Maine State BBQ Championship 2007

[johnnyd]

New England's top BBQ specialists converged on Zach's Farm in York, not far from the New Hampshire border for the 2nd Annual Great State of Maine Barbeque and Grilling Championship.

We arrived early to beat the crowd...

Contestants to the left - judges tent at right. Below, the Music Stage and vendors. The Farm House is tucked in the trees,

In between was a vast beer tent supplied all weekend by Portland Microbrewer Gritty McDuff's.

Most of these guys were up all night...

[johnnyd]

Saturday's competition was grilling specialties - today was the 'Q which was divided into Chicken, Pulled Pork, Ribs, Brisket and a chef's choice which had to include 50% lobster.

This is Ted Aggeler from Kansas City. He's a project manager in Connecticut at the moment. He and his wife couldn't resist entering the competition.

Here's a custom rig from Texas,

These guys from Norwich, Conn - like a lot of the contestants - had a styling camper that fit all the gear and three people.

Pulling Pork before the entry deadline...

[johnnyd]

At the judges tent, entries were considered on appearance.

I never knew there was a New England Barbeque Society.

Rib deadline looms. The contestants get cracking...

I realized that a couple people cooked six or so racks with a slightly different rub mixture or finishing sauce strategy, then picked the best one for the entry.

Plating begins

The judges argue merits of rib entries,

And a close eye is kept on the results.

[johnnyd]

After many hours, this brisket is ready

Outstanding - and delicious. You better believe I got samples!

Here's a chef's choice entry: Lobster tail wrapped in bacon

We left before the winner was declared but were promised a detail on Tuesday.

A great time was made better by a variety of good bands. I encourage all near and far to check it out next year.

[tedlor70]

It was great meeting you at the competition John. If you would like to see more pictures from the event, including all of our turn in boxes from the grilling and BBQ competitions, click the link below, or visit our web site at www.qhavenbbq.com.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tedlorson/TheG...rillingFestival

For all you New Yorkers out there, the biggest BBQ compeition and festival in the Northeast will be held in less than two weeks in New Paltz, NY. There are more than 60 teams will be competing. If you attend, be sure to stop by our site and say hi!

http://hudsonvalleyribfest.org/

Edited August 6, 2007 by tedlor70 (log)

[Ellie]

johnnyd,

You are so fantastic to provide us with such a fine report, complete with pictures! The food looks so freakin' good, I can't believe we haven't even gotten around to firing up our smoker yet this summer.

I thought I had read that the visitors are not able to eat the competition food due to some health codes or something. Is that true? Seems like a rather torturous event to attend if that is the case.

Thanks again!

[Kent Wang]

What are the defining characteristics of New England BBQ? It appears similar to the Carolinas style, though perhaps a bit more eclectic.

[Chris Amirault]

I think that the bulk of the contestants were purveyors of other regional 'cues. That wicked brisket ain't indigenous Maine, no sir.

[bigbear]

I believe the New England Barbecue Society's contests are conducted using the Kansas City Barbeque Society's rules and regulations. Those are KCBS judging forms in the photos.

One of johnnyd's photo-captions says, "The judges argue merits of rib entries..." This might be a tad misleading. The judges do not confer amongst themselves until everyone has finished scoring the entries on their own. At your judging table, "No discussion with other judges when judging. When all slips have been turned in, you may talk quietly; remember, others may still be judging."

The KCBS runs classes to become certified judges. Get certified and volunteer to judge at any KCBS sanctioned contest. Time to buy that motorhome and hit the road for some 'cue?

Current KCBS contest rules.

Current KCBS instructions for judges.

[gfron1]

I couldn't help but notice the girth of the judges I'm sure they love their jobs!

I continue to be fascinated by regional styles of BBQ. Coming from the midwest, I'm so attached to sloppin' sauce covering my pork (no beef), and now I live in a town that doesn't even know what sauce is. St. Louisans will appreciate this little jingle, "What makes that Q a culinary thrill? You gotta Maul it! Spread that great sauce on. You gotta Maul it!"

Anyway, thanks for the report JohnnyD and welcome to the forum Tedlor70.

[johnnyd]

One of johnnyd's photo-captions says, "The judges argue merits of rib entries..." This might be a tad misleading. The judges do not confer amongst themselves until everyone has finished scoring the entries on their own. At your judging table, "No discussion with other judges when judging. When all slips have been turned in, you may talk quietly; remember, others may still be judging."

Thank you for the clarification, BB. They must have finished because there was a lot of opinion being thrown around when I snapped that pic; "this one was too charred - I couldn't taste it," and "too much fat/sugar/sauce on this one," and "this one was the best thing I've had all weekend," rang a lot of bells.

Hey, Tedlor70 from Norwich! Glad you joined in. Do you have a list of winners in all, or some, categories? the BBQME website hasn't been updated with the winners yet.

I thought I had read that the visitors are not able to eat the competition food due to some health codes or something. Is that true? Seems like a rather torturous event to attend if that is the case.

There actually was plenty of BBQ and other food for sale away from the contestants but if you took the initiative to go visit the competitors they were eager to offer samples to anyone who showed an interest. There were exceptions - a couple guys were all business and focused entirely on their entries - "No talking, please!" - but after all entries were in, there were buckets of awesome brisket and pulled pork in trays at every table. I was border-line 'Q-coma, man.

[tedlor70]

MAINE GRILLING CONTEST - SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2007

Overall

Grand - Doze Guys

Reserve - I Smell Smoke!!!

3. Q Haven

4. Transformer BBQ

5. Swine Dinin

Chicken Wings

1. I Smell Smoke

2. Doze Guys

3. Transformer BBQ

4. Buck's Naked BBQ

5. Lakeside Smokers

Sirloin Steak

1. Q Haven

2. K.C.'s Rib Shack

3. Swine Dinin

4. Feeding Friendz

5. Doze Guys

Pork Tenderloin

1. The Pokey Smokers

2. Q Haven

3. Buck's Naked BBQ

4. Doze Guys

5. Transformer BBQ

Pizza

1. Buck's Naked BBQ

2. Transformer BBQ

3. Swine Dinin

4. Doze Guys

5. Puddledock Porkas

Blueberry Dessert ( DOES NOT COUNT TO KCBS & NEBS TEAM POINTS)

1. I Smell Smoke

2. Yabba Dabba Que

3. Q Haven

4. Feeding Friendz

5. K.C.'s Rib Shack

KCBS CONTEST - SUNDAY AUGUST 5, 2007

Grand - I Smell Smoke!!!

Reserve - The Anchormen

3 Lakeside Smokers

4 Yabba Dubba Que

5 The Bastey Boys

6 Q Haven

Chicken

1. K.C.'s Rib Shack

2. Que - Ball

3. Yabba Dabba Que

4. Purple Turtle Catering

5. Feeding Friendz

11. Q Haven

Pork Ribs

1. The Bastey Boys

2. Buck's Naked BBQ

3. Transformer BBQ

4. The Anchormen

5. I Smell Smoke

8. Q Haven

Pork

1. Puddledock Porkas

2. Headless Hog

3. The Bastey Boys

4. The Anchormen

5. I Smell Smoke

7. Q Haven

Brisket

1. Casual Smokers

2. I Smell Smoke

3. Lakeside Smokers

4. Beef Rubbers

5. Purple Turtle Catering

12. Q Haven

Chef's Choice (DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS KCBS & NEBS TEAM POINTS)

1. Full Belly Pit Crew

2. Feeding Friendz

3. Beef Rubbers

4. I Smell Smoke

5. The Bastey Boys

14. Q Haven :-(

The first rib picture, the 2nd brisket picture and the bacon wrapped lobster picture above were all ours. I'm most proud of the 1st place steak!

We didn't fare well in the BBQ competition. 6th overall out of 21 teams, but finished out of the $$ in all categories.

[tedlor70]

Here are some of our turn in boxes for the competition:

1st Place Steak (4 of 6 judges gave this a perfect score of 9-9-9)

3rd place Blueberry Dessert, crepes (yes, we cooked them over charcoal!)

Chicken Wings (I was stunned these didn't score well)

7th place Pulled Pork

8th Place Ribs

Bacon Wrapped Lobster, 14th place (hard to compete with teams turning in 6 baked stuffed tails!

[bigbear]

Oh, Baby! That's some great looking food.

[johnnyd]

Spectacular plating! Looks delicious!!

You're making me wish I'd come down Saturday as well. Maybe I'll bring a tent next year?