http://www.kcbs.us/event/7083/the-smithfield-guinea-pig
In it's 4th year (5th event), the Guinea Pig format continues to raise the bar.
When Big Poppa Smokers (Sterling Ball, with his team featuring J³ = James, Jody and Jessie) say they are going to do something, they do it to win. Being an Arlieque event, we had the leadership of Arlie Bragg (had a KCBS BOD 2-fer, thanks to Randall Bowman competing).
Title sponsor of the comp was Smithfield, who are expanding their involvement and support for the BBQ community. We were fortunate to have a representative of Smithfield on hand for the weekend, and I hope she heads back home to Kansas City with positive impressions of us on the West Coast. The provided ribs and butts were excellent, and the judges scores reflect how good the results are from the Extra Tender product line (check a local Wal-Mart near you !!! ).
Once again Annella and Snake River Farms ensured that we had beautiful black Wagyu briskets. As this was the Matt Dalton Memorial, she also created and shipped custom shot glasses, and sent out some smooth brown liquid to toast Matt at 9:11.
Speaking of Smithfield and Snake River Farms, after the Kid's Q took place on Friday night, the BPS crew cooked up some delicious SRF Wagyu hot dogs and Smithfield pork sliders... wow they were good. Big Poppa put out the call for teams to bring chili, and there were some great ones. I still am thinking about Rooftop BBQ's Smithfield Chile Verde - stupid good!!!
Awards were so much fun, and as places were paid 10 deep (category and overall), there were a lot of people getting their names called. The ceremony started with an emotional moment with BPS and Matt Dalton's children, and a special presentation to them. Our very own Big Brother Smoke almost won the Beefcake contest, but was beaten out by the last minute competitor (Moe Lyons from Left Coast Q) ... next year Steph! Tiny Bre'Mackin won her age bracket in Kids Q for the second year in a row, and threw her dad under the bus when she got on the mic (love her!).
Fortunately we got a call in dessert, and put out our best pork box ever (as we think... thank you Smithfield) and our best brisket box ever (thank you judges and SRF). In Brisket we were 4th on our table, behind Lucky's Q, Mar-B-Que and Shig Ninja, and ahead of Woodhouse BBQ and Pit Crew BBQ of So Cal ... not too shabby company. One judge gave us 9 9 9, while Lucky's Q got a 9 8 9 from the same person (ummmm, what, wow...).
Congrats to Porketeers and Lucky's Q for GC/RGC
*** If a Guinea Pig contest comes to your region (or not, we had plenty of heavy hitters travel to CA for this one), do yourself a favor, and sign up fast ***
Big Poppa doing the ping pong ball draw for meat
What a beast
Up at 12:30am to light the smoker
9:11 toast with Steph, Sterling, and the future Mr Beefcake
Chicken
Ribs (hate the black spots on top, but by far the best taste and tenderness of the 3 racks)
Pork
Brisket (just a touch over)
Dessert (Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake with a Cinnamon Roll shot)
Thank you, Thank you very much
