April 5, 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... ~ 3rd annual Elk Grove Rotary Rib Fest ~ Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival ~ 2009 Kick-Off Cook-Off Classic ~ Old School vs. New School Cooking Class ~ 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 3rd annual Elk Grove Rotary Rib Fest This news in from Ron Nunes, Contest Organizer... "June 19th-20th will mark the junior year for the popular Lions Park in Elk Grove Village contest. This year we hope to attract 50 teams, and have over $7,500 in cash, plus other prizes. Ribbons will go out for 4th -10th place in all categories and for top overall. 1-3 will receive trophies. Contrary to rumors the Elk Grove Rotary Rib Fest will be bigger and better than ever for 2009." For additional information, visit their website at http://www.ElkGroveRotary.com . *************************************** Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival Rewind one week ago...contest organizer Shane Swartzlander, of the Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival, announced he was going to extend the early bird discount to the next 10 teams to get their entries sent in...fast forward to today...nearly every early bird spot has been filled! With a few 'early bird' spots yet open, Shane expects they'll be filled soon as he and his crew are amping up for another great event in Wamac, Illinois. Quick rundown...this is the first KCBS Sanctioned event of the year in Illinois (May 1st & 2nd); it will again be a Qualifier for The Jack and The Royal; is extremely Cooker Friendly; and had 100% CBJ status last year, with all indicators pointing to this year achieving the same. If you haven't already sent in your application, visit their website at http://www.GoCentralia.com/springfestival for information on this State Championship BBQ Contest, the Arts/Crafts Festival; the Live Music; or the 3 nights of exciting Carnival Rides. Be sure to tell Shane you heard about him on the ILBBQS Website! *************************************** 2009 Kick-Off Cook-Off Classic - Hazelwood, Missouri The stage is set for year two of the 2009 Kick-Off Cook-Off Classic in Hazelwood, Missouri. This year's event will again benefit the North County Optimist Club as they bring everyone together to raise money for the Childhood Cancer Campaign; by putting on a Missouri State Championship Barbeque event. The event will be held on April 24-25, 2009 in the parking lot at the St. Louis Mills Shopping Mall; between Cabela’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond. The St. Louis Mills is located at 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd., Hazelwood, Mo. 63042. It is just off Missouri Highway 370. This BBQ Event is a KCBS contest featuring some of the best teams the Midwest has to offer. There will be plenty of raffles featuring some really nice prizes! *************************************** Old School vs. New School Cooking Class By: Steve Abrams, a.k.a. Burnt Food Dude The only way to describe my impression of the “Old School / New School” cooking class is “WOW”! There was Rod Gray, Johnny Trigg and Mike Lake! They finished first (Rod), third (Johnny) and fifth (Mike Lake) at the Smokin' Blues & Barbecue contest the week before. In case you didn't know Mike Lake is President of the Kansas City Barbecue Society. It was an all star line up! When dinner (yes, they provided dinner) and introductions were over with and the students settled down to a full night of instruction. Showing their preparation of beef brisket and pork butts. They pointed out what to look for in a brisket. Not only size, shape, color and flexibility, they came up with what packing companies to try and get your meat from. John told the story about the right and left brisket choice and how to tell the difference. I was personally amazed at the attention to details they both showed. Rod did a little more trimming of the brisket than John because he turns in burnt ends. John doesn't. The pork butt instruction was just about the same thing. They pointed out “the” muscle that can make or break a pork box. Let me say that they both trim similar but spice differently. They ended the evening showing how to trim spare ribs down to St Louis cuts and prepping them for the morning. The evening ended about 11pm. If we wanted we could sit and talk as they tended their pits over night. However, they recommended that we get some sleep because we were starting back up at 7am. At 7am they took their butts and briskets out of their cookers and showed us how they wrapped their meats. Does that sound boring? It was the seasoning and spicing they added to their meats before the wrapping that was the important part! At 8am breakfast was served, yes breakfast. While we were finishing breakfast they started back up with chicken preparation. All I can say the trimming was simplicity, except for the tweezers. Then they went on to ribs. The class was presented in real time. As if they were doing a real KCBS contest. They did fall a little behind because of questions but not much. At noon we were treated to lunch. Yep, you guessed it. We were treated to chicken prepared by both. I had to give Rod the edge for chicken. It was close. Then the ribs came in. Personally I gave the ribs to John. I really like the flavor. Then came pork. Again I had to give it to John. His pork was yummies! Brisket was last, as usual. I think Rod had the better brisket. I would be hard pressed to pick a winner between these two. Also, before I forget, Johnny Trigg's wife (I believe her name was Trish) show us how to make turn in boxes. She showed us how it use lettuce effectively and all parsley box. When each category came in, the meat was put in a turn in box. This was done to show how to display your meat properly. All in all, these two gentleman showed us exactly what they do at a contests. They left no question unanswered. They showed how to layer flavors and explain why they did it their way. Was the class worth the money? A hearty yes! Would I take it again? Yes! There was so much information given out that it verged on being information overload. LOL We also were given pads of paper and pens to write tons of notes. John and Rod definitely are not Abbott and Costello but they do make the class fun and entertaining. On a scale of 1 – 5 smokers I'd give this a 5 smoker rating. ***Editor's Note*** For additional information about Steve Abrams a.k.a. Burnt Food Dude, or his barbeque adventures, check out his team site at http://www.BurntFoodDude.us , or his radio talk show page at http://www.BBQ411.info , or http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bbq411 . *************************************** 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