aroma in the air in that parking lot was magnificent!
We weren’t allowed to take photos of the entries, not that any of the judges would upload photos to the internet before the judging was over, but …..
There were 2 tables of six judges, for 11 teams, meaning each judge would sample either 5 or 6 entries in each category. Even if you take only one bite of each entry, it’s a LOT of food!
Pizza entries included a BLT pizza, one with bacon, smoked gouda and carmelized onions, and a cheeseburger pizza. All pretty good – none remarkable.
Some of the Bacon-Wrapped entries were extremely creative! Bacon-wrapped macaroni and cheese (beautifully presented, but bland) and Bacon-wrapped faux sushi, and the more traditional Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Scallops.Oddly enough for me, the shrimp was my favorite.
All the Burger entries were beef burgers, I think. One had some hot sausage in there, I believe. Some were regular-sized burgers cut in half, and some were sliders. I was kind of hoping to get maybe a salmon burger or lamb burger, but maybe the other judging table got one of those.They were all more well-done than I’d like, but all were juicy and flavorful, just none outstanding.
Chef’s Choice ran the gamut from desserts (trifle of fruit and chocolate cake, a crème brullee, a chocolate cookie sandwich with peanut butter, banana and bacon filling) to rack of lamb with anchovy pesto. The latter was my favorite.Some of us were very skeptical that some of the teams misunderstood the rules about GRILLING their Chef’s Choice entry and may have knocked off a point or two, accordingly.
I did get to see some of my old buddies, who warmly welcomed me back after so many years. Made me feel great!And I had a ball!
And I was stuffed!
I brought home some leftovers (only one of the Chef’s Choice desserts – a spectacular warm cinnamon roll with a brown sugar glaze, topped with chopped bacon) and cut off the bitten parts, and warmed them up for my friend, Kathy to try. Unfortunately, I tossed the pizza leftovers before I realized I could take some home.
So, I didn’t have dinner last night, Kathy ate her fill of leftovers, I had my fill for lunch today, and I STILL have another lunch’s worth, LOL!
A wonderful day!
. Are you allowed to say which food/foods won?
