judging cleanser

Don't have my judges manual handy anymore, but I know of at least 1 KCBS sanctioned comp that had french bread in place of saltines. Rep didn't have an issue with it

But nothing to drink but water is definitely true. You are also intructed not to use things like wet naps between samples since the scent can interfere with your senses

I've had to resort to a little parsley more than ones also.

Have seen dill pickles and small cheese cubes used also..Not KCBS

At some KCBS contests you see seedless grapes made available at the judging table, but they are to be used between categories only to clear the palatte. Between entries, only saltines and water.

gordo said:

Have seen dill pickles and small cheese cubes used also..Not KCBS

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The cheese cubes are to cleanse spicy foods from the palate, but they leave a thin film on your tongue...the pickles take this off. Personally, I like using those better than just crackers & water - I find they do a better job for me. But it's up to the organizer to remember to bring them and many times, you're lucky they remember the crackers. Grapes and carrots work good, too, and you'll see those used lots of times.

At some contests, the organizer will pass out baggies with damp/wet washcloths for the judges to clean their hands with - of late, many judges have been bringing these themselves. These are really helpful, since a lot of times it's a real pain to get up from the judging table, find your way to a restroom to clean your hands, and then find your way back to your seat, all before the next round begins. I've seen several organizers provide a case of those individually-wrapped hand wipes and had to tell them sorry, we can't use those (most are scented and will leave a fragrant residue on your hands - remember, part of a person's experience of the BBQ product is affected by the scent).

I don't know, maybe they're going to have to start giving the judges milk to drink between chicken samples - there have been times when I have been almost SURE all the cooks decided to see who could turn in the spicy-est chicken!

Lynn.

The saltines and bottled water provided at KCBS comps do the job quite nicely. At some, there are seedless grapes too. Over the years I've found I don't have to "cleanse" after every entry -- only the ones that are heavy smoke, hot spice or very sweet or sour. Those aren't bad things, necessarily, just things that tend to "cling".