Questions for the royal

I want a pair of your rose colored glasses!

Don't forget to buy your lettuce before you go to the site. The chances of buying any within 50 miles of the fairgrounds will be slim and none.

Don't forget to buy your lettuce before you go to the site. The chances of buying any within 50 miles of the fairgrounds will be slim and none

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Last year Price chopper was on site and had a lot of produce on hand. Bought some good lettuce even as late as Saturday morning. We didn't bring enough for the sausage category.

Afterall, Brethren are always the favorite to win contests they're entered in, right?

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Absolutely--here in the forum at least :lol:
Now, if we could just pack the Judge's tent with Brother's.........

The Que we love so much may, or may not, score in Competetion.

At the risk of being redundant (again) I still am a firm beleiver in going to Judge's training and then (more importantly) judging. That will give you an appreciation of just how really "fine" some championship quaility meat is. Then you just have to figure out how to cook that well consistantly and you will walk.

Good luck.

TIM

Don't make the AR your first contest.......come cook at the Bass Pro event on 9/9-9/10.......it's gonna be a small event, a good one for you to get feet wet on....but that's also the weekend of Blues Springs.......

Jeff,

Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope you don't make the entry deadline, and your money is returned.

"What did he just say?" is what I just heard you say.

So here it is. I have never competed in a contest, so I think I can add .02

I've read this forum for a while, and rarely post in this sub forum. Why? Cuz these guys are serious, or make that passionate, about their hobby. I just can't get that worked up over the perfect chicken, etc.. The thought of judging (eating!) the perfect chicken on the other hand, has my interest.

But I digress. These guys take this stuff seriously (not saying you don't) but to "start" your competition career on the world series event, might be like taking your entry fee and throwing it into the fire. In no way trying to discourage you, but just here me out.

Okay, we have read, in the past few days, a sheet load of info here on turn in times, warm slices of brisket, and practice turn in runs, from plenty of circuit guys like Jim, the 2 Rays, Mokan, Sigma, etc. These guys have it down to a science. Greg even talks about practice walks.

We heard about brisket injections, Flav B, and ways to improve turn ins with burnt ends.

The older threads (what we loosly refer to as the "archives") have even more competition info.

So as a fellow person that never competed in an event, put your money away. Cancel your entry.

BUT WAIT!!!!

This isn't defeat.

I still want you to take that day off!!

Go to the Royal. But don't go as a spectator!!

We got a couple guys teams going here. Contact them. Send them a PM. Be down there, waiting at 6am on Friday for them to pull up. Help them unload. Stand back, and help out when they want you too. Clean the knives, keep the coolers full of ice, and wash the cutting boards whenever you can.

And watch.

And watch.

In "the window", get out of their way.

And watch.

Take notes if you can.

Since this is the signature event of the year, each and every team has been going at it all year, and they are all probably well sync'd and have their "A" game on.

If you spent your first Royal as a competitor, with no one their showing you what is working and what is not, then you just wasted the weekend, since you didnt learn anything. Make it a learning experience by tying on with another team, if only as a gopher. That will give you more time to learn.

I know from your posts that you are excited and pumped.

I just don't want you to come back in OCt and post a "well that sucked" response.

Maybe I am giving you my wish, to learn from the real competitors before going alone, I just want you to have the best experience ever on your first time out, at the farking World Series event!!

Does this make sense?

If off base, let me know, and I'll delete

Damn Bill,
I thought surprises were over in my life :lol:
That Sir--was a masterpeice!
All I can say is -------"DITTO"-----------!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff, consider what he says hard--Dude is putting out good thoughts.
But, if ya want to proceed--we will help all we can, for sure!

TIM

Yes, as Tim said.

These guys got your back with tips and stuff, but their tips are self taught.

I whole heartedly want your first experience to be great, and not turn you off to future events.

I'll step back now, cuz I don't know chit.

Regardless of what happens, Good Luck Jeff!!!

Jeff_in_KC said:

Hey Bill, I appreciate your thoughts and I am sure you make a lot of sense in what you say. I'm just going to see what happens with the entry come deadline time and if I'm in, great, I'll cook my ass off and make you farkers proud! But if they tell me I'm on the outside looking in, I'll just go terrorize the Meatheads or some of the Columbia boys if they decide to cook! I'm definitely up for being cheap labor to learn if I don't make it.

I needed a break to reply! I have been rubbing down that big-ass brisket and next is peeling the membranes off the babybacks and I farkin hate that! My wife, who usually does it, is at a woman's night party and I'm by myself here... so it's Q prep, beer and porn but not a damned decent cigar in the house! LOL! OK gotta go yank membranes... :x

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Your first reply came in a minute of mine. I see you talked to other teams that gave opposite advise of mine (better from real competitors than me) and I see you already watched a few people.

Apologies if necessary for thinking you didnt know what your in for.

You mentioned that it will be fun regardless, and I now say, GO FOR IT!

I was kinda looking out for you, but seems your already covered.

Fingers crossed till Aug 20 for you (and I now cannot write my name)

Jeff,
Take a peek here for one discussion on Bark:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/index.p...=viewtopic&t=4933&highlight=dry+wet+heat+bark
Altough this thread was focused (kinda) on the type of heat, there is lots of good info there.
Folks will have even more thoughts here for sure.

As to packer vs flat--your call.
But, in comp "yield" is not a consideration, quality is :lol:
Different goals.
A lot of us find the flat area just below the point to be the best quality for turn-in slices. Other areas may be used for chopped or shredded peices to balance out the box.
I would think it will take more than one test cook to reach your final decision :wink:

Did you cook Choice or Select Grade of Brisket? I find a world of diffence in them with Choice winning hands down.

As to neighbors opinion--well my friends and family say my Que is the best in the world.
I really love that---Feels great, doesn't it :lol:
However, our comp meat is "notches above reality" compared to my recreational que--for sure.
KCBS and FBA judges find it DAM (Dead Ass Middle) of the Pack. Consistant placings event after event, at least up to now :twisted:
Having judged some, afraid I have to agree with them (kinda), bad as I hate to.
We are "fixing" that at Dillard next weekend :lol:
Do what you want with that peice of info about friends and family :lol:

Keep on testing--that is how you will get there.

TIM

I think you going to the Royal is completely up to you. Just remember if you fail------Don't try to re-invent the wheel---make some subtle adjustments and live to cook another day. The judging can sometimes be brutal. Look at your scores and analize the problems---Appearance---Taste ----Tenderness ect. Find the weak points and build on them. Then and only then will you know what the Big Dogs already know.

Your Daily 2 cents worth of Spice!

ANY TIME YOU CAN WALK THE STAGE----IT'S A GOOD DAY!!!!

Jeff- just go out there and have a good time. What does it matter if you're up againist one legend of BBQ or 300? Even if you come in last place, you'll still have fun, meet some great folks and learn a lot.

Jeff,

Take a look at some of the pictures of the entries that BrooklynQ put together at Grill Kings and Guitarbeque. Rob got consistant High scores for appearance at both shows....no sense reinventing the wheel when you are tight for time. Print them out and hang them up for reference. If you win....thank BrooklynQ

Good Luck,

Steve