Saturday, 18 April 2009
It's been a while since I last posted, we have been just a bit busy since the time I last posted- we have competed in our 1st BBQ contest of 2009, 1 cooking class at GFS Marketplace, 2- cooking demonstrations at the Southern Women Show in Nashville, 3 catering jobs, endured the wrath of a F 4 tornado and 5 days of vacation in the mountains of Boone, NC and finding one really cool band on Austin City Limits TV show called Arcade Fire- any band with fire in its name has to be cool right?
Where do I start...... the tornado- our heart goes out to my neighbors that sustained damage to their house, my subdivision Brentmead was spared in Murfreesboro but on either side you just can't describe houses that were destroyed, trucks that were twisted like discarded toys and businesses that looked like a bomb went off. The great news is that everyone did a great job in getting everything back to normal in 28 hours or less, we are a community that is vibrant and that cares about those around us. We were having lunch when the tornado hit the Blackman area of Murfreesboro and were only 1/4 of a mile away. We were told that it hit a area north of Murfreesboro not knowing that the tornado missed our house by only 2 blocks! We made our way home after Sams Club where we were going was shut down, the tornado took almost the same path we drive to get home, so I would to thank my friend Ricky for delaying me that morning to taste his chicken thighs that he cooked the day before- have to say Ricky did a excellent job! We made our way home the back way and think everything is ok, till we come upon a subdivision that is just East of us and it looked like a war zone. Our hearts sank as the more we drove the worse it become, we pull into our subdivision and to our amazement everything was normal and were very blessed and thankful thinking it missed us by a mile or so. In any crisis you seem to get to know your neighbors and Steve, two doors down commented that "did we see the new house 2 blocks away that was destroyed?"- it was new construction so no one was there yet- we were amazed to see this start of a house throw 50 yards behind the foundation, taking out a row of trees. Lucky? Blessed? Hurting for those around us? Yes. Like to thank friends Jason, Darren, Alan, and someone I respect and admire as a friend and BBQ mentor Mike Davis of Lotta Bull BBQ www.lottabullbbq.com For their concern in checking with us if we were ok during the tornado- bbq people are the best!! It put's in perspective of what is important, GOD, Wife- Sheila, which I love more and more for her support and demonstration of God's love when I don't deserve it and Country- putting America first again and that we won't spend and tax our future away.
I could stop right here and feel that I have written enough, but life does go on and want to share about our First contest of 2009, Porkin In The Park- maybe should hae been called Porkin In the Parking Lot that is inclined!! We arrived to find that we were on a incline and it was a bit comical to try to figure out how you put 20 feet of RV and 9ft of smoker in a inclined space that is about 10 x 20 on a hill!! We managed, but I think Quau and Dr Porkenstein were a bit concerned that my smoker might run a way and missle thru his trailer. Did we get the results we wanted? yes and no, tied for 2nd in Ribs and missed first by .6001 of a point!!!!! Other categories we were just average or below some was my own mistakes from rust and timing, my Chicken and Pork I thought I had a top 10, judges were not so inclined. The fact is you have to bring your A game now at contests, the level of competition here in the South is the best any where in the country. Having cooked in Kansas City, I believe, that overall we have better talented cooks here. Doesn't mean bbq cooks in Midwest aren''t great- Pellet Envy, Dodge County Cookers, The Slabs, Muchin Hogs on the Hilton and others, but from - Top to Bottom, I just feel were better in a given field of 30- 40 teams. It's like the debate on which is better overall SEC or Big 12 in football, you know the answer to that! Any way congrats to Smoky Mountain Smokers for taking Grand and some nice fellows from Michigan wearing kilts that took Reserve - Smokin Scotsman's and our friends Do Rag Q for a great showing.
Like to thank Jacob Hess and Jeff Vance with GFS Marketplace for letting us do our Chicken and Ribs 101 BBQ Class at the GFS Marketplace Store in Murfreesboro. My good friend Alan Woodard of Pigsmokers In Paradise and I, co taught the class giving our perspectives. Alan has been a great bbq friend over the years and it's a delight when we can join forces and share our knowledge to help those just starting out on their BBQ journey. We are not saying that anyone who takes the class would win a BBQ competition but what you will do is be able to accomplish great BBQ for your home and be the best in your neighborhood!
Love to thank Stacy and Sarah with Southern Women Show for helping give me my start on the Cooking stage, it's always fun to be part of the estrogen festival that happens every year with 25,000 women over 4 days descending upon the Nashville Convention Center to take part in shopping and firemen who display their goods and not talking fire safety- thank goodness were not around for this charity chip and dales! Men let me warn you if your wife says they're going to the Southern Women Show, hide credit cards, check books in the house they will find everything from vending machine MLM opportunities to parafin wax, to the Supper Shammy to any other trinkets to buy- I think women are part crows- if it's shiney they will buy it.. love you dear kiss, kiss. ok I did love the wire spider like contraption that will massaged your head you bought last year!!!
Vacation bbq review: Boone NC is a great community - GO Appalachia State!!! we had dinner at a bbq place called Bandana's and Cajun Smokehouse. I spared by wife by not hitting every BBQ place during our vacation, but we did hit 2 places and were glad we did.. am I a BBQ snob.. yes! Do I appreciate the hard work any bbq place put's into their Q, YES!! Take what I say with the fact we cook it all the time and my likes might not be yours. Bandana's - the service was great!!! Greeted you, checked on you, checked on you.... checked on you... get my drift.. but it wasn't annoying at all!! ordered the rib and pork plate, ever had that first great bite? I did and the spare ribs were perfect on the first bite and the 2nd but slowly went down hill, they put a dry rub on their ribs that was a bit strong for my taste, there was a spice that just ruined it for me, not sure what it was but the ribs were perfect with out this dry rub. Everything else was good, enjoyed the sauces they had and overall a good place to dine if your ever in Boone, NC. 3.5 BBQ forks out of 5 for Bandana's http://www.bandanasbarbque.com/
Near Boone is a community called Banner Elk, is there Elk in the place? who knows and are they wearing a banner? Let's talk Cajun Smokehouse! When you walk in you know that after a few days of skiing the college kids must descend like a swarm of locusts on this place to drink beers with over 55 bottled beers from places like Texas and Louisana and other parts with names like Fat Tire and such. Was there a negative.... of course I'm writing this but it wasn't the FOOD! The Food was excellent, brisket done right, bbq sauces done right, portions that were like platters- we could have fed about 8 on what we orderd for 3, good pricing and great service. My good friend Jeremiah joined us from Johnson City, TN and being not that far removed from college age he knew all the hip beer names- I'm like if it don't start with a B or C forget it!! Ok the negative..... there was this certain resturant odor you get when you mix old building musty, grease, cleansers, beer and old food together, maybe other things that happen at 2am after skiing? Hard to describe but you know it when you smell it. This smell was a bit too pronounced and could have ruined what otherwise was a good experience. Regardless, give it a try if your in the area for sure!!! 4 BBQ forks out of 5 for Cajun Smokehouse! http://bayousmokehouse.com/
