April 1, 2009 Hello BBQ Gang! Welcome to the unpredictable, wild and mildly remunerative world of the Illinois BBQ Society's Weekly(ish) eNewsletter. Thanks to your double-opt-in subscription; you'll now be receiving regular to semi-regular emails from ILBBQS. Perhaps even a random delivery or two to keep you on your toes. You might want to alert your spam nanny so that valuable information and critical news release information are not unduly delayed. Now to the good stuff. Here's what's going on the world of the Illinois BBQ Society... ~ BIG NEWS!!! ~ Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival ~ Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off ~ Joey Mac's BBQ Blog ~ Edwardsville BBQ Challenge ~ 2009 Kick-Off Cook-Off Classic ~ 1st Annual SPP Heavenly Smokers Backyard BBQ Cook-Off ~ Flat Branch BBQ In The Park ~ How's this for AWESOME?!?! ~ 2009 ANNUAL MILK DAYS OUTDOOR GRILLING COMPETITION ~ The BBQ Kings - ACS' Relay For Life Team ~ Upcoming Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ Upcoming MBN Contests... ~ Upcoming Classes... For additional information on these stories, and more, be sure to visit the Illinois BBQ Society online at http://www.ILBBQS.com . x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival - Wamac, IL May 1 & 2 are the dates to remember for this Southwestern Illinois classic. Illinois' first qualifer for The Jack and The Royal. GREAT for the family! Carnival, Live Music, Arts & Crafts Fair, City Park Atmosphere, but SPACE IS LIMITED! For additional information, check out http://www.GoCentralia.com/springfestival . x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x BIG NEWS!!! To all of our esteemed BBQ members, we just wanted to let you all know that as of today, The Illinois BBQ Society has been acquired by a MAJOR International organization. This is great news for us as it shows how successful we have become, but sad because we will miss all of the great members and contests we have helped organize. The new owners are a very well respected organization, in their own rights, called PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). http://www.peta.org They came in with a fantastic offer we just could not refuse and we think they will continue to run the site with the same integrity we have. Due to this ownership change, the new management of this website will now require all current and new members to go through a extensive online course on Fighting for Animal's Rights. http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/learn.asp "No longer will this site feature the horror and emotional distress caused by posting pictures of brutally cooking animals over a slow smoked BBQ. Instead, pictures of vegan foods such as salads and vegetables will now be expected." states Armand Hamer, Director of Public Relations. "Also, all members will be required to change their signatures to more animal friendly sayings." We really encourage everyone to embrace this new change in ownership and help the new management in continuing the great success we have enjoyed. Thank you all for your past support. We look forward to seeing you in many salad lines in the future. For more info, please visit http://www.ILBBQS.com/AprilFools (Thanks AZBarbeque! www.AZBarbeque.com) *************************************** Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival It's back and looking to be another great (and Cooker Friendly) contest! We're less than a month away from the first KCBS Sanctioned contest of the year in Illinois, and space is filling up for this Southwestern Illinois Classic. Though the early-bird deadline has passed, contest organizer Shane Swartzlander is extending it for the next 10 teams who get their applications with entry fee to him. This contest is well on it's way to being Illinois' first Qualifier for The Jack AND The Royal as well, but space is limited so if you're 'on the fence' about doing this contest, GET YOUR APPLICATION IN! If for some unforeseeable reason this contest falls short of the required teams to make it a qualifier, Shane is guaranteeing 100% refund for any team who would like to back out to cook another contest. For additional information, or to get your application, surf over to their website at http://www.GoCentralia.com/springfestival . *************************************** Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off It's back and its going to be bigger than ever! The 3rd Annual Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off, at the Orchard View Winery in Alma, Illinois, will have 'Live' music, Award Winning Wine, Amazing BBQ Fellowship, a 5K Run/Walk, and will continue to promote the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life quest and St. Theresa Grade School of Salem, Illinois. *************************************** Joey Mac's BBQ Blog Stop Judging and EAT it already ~ Monday, March 23, 2009 Got to thinking the other day, why do so many people choose to judge every piece of BBQ they eat like they are some sort of all-supreme BBQ judging deity? Before I get too far, let me state that if you are at contest judging, then by all means take every bite, smell, taste as serious as possible. That’s why your there. You owe it to the cooks and the organizers and ultimately yourself to do your best to judge the tastes, smells, textures…to the best of your ability. What I’m talking about is the person who walks into a restaurant and orders a ˝ lb of brisket. Or maybe pulls over at a roadside stand for a pork sandwich, or is eating ribs at a ribfest on a hot summer evening. They carefully analyze and scrutinizes every millimeter of this piece of meat. With perfectly choreographed fingers, the rib bone or brisket slice is twirled and spun so the front side and back side and all over can be analyzed. Then the morsel is placed between the teeth, and they gently try to glide through the meat like a precision cutting instrument. The bite is savored and the palate absorbs all sorts of complex flavors…intertwining of sauce and rub…the subtle hints of smoke…is it hickory…. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! It’s a rib. It’s a pile of pork. It’s a couple hunks of brisket. Some pit boss cooked it for you. It’s BBQ, now just eat it. BBQ is made to be enjoyed not analyzed. Ironically, competition cooks are often the most likely to break this rule of BBQ etiquette. We spend so much time seeking perfection that we can never really shut it off no matter where we go. We are constantly comparing how this stacks up against our own ribs. The nature of most competition BBQ is to impress people (read judges) with one bite. It all comes down to that single opportunity to connect with and impress the judges. Formulating opinion about BBQ with one bite is absurd. At a contest, there is no choice. But if you’re not at contest, eat it like it’s meant to be eaten, an indulgence in porcine or bovine morsels that are consumed with gluttonous abandon that would have made Roman royalty envious. Recall the first time you started preparing BBQ food for people. You saw their eyes roll back in the head. You heard the guttural grown of pleasure. You saw the eyes light up and you watched them dive back in for another helping of B A R B E C U E. The burliest men, the frailest of females, all react the same way. They dive in for more. Fresh pieces taste the best, and the best way to taste the BBQ is make sure you’re getting a new morsel often. But this one bite habit has to end, one bite…huh…how in the world can you think that’s the way BBQ should be consumed. Next time you go into a BBQ restaurant and you order up a rack of ribs, dive in like you’re supposed to do. Leave the overly analytical efforts for the judging table. Pick up a bone, eat the meat off, grab another bone, repeat. You will feel better about eating it, and the pit boss or owner or just the worker there will notice how much you’re enjoying your meal and that is the thanks they crave. Check out more of Joey Mac's Smoke Stax BBQ thoughts online at http://joeymacbbq.blogspot.com *************************************** WHOA!!! STOP THE PRESSES!!! NEWS FLASH!!! If you haven't already done so, mark your calendars for May 8 & 9! The Edwardsville BBQ Challenge is going to be THE place to be that weekend as Susan & Doc Richardson (Que's Your Daddy BBQ Team & BBQ Cooks Extraordinaire) host this 1st Annual KCBS Sanctioned event at the Winston Brown Recreation Complex (Lower Hoppe Park) in Edwardsville, Illinois. This contest is just minutes from St. Louis, Missouri and is sure to become an instant classic! For more information, Phone: 618-696-9578 or 618-656-4300; or Email: nick1059@aol.com; OR visit them online at http://www.EdwardsvilleBBQ.com. Tell 'em ILBBQS sent you! *************************************** 2009 marks the return of the Kick-Off Cook-Off Classic in Hazelwood, Missouri Last year, 37 teams competed in the inaugural event that raises money for the Childhood Cancer Campaign. In 2008 we raised nearly $2,000. We are looking more money in 2008. We have some changes in place for 2008. This year we have upped the prize money to $4000. We have added a backyard event. Obviously we moved the date. Higher quality ribbons to be awarded to teams placing through 10 places in each category. Some things have stayed the same: Friday’s Pork Steak Throwdown returns. The Dessert competition will also return. Our location, right next to Cabela’s has remained the same. More information about the 2009 Kick-Off Cook-Off can be found at www.bbqsaucereport.com/contest. More information about the Childhood Cancer Campaign can be found here http://www.optimist.org/default.cfm?content=members/oicccmain.htm Come to Hazelwood and Kick-Off your season with us at the Missouri State Championship on April 24-25! *************************************** 1st Annual SPP Heavenly Smokers Backyard BBQ Cook-Off Friday & Saturday June 5th & 6th, 2009 This BBQ event is a fund raiser for the Ursuline Sisters Convent in Alton, IL and the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School in Alton, IL. This contest is Illinois BBQ Society Recognized and follows the Kansas City inspired rules and regulations for cooking, judging and garnish. Although a non-sanctioned event, this fun experience is for all teams, regardless of experience. This is a great launching pad for ‘local’ and ‘new’ teams to cook in a fantastic learning environment for honing their BBQ skills, as well as a great opportunity for ‘seasoned’ teams to try out new recipes and techniques. BBQ EVENT INFORMATION WHERE: Alton/Wood River Sportsman Club, 3109 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, IL 62035 CATEGORIES: Chicken, Ribs (spare), Pork (butt), Beef Brisket (packers) WHAT TO BRING: Charcoal/Wood Cookers, seasonings & sauces, garnish (based on rules) ALL MEATS WILL BE FURNISHED BY SPONSORS (Saints Peter & Paul) COOK-OFF INFO: First, NO PROPANE or ELECTRIC HEAT COOKERS ALLOWED. All meats must be cooked on site with charcoal/wood cookers. Again, all meats will be provided by the sponsor. PRIZES: Cash prizes – Grand Champion - $350, Reserve Grand Champion - $250, cash prizes for the top 3 places in each categories ($100 for 1st, $75 for 2nd, and $50 for 3rd); Total Prizes of $1,500 ENTRY FEE: $175 entry fee (before 5/4/09, $200 after 5/4/09). This entry fee includes the entry into the contest and all meats. BBQ CONTACT: Pete Williams, Saints Peter & Paul, Phone – 618-407-6018 (cell), 618-466-1475; E-mail – pbkoas@charter.com THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!!!! *************************************** Flat Branch BBQ In The Park - “Picnics Never Tasted So Good!” (Moweaqua, Illinois) On our weekend the Flat Branch in the Park committee would like to give you information of events that will be taking place also. Each year we have a carnival that comes to town with rides & games to the delight of young and old. Our local beauty pageant will be held this weekend along with the parade on Saturday morning. You can enjoy the kiddy tractor pulls which can be absolutely delightful to watch. Numerous local talents will be on stage along with the Decatur Park Singers who have performed nationally. A car show will be held on Sunday and in the past has had strong support with several makes and models in attendance. In all it will be a weekend of family and fun along with some of the BEST BBQ that can be found. I hope you enjoy yourself and good luck in the competition! Thanks Again, Big Al Long Saturday & Sunday June 6th & 7th, 2009 Editor's note: This contest is featuring both a KCBS 'Pro' Contest AND a 'Backyard' Contest for Amateurs. While the 'Pro' Contest will cook all four KCBS categories, the 'Backyard' event will only cook chicken. This is a Saturday/Sunday Contest Event. *************************************** How's this for Awesome?!?! I recently got word that Scottie Johnson had put a few contest entries on eBay, to help raise money for the Corliss Foundation Cancer Research, and had great response! Here's a note from Scottie... "I had 5 entries that I put on eBay. 2 in Wisconsin, 1 in Michigan, 1 in Pennsylvania and the last in New Jersey. I figured we would try and raise some cash for the foundation and for cancer research. They closed on Sunday. 2 of them sold for more than the entry and we were able to raise over $950 from the eBay Auction!!!" To find out more about Scottie's continuous fight, and how you may be able to help out with raising money to fight the nasty beast of cancer, check out his website at www.CancerSucksChicago.com . WAY TO GO SCOTTIE!!! KEEP UP THE FIGHT, BROTHER!!! *************************************** 2009 ANNUAL MILK DAYS OUTDOOR GRILLING COMPETITION – RECESSION PROOF The Fourth Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition will be held on Saturday, May 30th at Milky Way Park in Harvard, IL. Outdoor grilling enthusiasts are encouraged to enter one or all of the categories: Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers, Chicken, Pork and Ribs. Put a team together, come out and show off your talent for outdoor cooking.  Deadline for entering is May 23. Registration is free!! Set up will begin at 10:00 a.m. The judging will begin at approximately 4:00 p.m. Judging is based on taste (counts double), texture and appearance. There will be a cash prize awarded for first, second and third place in each category. A trophy and cash award will await the Grand Champion. A plaque will be awarded to the Reserve Grand Champion (only those competing in all four categories are eligible for the Grand Champion/Reserve Grand Champion Competition). First Place                   $100 Second Place $35 Third Place $15 Grand Champion Trophy AND $100      For more information, contact the Milk Days office at 815.943.4614 or register on line at www.milkdays.com. Any questions may be directed to Doug Hawthorne at foodman52@aol.com. *************************************** The BBQ Kings - ACS' Relay For Life Team Cancer is a NASTY beast! Three Southern Illinois BBQ teams have joined forces to help raise awareness, and money, for the American Cancer Society by participating in community events, vending opportunities, and catering jobs to benefit American Cancer Society's' Relay For Life. Find out how you can help by visiting http://www.QKings.com ... or http://www.SmokinForCure.com. *************************************** Upcoming 2009 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ May 23 - The Bonifest Rib Cook-Off - Contact: Ryan Hentz, 110 N. Buchanan, Edwardsville, IL 62025 - Phone: 618-656-6450. Fax: 618-656-7669 - Email: bonifestbbq@yahoo.com ~ May 30 - Harvard, IL - 4th Annual Harvard Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition - Contact: Doug Hawthorne, Phone: 815-403-1266 - E-mail: Foodman52@aol.com ~ June 5 & 6 - Alton/Godfrey, IL - SPP Heavenly Smokers Backyard BBQ Cook-Off; Contact: Pete Williams, Phone: 618-407-6018, Email: pbkoas@charter.com ~ June 12 & 13 - LeRoy, IL - 5th Annual Smokin' in the Park - Contact: Hap & Becky Zook at 309-397-1815 - E-mail: bjzook@verizon.net ~ August 1 - Alma/Salem, IL - 3rd Annual Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Jim Reincke at 618-407-3300 - Online: http://www.gosalem.com/holysmoke - E-mail: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. *************************************** Upcoming 2009 KCBS Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ April 24 & 25 - Hazelwood, Missouri - 2009 Kick-Off Cookoff Classic, Contact: Greg Wilkinson, Phone: 314-955-1104, E-Mail: gawilk@swbell.net ~ May 1 & 2 - Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival - Contact: Shane Swartzlander - Phone: (618) 533-5703 - E-mail: 2chubby@sbcglobal.net ~ May 8 & 9 - Edwardsville BBQ Challenge, Contact: Susan & Doc Richardson, Location: 1325 Schiller Avenue, Edwardsville, Illinois, 62025, Winston Brown Recreation Complex, Lower Hoppe Park, Phone: 618-696-9578 or 618-656-4300, Email: nick1059@aol.com ~ May 15 & 16 - The Randolph County Pig Party - Contact: Jason Vallett, 402 E. Broadway, Steeleville, IL 62288 - Phone: 618-965-3414 ~ Fax: 618-965-3177 - Email: jason@gregvallettautosales.com ~ May 23 & 24 - Red, White & Bar-B-Q - Contact: Jim Addington, 337 E. Traube Street, Westmont, IL 60559 - Phone: 630-443-2013 Fax: 630.443-2017 - E-mail: jaddington@ambankqc.com ~ May 29 & 30 - Anything Goes Fair, Barbecue and Blues - Contact: Paul Mizeur, 108 W Market / PO Box 350, Taylorville, IL 62568 - Phone: 217-287-1876 Fax: 217-287-1876 - Email: paul.mizeur@usbank.com ~ June 6 & 7 - Flat Branch Bar-B-Q in the Park - Contact: Al Long, 2602 East 1800 North Road, Moweaqua, IL 62550 - Phone: 217-768-4663 - E-mail: BABBQ@shelbywb.coop . ~ June 19 & 20 - Elk Grove Rotary Ribfest - Contact: Ron Nunes, 701 E. Irving Park Rd, Ste. 200, Roselle, IL 60172 - Phone: 630-307-8744 ~ Fax: 630-307-8755 - E-mail: rnunes9457@aol.com ~ July 10 & 11 - Illinois State Championship & Butt to Butt Pork Invitational - Contact: Connie Smith, 301 E. Sunrise Drive, Shannon, IL 61078 - Phone: 816-864-2542 ~ Fax: 815-864-2825 - E-mail: rrribs@frontiernet.net ~ September 24 to 26 - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: catering17@egyptian.com ~ October 9 & 10 - Super City Blues & Ques - Contact: Priscilla Abell, 106 W. 5th Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 - Phone: 618-524-1696 Fax: 618-524-2582 - Email: metropolisparks@verizon.net ~ October 16 & 17 - King City BBQ Showdown - Contact: Troy Heitmeyer, 104 N. 9th Street, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 - Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ Fax: 618-242-3383 - E-mail: troy@cmacsoft.com ~ October 16 & 17 - Barn Burner BarBQ at Lamb's Farm - Contact: Claudia Stevens, 14245 W. Rockland Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847-990-3750 ~ Fax: 847-362-0742 - E-mail: crs@lambsfarm.org ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. *************************************** Upcoming 2009 Memphis BBQ Network Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ September 11 & 12 - Wabash Ribberfest State Barbecue Championship, Contact: Chuck Johnson, 5 Lambert Place, Mt. Carmel, IL 62863, Phone: 618-262-6822, Email: cjohnson@shawneelink.net ~ September 24 to 26 - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: catering17@egyptian.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. *************************************** Upcoming Certified BBQ Judge's and Certified Table Captain's Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ None currently scheduled. (That I know of...if you know of any, let me know!) *************************************** Upcoming BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ April 2 & 3 ~ Shannon, Illinois ~ Old School versus High Tech Competition Cooking Class; Instructors: Rod Gray (Pellet Envy) & Johnny Trigg (Smokin' Triggers); Contact: Rod Gray; Email: rod@pelletenvy.com *************************************** These stories, and more, can be found online at http://www.ILBBQS.com . Most of the stories online have active links for ease of finding more information...be sure to visit the website for your full ILBBQS experience! If you have a BBQ related news item you would like to share with the group, be sure to send it in! There is an easy-to-use 'Submit News' button on our website at http://www.ILBBQS.com ...use it often! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino