History

First Chili Cookoff – 1942 Borger BBQ Battle

There isn’t much to say about the little sleepy town of Borger, Texas until you bring up one landmark incident. The Second World War was still in full-swing, and locals could enjoy BBQ when supplies allowed. You see there was a massive amount of food rationing at that time and Beef and Pork were scarce. Many of the food was being processed and shipped overseas for the troops. So BBQ, in a nutshell, was whatever was on the grill.

“World War II put a heavy burden on US supplies of basic materials like food, shoes, metal, paper, and rubber. The Army and Navy were growing, as was the nation?s effort to aid its allies overseas. Civilians still needed these materials for consumer goods as well. To meet this surging demand, the federal government took steps to conserve crucial supplies, including establishing a?rationing?system that impacted virtually every family in the United States.“

 

BBQ King VS Quay Franklin

In Borger, it happened that they had their BBQ King who could always deliver something grilled-up. This man was also a prominent figure in their town who was also an avid Pitmaster in his own right. Not to mention he was also the president of the Panhandle Bank and local Lions Club. This man was non-other than Bob the BBQ King’ Grimes. It was local news that Grimes hosted many backyard BBQs, and was a hit with all the Borger folks.

So while this banker could deliver afternoons of BBQ beef for local town’s people, perhaps his sauce is what made him stand out as being something special.

That is until a stranger blew into town with even bigger aspirations.

“Enter the new guy, Quay Franklin arriving fresh from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Originally an Ohio native, Franklin set-out to build-up a rubber plant in Borger in the summer of 1942“

A plot to steal the crown

After a few weeks of getting a better idea of who’s who in the city, he began to see how their city worked. And also how residents talked about Grimes being the King of BBQ! It seems this Ohio native also took his barbecue seriously since Ohio was also big on grilling. Franklin then decided he would take a different approach to rally support for his Rubber Factory plans. In a decisive move, Franklin made his first shot in the public newspaper.

It seems that what happened was simple enough. The news had been covering a story about some local rabid dogs that bit some men. Franklin decided to offer his explanation with a statement that lit-up the battle BBQ fire. He essentially said that Grimes had decided to dump his BBQ food over a fence where some dogs were living. As a result, they ate the food and it caused them to go on a rampage! But it seems Grimes wasn’t taking the bait.

“Franklin then proclaimed his BBQ sauce would put Grimes’ sauce in the shade’, to which Grimes finally reacted. The newspaper ate up the comments and stories and was a terrific distraction aside from the war. By September of that year, the rumours were already pointing to a BBQ duel between the two. It gained so much attention that the County Commissioner Fritz Thompson wrote his statement to the Borger newspaper“.

He announced he would lend his services to serve as an official judge. This was followed by a woman columnist who replied to the Thompson statement. She requested that women should also be allowed to judge the event! The entire BBQ cookoff continued to swell in interest until the first cookoff duel itself on October 7th, 1942. Sadly it was a bitter dispute which led to a rematch. Which many had thought were to be expected to happen.

Yet out of nowhere, there was a different cry from the people of Borger. It was from the women who were demanding they should be allowed to attend the rematch! On top of that, there was also the claim for women to also judge the food. Yet in these times it was a man’s competition that didn’t allow women to be present.

The rematch forbids women altogether and was held at the local American Legion Hall a week later.

The Masked Marvel arrives

A day before the match a challenger emerged in costume at the local newspaper. Their identity remained a mystery but challenged both Grimes and Franklin for their BBQ samples claiming they were both terrible. The challenger would join the competition only if they could wear their costume and go by the name of the Masked Marvel!

Sadly both Grimes and Franklin did not respond and the contest went on as scheduled.

“On that day there were 135 men present at the Legion Hall, along with the Masked Marvel who watched on. By the end of the cookoff, it seemed that Grimes could keep his King of BBQ title from Franklin. But that wasn’t the end for the Masked Marvel who continued to claim their BBQ skills were better. Despite his spectacle win, Grimes boasted to the Masked Marvel aloud, asking them to come up and cook like a Man! The shadowy figure then retreated into the darkness. ”

This mystery figure who didn’t get a fair chance at entering the competition was often believed to be a woman. Some have speculated that it was Grimes’ wife or a housewife who was fed-up with the rules. One thing is certain since this battle itself was left-out of most BBQ history books.

When women finally did get to enter these competitions, it was long overdue and long forgotten.

In conclusion

In hindsight, the first cookoff wasn’t a major competition but it did prove a very viable point. Both of these driven men were at odds with each other over BBQ boasting. It would take nearly three decades before women were allowed to enter these competitions. But what it did for setting the stage for creating a BBQ showdown was epic, even for that time.

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People

Chili Cookoff Cheater

BBQ competitions are serious business when it comes down to how you play by the rules. This is the nature of the beast down the line when it comes to following these rules. With that being said, each contestant is given a set of rules to follow and the rest is a simple principle. That doesn’t mean that rules can be bent to gain an edge. The real secret to cooking is having a secret in the first place. Other teams will use tactics that aren’t exactly considered illegal and are right up there with ‘shiggin’, which is essentially snooping for secrets.

In the world of chili cook-off competitions there was one case where a respected chili cook got bested. He had a brother who took his ambitions one step too far and it proved what everyone never expected. His brother won first place at a chili cook-off without cooking anything at all! This is the case and point of Don Eastep and the infamous 2003 Terlingua cook-off held in Texas. It seems that Don had two other brothers who were both established chili cooks from Springfield, Illinois.

Since 1976, the eldest brother Les was well-known for entering chili competitions with his brother Larry. Often all three of them would travel to just watch other chili cook-offs in their Springfield chili circle. Les was respected in the chili circuit and held a Grandmaster title as he had won in 11 world championships. In addition to that they would travel across 20 US states to enter these cook-offs. Don was not a chili cook and would often come along to get free Swag and enjoy the event itself.

Don was never a great chili cook but was more outgoing than his other brother. It wasn?t until 2003 that an opportunity to attend the Terlingua chili cook-off came up for the brothers. This event is by invitation only, so these two established grandmaster chili cooks; Les and Larry were chosen to attend. It turned out that Larry had to work, so Don essentially invited himself instead. He even registered himself as his brother Larry just because he wanted to have the Terlingua T-shirt. But there was a big problem, Don wasn?t cooking chili!

What happened next is what set the chili world on fire. Initially, Don was given a cup that?s used to submit his to the judges. But he had no cooking equipment like his brother Les so he hatched a plan to get the t-shirt anyway. He decided to fill the cup with samples from other well-established chili cooks instead. He used his skill of talking and coaxed samples from many award-winning chili Grandmasters. It was enough to fill his cup and gain that Terlingua t-shirt. His brother Les wasn?t amused but couldn?t do anything to stop Don?s pride and ego.

Les was already too busy with his chili to prevent Don from floating around the cooking camp. By the time Don was finished, very few had any idea what would happen when it came time for judging. As it turned out, the cup that Don entered, it won the top prize! Don quickly seized the opportunity to have his shirt and trophy but quickly left the stage after that. It seems that the area where Les was cooking was in a tent compound that was organized by Bob and Cathy Plager.

This is part of the ICS tent compound representing the International Chili Society. There were 5 of the top chili cooks in the country including Bob and Cathy! It was eventually Cathy who became suspicious of Don when he started his shiggin? routine with others in that group. Before Don could get away with his crime Cathy rushed the judging stage to cry afoul. She explained that Don didn?t even cook chili in her tent complex. The organizer of the event Kathleen Tolbert took over this event after father Frank Tolbert passed away in 1984.

He was the huge name that gave birth to the ‘Behind the Store’ chili cook-off in Terlingua. After that it was a matter of approaching Don in the ICS tent to ask him if he cooked or not. He admitted to his crime and a new winner could then be announced. Even though Don had not only cheated but he proved a vital point. The best chili that other cooks took pride in making, wasn’t just one kind, but a mixture of everyone else?s! It was not only a shock that it could have happened at such a prestigious chili cook-off but audacious too.

Don was banned from the State of Texas and his brother Les suffered a worse fate. He was shamed by his brother for mocking the ICS group and the integrity that was broken. Les had then lost the respect from the ICS and the Terlingua supporters. There was a silver lining to this story as it turns-out. Don was eventually invited back to Terlingua for a very special cook-off request just two years later. It was a staged exhibition to patch-up broken ties with the society and the rightful chili winner Ted Hume.

They even played-it-up including a mock-pardon from the ex-governor of Texas, Rick Perry to allow Don to re-enter their state. It was great promotion for the Terlingua cook-off and returned pride to the ICS cooks. They could give Don a widely-publicized public trial for his devious chili plot and soothe old wounds that were hurt. Ted Hume who lost the glory of winning on stage in 2003 could regain his pride in 2005. He won the cook-off with Don and both of them could laugh about the incident after that.

To this day Les and Larry have won several competition chili cook-offs but have never been invited back to Terlingua. It?s been a lesson that has been hard for them because of Don?s actions. But also is a shameful reminder that Les could have prevented Don from doing what he did. Nonetheless, they are family, and they all cooked chili at many competitions around the country since then. Don finally passed away in 2012 from a car crash in the Ozarks. He was returning from all things- a chili cook-off where he was cooking his chili recipe.

How cheating may not be so bad

While Don Eastep is an infamous legend that echoes around the chili circuit, some chili cooks have food for thought. The idea that several chili recipes mixed was enough to win the grand prize does have merit. The blend of top chili flavors that all come together can stimulate taste buds more than a single recipe alone. This is one additional story that I’d like to share how I learned to make chili from my Dad’s recipe. He worked hard as an electrician for the port authority of San Francisco.

Many union events brought-out the electrical Longshoreman who worked along the bay docks. One event was for the Local 6 IBEW that had a chili cook-off scheduled. My Dad was always running late for these events and had no time to cook. He went to the store, grabbing only a few essential chili items before he took his chili to the contest. He grabbed a pound of ground beef and a chopped-up a big onion to go into the pot first. When this was almost brown he added chopped and stewed tomatoes from a can.

His next move was unexpected since he had no time to cook beans, so he took a desperate measure. He added 2 cans of every chili bean brand off-the-shelf! There were 4 or 5 brands of every kind of chili he could find. Thick and spicy, big and small beans, extra saucy and sweet, it was a total mess! But what happened over the next 2 hours stewing, that chili was giving all these flavors time to mix. It took first place in the contest and people were asking for the recipe. When my Dad told them what he did, they laughed it off instead.

I guess they were thinking he was joking because he always had told them jokes throughout the day. I used to hear this story all the time from his

friends how he made the best chili ever. They thought he must be guarding his secret ingredient with such a lame-sounding excuse. The truth was a bit too simple for most people to take seriously. But it proves that just like Don Eastep, the combination of every flavor was enough to fool the senses. How an entire contest could be won with off-the-shelf chili sounds insane!

Perhaps it was the fresher ingredients like the ground beef and fresh onion that hid that preservative flavors? Or was it the stewed tomatoes that added a near-fresh aroma that gave the chili new life? Nobody knows for sure until I recreated the recipe myself. I wouldn?t have believed it could be possible but it was perhaps the best chili I?ve ever tasted. Not one that I would try entering into a competition but definitely for close friends. And who would guess that one good story can also bring-out an award-winning chili too?

Are there any other chili Traitors?

Not exactly a traitor but closer to a trader as one anchorwoman Maggie Vespa of KGW8 entered her chili cook-off entry. Just last year in 2019, Maggie was about to enter the annual KGW News chili cook-off at her office. She was pressed for time and ran-off to Trader Joe’s and grabbed all the canned chili they sold. It was another mixture that proved to be a huge hit and she was crowned the winner. Her colleagues begged for the recipe which she admitted the secret via a Twitter comment that fueled an uproar!

It boiled down to one of her co-workers who made his chili with only fresh ingredients. His chili however was the least liked and he vowed to drag Maggie through the mud. But as luck would have-it her real secret was letting it simmer in a crockpot for hours. The support that she received with online tweets was enough to defend her title. It became known as hacker chili, and to this day the exact kinds of canned chili she bought are unknown! Even her co-worker had to face the shame of bad-mouthing her online.

It seems nobody wanted to eat his turkey chili or hear about his complaints that Maggie?s chili was better. Not exactly competition rules by far though it goes to show you how social media gave her support. Just for being honest about her surprise win and how people?s perception online came to her rescue. You would never see this at an official ICS cook-off or official chili competition event. Or would you? Has there been another case or chili trickery?

The odd case of the Terlingua groups

Two camps hold chili competitions in Terlingua every year and have been at each other’s throats for years. The first is the CASI group known better as the Chili Appreciation Society International. The other is billed as the Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert- Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cook-off. The folks over at CASI have very strict rules that inspect meat that is used before any competition can start. The Frank Tolbert ‘Behind The Store’ competition has a different set of relaxed rules.

This is how Don Eastep managed to enter this cook-off without being caught. Despite the presence of ICS (International Chili Society) sponsoring this event, the rules simply weren?t followed as you would expect. But since this event is by invitation only, only the best top-title grandmasters are allowed to attend. They are trusted to follow the rules since their previous wins proved they stick to them. The CASI group is fierce at the competition and includes checking from the start to finish, preventing any cheating from happening.

Frank Tolbert created his Woodstock-like chili cook-off with more attention to entertainment and exclusivity. It?s a rivalry that has caused a lot of ruffled feathers with chili grandmasters over time. But without a doubt the Behind The Store event does know how to attract lots of press as a result. We may never see a chili cheater like Don Eastep happen by accident again for this reason. At least that is until somebody happens to be caught cheating or admits that they cheated to win?

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virtual contents entry
Event

COVID-19 Sends the Giant National Capital Barbecue Virtual

The frustrating elements of weather and other unforeseen situations can often limit our sense of pride in the USA. However, that does not stop the efforts of one organization that refuses to surrender to the COVID-19 pandemic. One particular American tradition is upholding that spirit through going viral itself to fight against this growing epidemic. The Giant National Capital BBQ of Washington, DC will take their event to the next level and go online via live-streaming this June. Instead of 100,000 visitors gathering at our capital, they will be joining in from their home via live stream.

competition goes virtual
This year, contestants will be submitting their entries online over 30 days throughout the month of June.

In full support of their efforts, we are helping to spread the news by providing you with the latest information. This bold and impressive month-long BBQ Battle will be an amazing virtual experience that includes fun for the whole family. Here are the latest details for their Live BBQ event that will include free activities for everyone.

Who is behind this incredible event?

Giant Food is the main sponsor of the Giant National Capital BBQ Battle, now celebrating its 28th?year holding this festival. It?s held in downtown Washington DC along the historic Pennsylvania Avenue every year in late June. For those who don’t know, Giant Food is the largest supermarket chain serving Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the DC area. With over 163 supermarket locations they have combined convenience and customer service in many of their stores.

They are a proud supporter of USO-Metro raising hundreds of thousands of dollars every year through private and public donations. From their event, the showdown of the Nations’s top BBQ challengers shows their BBQ skills in several cook-off contests. This year their 2-day festival is now a month-long exhibition that takes BBQ into a virtual online world stage.

What can we expect to see this year?

An impressive line-up has been slowly building to showcase the finest BBQ Pitmasters. They are not only showing-off their grilling skills, but their finished delicacies will also help benefit those who are home viewers. Raising money for the Capital Area Food Bank and the USO-Metro, they have added a BBQ Feast package. Within their website, they have added a special App that allows residents to purchase BBQ Feast packages. This allows families to have fresh BBQ dishes delivered to their homes to combat the COVID-19 restrictions.

visit facebook and twitter pageSee Facebook Event Page ***** See Twitter Event Page

They will also daily feature live cooking demonstrations filled with grilling tips and tricks from participating BBQ professionals. Learn all the latest recipes and directly from BBQ legends and top Pitmasters from all across the Nation. You’ll also have no shortage of grill-off contests featuring interactive prizes, shopping sprees, and chances to enter your BBQ recipes. All contests will allow live voting where you can select and judge your favorite BBQ dishes. Every day will offer something different for those who love BBQ with a passion.

Of course, the wide selection of music with the BBQ Battle of the Bands is brought back bigger than ever. There will be two separate music stages with a third being added by popular demand. Have a daily dose of past favorites and all new entries from all across the country.vote your favorite band

You and your family can enjoy live music covering jazz and blues, rock and reggae, and R & B music categories. Not to forget they have also added an interactive Giant Kids Zone. There will be plenty of games and activities to keep your family busy all day long.

There will also be an expanded Giant Corks to Caps virtual experience that covers wine and beer topics. Learn about wine pairing and expert tasting tips while beer enthusiasts can have the latest info about new beer varieties.

Why this BBQ event is bigger than ever?

As a proud sponsor of the USO-Metro and military families, Giant Food has been effortless in its support. Those who register to view this unique event will have the opportunity to donate through a digital payment online. As this is the first time in our recent history that a pandemic is an unseen enemy, timing is everything. This is why an entire month is devoted to raising awareness to fight COVID-19 while safely keeping social distancing. Giant Food also is exclusively handling all the BBQ Feast food delivery in addition to their standard supermarket delivery.

It’s especially helpful to the residents and families within our Nations’s capital and surrounding States. There is still plenty of time to register to be part of this event before it begins. Their website adds new information every day so viewers can plan weekly events with all of your family.

Our national BBQ must go on! June 2020 https://bbqindc.com/

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Event

World Series of Barbecue

A gastronomical competition? What is more mouth-watering than BBQ? I can hear you loud and clear! meat lovers all over the world. American Royal World Series of BBQ got you covered, it originated in Kansas City, United States where it all started as a small competition that has become the most single largest barbecue competition event in the world. Comprising of 400-500 barbecue teams competing in 4 different categories for their own title. It is the most awaited, most grand competition and festival now in its 41st year legacy. Where competitive barbecue enthusiast and pit masters flock from all over the world to skillfully showcase their signature sauces, rubs, marinades, techniques, preparations and styles which comes all together through a cook off and only the best of the best will remain to be standing and hit the title Grand Champion. All kinds of meat and BBQ is presented during the event making it hard for event participants and judges in choosing the finest of them all. Its quite fascinating as well that these teams already has a lot of fans and people who support their favorites since its been a yearly event. The Culinary journey and simultaneous stimuli of tastes never disappoint the crowd. It is not only the hustle and bustle of the cooking competition that livens the event, there is more! live local music, BBQ demos, Delicious BBQ, local food, cocktail garden, beer, BBQ Marketplace vendor fair of authentic local products and a full line up of kids activity.

History


The roots of American Royal before having the barbecue event dated back in 1899 which was known for having the National Hereford Show, selling of purebred cattle. It featured 541 Herefords, with 300 Herefords that has an average selling price of $334. Estimated attendees was 55,000. A tent in the Kansas City Stockyards, the agricultural hub of the Midwest is where it was held. A more permanent structure was built in 1908 by the Kansas City Stockyards and became the home of the American Royal until 1922 when the 1st permanent structure solely purposed for the American Royal was built. Tragedy struck the building in 1925 when it burnt down during an auto show, but it was quickly rebuilt and made readily available for the next American Royal season. That building housed American Royal until 1991 when it was torn down to make way for the more current American Royal complex. The show had officially became the American Royal in 1902 after C.F. Curtiss, the dean of agriculture at the Iowa State College of Agriculture, made comparison to the show with the British Royal Agricultural Fair. Attendance continues to overflowed as the show opened up to more breeds and species and soon it became an established Kansas City tradition.

The official American Royal Horse Show occurred 1st in 1905 with the help of the prominent horse trainer Tom Bass. Loula Long Combs performed in her first American Royal horse show on the following year. Loula belongs from a prominent Kansas City family who were known in the country for owning some of the best horses. Both Tom Bass and Loula Long Combs pioneered and became prominent figures of the American Royal Horse Show. She was often greeted with a crowd standing ovation while entering the ring on her phaeton with two of her Boston bulldogs riding with her. Loula continued to compete at the horse show for over 50 years, often winning. Today the American Royal features several horse shows varying from renowned trainers and stables.

The two events that that were soon added at the American Royal season are the rodeo and barbecue contest. The first American Royal Rodeo was held in together with the first dairy show during the spring in 1949. The dairy show and rodeo dissolve operation in 1951, but the rodeo made a surprised comeback in 1965 and remained a yearly spring activity. In was moved to the fall season in 1976 with the first American Royal PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) who sanctioned the rodeo. The rodeo usually highlighted with concerts of famous prominent country singers including Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, and Garth Brooks. The first American Royal Barbecue Contest was held in 1980, it started as small competition and quickly grew in popularity. In 1998. It officially became the ?The World?s Largest Barbecue? with 340 competitive teams competing. Today, The World Series of Barbecue serves as the largest fundraiser for the American Royal.

American Royal is a non-profit organization founded in Kansas City. Providing opportunities for youth and adults from all around the country to compete in Livestock Show, Rodeo, and Horse Shows. Many people know American Royal thru World Series of Barbecue. Through this event it made it possible to open the door to raise over $1 million annually for youth scholarships and support the agriculture education programs. This event therefore play a big part in shaping the country’s future

For over a century, the American Royal has played a major key to in developing Kansas City history. Through multiple buildings, events and programs, The American Royal has transformed into what it is today. The American Royal continues as a Kansas City tradition offering excellent opportunities for scholarships, education, and competition from all around the country for youth and adults who attend the programs.

Events/ Entries/ Other Things to do


Registration for the 2020 American Royal World Series of Barbecue is now open. The health and safety of the guest is highly prioritized by the management. With changes due to COVID-19 timelines and contest information may change. If event details, guidelines and/or operation detail change and update competing teams will be notified and the website will be updated as well.

The World Series of Barbecue Open Meat Competition is available to any and all teams who would like to come down and show off what they got, specially their BBQ cooking skills. There is no qualifier for the open competition. The contest is sanctioned by KCBS and participating teams must turn in at least one protein from the four main (Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Boston Butt and Beef Brisket).

For Invitational Competition many teams and contest organizer have been forced to cancel or postpone contests and may not have the chance to qualify for this year. A former Grand Champion will be eligible teams for the invitational participants from a qualifying contest through their partnering sanctioning bodies from June 30,2018 – July 1, 2020.

The Festival will be a two-day event. It will have a live local music, delicious food, beer and cocktails, a car show, a BBQ Marketplace and activities for the kids. There is surely something for everyone to enjoy.

The Pros


Pitmaster Fred Robles of Weslaco, Texas-based owner of Rio Grande Meat is a two-time winner in American Royal World Series of Barbecue. Rio Valley Meat BBQ team was named 2017’s World Barbecue Champion at the 2017 World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama on Nov. 12. Robles took home a $10,000 prize for the win. At his first attempt Fred not only made it to top 10 but claimed the title. But there is no stopping him as he claimed his victory at the 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue in 2019. He won several competitions as well across the country and given back to the community who with the help of Big Poppa Smokers and Smithfield, donated $8,500 to Estrellas’s House, a childhood advocacy center in Edinburg. Truly he knows how to extend his blessings to others

Pitmaster Darren and Sherry Warth of Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ took home the Grand Champion title on Sept. 17, 2018. The husband and wife team who owned a restaurant have taken the competitive circuit by storm above 466 competing team not only won the 39th Grand Champion title but it’s the 3rd time in six years that they snatched that title. Also they are on top on the game in some other categories as well which really says about a lot about their passion for their craft.

What a Newbie in BBQ Competition Could Expect?

A participant Todd Johns of Plowboys Barbecue as the Grand Champion at the 2009 Invitational, Open-Reserve Champion in 2010, Grand Champion awards for his brisket in 2009 and his pork in 2008. Gives his insights about the vibes, what was it like and he says it’s like a party and a family reunion, with some 600 teams competing including a 20 international teams representing 11 countries in the flagship food events. He explains that each team cooks about 120-150 pounds of meat per contest, 2-4 butts, 3-6 slabs or ribs, 1-2 dozen pieces of chicken, 2 whole briskets. Participants should arrive at the event with everything they plan to use. There are a couple of different experiences, John says that it depends to what your weekend looks like. Some are in the invitational, some open, and some both. He noted that for the teams that are cooking the invitational, some the open, and some cooking in two very important back to back contests. By the time you’re starting your turn-ins for the invitational, you’re starting your food for the open. They have to pace themselves and be focused he added.

Anything Interesting about Winning Recipes Entries/Etc.

Most of the recipes have their own uniqueness in the smallest detail. The interesting part is one needs to be meticulous choosing meat and farm supplier, It might sound very simple but it is really a big game changer, it is the meats premium quality. Only the top quality meats can really produce the best result but ofcourse with the Chef’s cooking skills and mastered cooking methods. What catches the BBQ enthusiast more engaging in this event is that the American Royal World Series of Barbecue are selling the blend of rubs which the champions used. The good thing is they can replicate the BBQ dish on their own at the comfort of their home.

The winning Entry dishes keeps the competition on flick and very much alive. It is for sure setting the standards that makes the game on for being the best. Yearly setting restaurant owners, chefs and pitmasters vigorously training, developing and mastering their techniques to win this prestige title everyone’s been dreaming to have. As it does not only represents perfection but also the beauty of the challenge it brings that is worth the pain and the hustle.

The sauces and rubs explicitly assembled to bring out heavenly flavors are well orchestrated and known by heart by the people who loved good food such as aspiring participant teams of this event. Even smoking process is crucial that is what makes it beautiful. that is what makes it art.

Any Other Relevant Topics that may be helpful to someone looking to know more about this event.

For locals that are interested to be a partner vendor of the event this is what you are looking for. Some information on the site should be considered such as; you will gain exposure to the fans, exhibitors, and participants that will attend American Royal events as a vendor in the American Royal Marketplace. At the heart of the American Royal?s Grand Hall, the bustling Marketplace is centrally located and is your chance to reach out to this high foot traffic. This is your very good chance to tap into a niche that is excited to be in Kansas City. A display of chic Western apparel and decor, and horse and livestock merchandise to agriculture materials, our event participants are looking for rare and exceptional finds. For any concerns, please reach marketplace@americanroyal.com.

The Sauce Contest is part of the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Competitions, this contest is the largest BBQ sauce contest in the world with nearly 400 entries from countries across the world. The entry will be judged in a blind tasting on their appearance, texture, taste alone, and taste on unseasoned barbecue meat. Categories are Mild, Hot, Vinegar, Mustard and Specialty. The American Royal is postponing the judging date for the 33rd Annual American Royal Sauce Contest that is scheduled for May 3, 2020. The team will be working to establish a new judging date and will notify all contestants, judges and KCBS once it has been determined. The top awarded sauce in each category will be crowned first place in that category and the overall highest score will be named the 2020 Best Sauce on the Planet.

The contest is not cancelled. In fact, the deadlines for submitting sauces have been extended and registrations/shipments will be accepted until further notice. A new deadline for submissions will be announced on a later date. Please review the event packet for updated information at the official website: https://www.americanroyal.com/bbq/may-events/sauce-contest/

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Event

World Series of Barbecue Sept 17-20 2020 at Kansas Speedway

What is it?

If there is one of the biggest BBQ events in the entire country it will include the American Royal World Series of Barbecue. It is the world’s largest barbecue event that is now held at the Kansas Speedway! This 4-day event includes over 500 BBQ teams that compete until the final winners are narrowed-down by special judges. Each competition includes categories of BBQ meats and side dishes. Various contests also include a sauce and rub competitions likewise. Each year 3 new inductees are added to the Barbecue Hall of Fame.

In the spirit of BBQ and Pitmaster cooking, this World Series event is a one-of-a-kind experience that continues to grow yearly. It welcomes newcomers as well as seasoned pros to come out and show off their BBQ skills and their best-grilled specialties. This world series of barbecue speedway event also attracts thousands of BBQ lovers all across Kansas and other US states. The categories for BBQ meats include everything from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and side dishes including vegetables and potatoes.

It?s also a full venue for live music, food and drink, a BBQ marketplace, and 40 years of BBQ tradition. This is the prime event that is so large they needed to move it to the Kansas Speedway! This year is expected to be bigger than ever.

History of WS BBQ

The world series of barbecue has been around for 40 years and was organized by the American Royal in 1980. Since 1899 the exhibition cattle shows grew enormously in Kansas so it only seemed natural to add a BBQ show. Initially there weren?t many contestants who came out for the first BBQ contest. It was originally held in the parking lot of the legendary Kansas City Steakhouse: The Golden Ox. After this event started growing in popularity, each year added a new layer of interest as well as contestants.

It only took 19 years for the World Series of BBQ to officially become the world?s largest BBQ event in 1989. There were 400 competing teams attending that year, and since then, it has attracted over 600 hopefuls each year! The event was later moved to the American Royal complex parking lot in Kansas City. By 2015 this event had grown so much that it was moved to the Arrowhead Stadium due to the crowds. By the next year the new location became the Kansas Speedway and has remained there ever since.

The barbecue hall of fame is also an interesting history that is now part of the World Series of BBQ. It all started with the internet back in 1995 when thebbqforum.com first began posting topics devoted to everything about BBQ. At that time nobody knew the massive interest that would evolve into a major internet sensation. By 2007, the website owners Mike Tucker and Ray Basso introduced the Barbecue Hall of Fame. The rights were later sold to American Royal and also inherited 7 of the most influential names in BBQ history. Each year they induct 3 new members into this society at each World Series BBQ event.

Previous Winners

This is the ultimate proving grounds for serious folks who are devoted to BBQ. They share a passion for just the right amount of smoke and BBQ sauce. In many cases there isn’t an exact science behind slow cooking on a barbecue, only the persistence of patience. Previous winners have gone onto larger endeavors while others move onto selling BBQ products. Here are samples of the previous winners who have taken top awards at this showdown BBQ cook-off competition in 2019.

? First Place Brisket: 4 Legs Up

They started with a restaurant and now have moved forward with BBQ classes and seminars. They also have a successful Youtube channel teaching their BBQ technique to others.

? First Place Pork Ribs: Smokin? Hooks

Based out of Portland Texas, Ryan Deal has won several awards and 3 grand champion awards since 2016. He takes his BBQ passion to many of the top BBQ cook-off events every year. You can find him on his Instagram page at #smokinhooks detailing the BBQ lifestyle.

? First Place Pork: Shiggin & Grinnin

Their claim to fame has earned them the title of: Kings of Barbecue?. They also have national TV coverage on shows including Pit Masters and Destination America on the Discovery Channel.

? First Place Sausage: Traeger Grills & Diva Q

Superstars like Diva Q aren?t just cooking up a storm, she wrote the book on it. Her self-titled BBQ books share her passion for grilling and Pitmaster cooking. Traeger grills are an expert line of wood pellet BBQ grills that are a top name in the wood-fired BBQ grill industry also.

? First Place Chicken: Who Cares BBQ

A dedicated grill team out of North Carolina that is playing the grass-roots card to the finish line. They even enlisted 99designs to hold a contest to design their new grill logo. Their Facebook page details all their newest competition wins.

? First Place Turkey: On The Dotte Smokers

If you can win first place from grilling and smoking turkey, you must be pretty talented at everything else. They also have a grass-roots Facebook page that details their BBQ triumphs.

Side dish categories

? First Place Baked Beans: Sugarfire Smokehouse

Despite winning first place for just baked beans, the Sugarfire Smokehouse in St. Louis has excellent BBQ awards all over the country. They even won praise from mega-rapper Snoop Dog who loves their award-winning BBQ delicacies.

? First Place Potatoes: Grillas BBQ Team

This Kansas based BBQ team takes their BBQ seriously by making the circuit rounds at least a dozen times a year. Known for their award-winning BBQ sauces, they first made their mark in 2003. Entering the American Royal and winning the open as grand champs!

? First Place Vegetables: Two Butts & a Ham

Who says veggies aren?t good for you? This grill team takes their grilling skills to competitions all over the country. They have been graced even further by the American Royal top prize as a result.

? First Place Dessert: Pork Barrel BBQ

These boys from Missouri have a passion for BBQ and led them to make their first BBQ seasoning rub and then moved into the sauce market. They have been on the TV show Shark Tank and secured financing for their BBQ sauce line. Last year they took first prize for a dessert entry at the World Series of BBQ speedway event!

Scheduled competitions and events

Nearly anyone can enter the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, but you do need to meet their criteria. Once you have been confirmed, the types of competition and events are spectacular. The categories for grilling include beef brisket or Boston butt, pork ribs or pork shoulder, and chicken. These can be entered into the Open Meat Competition and there is also an Invitational competition. This is reserved for previous teams who couldn?t attend in the last 2 years.

Other contests include a sauce and rub competition that allows teams to introduce their newest BBQ flavors. Some entries include turkey, sausage, baked beans, vegetables, side dishes, and desserts! In recent years they have also included international guests to compete alongside American BBQ Pitmasters. This is one World Series of BBQ speedway event that celebrates smoking grills from all over the world. Each event is judged according to rank and final results are then tallied.

If that wasn?t enough, they have also added a Kid?s Que contest for junior Pitmasters. At this special contest age groups between 6-15 years of age can cook steak and hamburgers. This competition is sponsored by Weber and is boasted as the largest kids BBQ in the country. You don?t want to miss this year?s World Series of Barbecue event that will make the Kansas Speedway sizzle with excitement. Be sure to check it out!

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