Annual BBQ Cook-off around the corner
S.P.J.S.T. Lodge #29 is cooking up something special for its annual event next weekend.
The lodge will host its 22nd Barbecue Cook-off Saturday, Sept. 30. Anywhere from 60 to 100 teams are expected to compete in the contest.
Prize money for the event is $5,000.
“Last year we had 61 teams,” said Jesse Pospisil of the Taylor S.P.J.S.T. “We’re hoping we have more this year.” Contest categories are brisket, pork ribs, chicken, jackpot beans, jackpot cook’s choice and jackpot pork butt.
An overall Master Cook winner will be decided at the end of the event. The award will be given to the team that has the overall best score from the brisket, pork and chicken contests.
“If you get first place, you get ten points. If you get tenth place, you get one point,” Pospisil said. “So it’s all totaled up. Whoever has the most is the Master Cook.”
Each food entry is graded by a group of volunteer judges, with each judge tasting about 12 entries for whichever event they sign up for. The meat is cut into bite-sized pieces.
A week away from the cook-off, organizers say they still need people to sign up for judges spots. They especially need people to judge the bean categories, which takes place at 10 a.m.
“You get to eat some good barbecue,” Pospisil said. “They’ll get a couple of drink tickets, so they can get a beer or soda.”
Perhaps the most unique award in terms of appearance is the best rig contest. The award is a Texas-shaped plaque with a miniature barbecue pit attached to it.
Pospisil said he selects a team of three individuals to grade each team’s set-up. He tries to choose people who are not from the area and are not familiar with the inner workings of barbecue, so that they can unbiasedly choose their favorite rig based on appearance alone.
On Friday, Sept. 29, the event will host a free dance from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. featuring “The Other Band.” Old-fashioned hamburgers will be sold during the dance.
A silent auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Saturday.
For additional information, contact Jesse Pospisil at 512-826-7371 or 512365-1110 or [email protected].
Kickin’ Ash team members toast to hopefully winning trophies and award money at the S.P.J.S.T. Barbecue Cook-off in 2021. Photos by Jason Hennington
Besides the competition events based on food, the Cook-off also gives an award to the best rig. Organizers select a team of three unbiased visitors to judge the contestants’ set-ups.
