Judging in the Bigs!!
Well I'm one for one in the 'applying to be a judge' and 'getting to be a judge' category. Really, I have no personal history of judging well anything, let alone a food competitions.
It all started when I somehow found my way to the following website – BBQTalk.CA. This is a pretty amazing place for the aspiring Canadian bbq'er to discover. The participants are friendly, helpful and best of all – really knowledgeable about BBQ. Long story short, that is where I discovered the Canadian Barbeque Association. Seems like BBQ is really catching on in Canada now. From my travels in the Southern US this is a really positive development. If you haven't had BBQ before – try it! It is really sensational the mingling of the smoke, slow-cooking and great cuts of meat comes together for something truly memorable. Add in sauces, rubs, sides – you are talking a full-on culinary discipline. And BBQ's are serious about their craft – you could spend your life learning about BBQ.
That's why I decided to apply to be a judge for the Canadian Barbeque Open Championships. My qualifications? Well….
- My buddy and I got a smoker built for us this past winter.
- I've eaten and enjoyed bbq
- I'm a food network-a-holic
- I cook a lot
- I've taken a cooking class
So in summary – not many qualifications to be had.
That is why I was blown away when I was selected! Right now I'm in the process of booking hotels and making arrangements but there will be more to follow on this for sure! Until then my dreams will be of pulled pork and brisket.
