Cooking Contest at Work

BBQ_MAFIA · Nov 9, 2007

Every year we have a cooking contest in my office around the Holidays.
It started out as a fun pot luck get together with about 300 people participating in one way or another. Over the years, for a small group of us, it has evolved into a more competitive event to see who can produce the best crowed pleasing eats along with the best presentation.

Although there aren't any rules, there are great prizes, and for those of us with a competitive streak and an obsessive compulsive disorder, we want to win, we need to win.

I've been lucky enough to take first Prize for several years in a row while
each year the competition has been getting better and better.

Here is where I need your ideas.

Do any of you have pictures of serving displays that you consider to be impressive?

I'm looking to go over the top and have a great time.
This year I really want to WOW the judges.

Here is what I'm currently planning to cook:

80 LB Whole Hog or a smaller Pig with Pulled Pork served around it.
Several Racks of Ribs
Two Briskets
A couple of Beer Can Chickens for display around Thighs and Legs
Beans
Slaw
Turds

I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions along with any pics you may have.
Thanks

Diva · Nov 9, 2007

Display

Sounds like you are about as competitive as I am. Obviously start with a 6 foot table and put a plastic table cloth (from the roll) on it to protect it. Have a nice crisp, white cloth on top of it. I would get a big mirror (not framed) and put it on the cloth, centered, yet toward the back of the table. Display your hog on it, putting the pork around it, make sure you clean the mirror up when done with placement. At each end of the hog on matching wooden cutting boards, I'd have a brisket, partially sliced and a whole rack intact on the other with one rack cut through and have each board at an angle. I'd also surround the brisket with some burnt ends. On a smaller platter in front of the hog, I would put the legs and thighs with beer can chicken halves on each side kind of framing the pieces. The ABTs, I would make plenty of them and have them placed every so often on the pig mirror lengthwise going around the entire mirror. I would also purchase some small paper doilies and place the abts all around the table, not too much, just enough to make it "fun"! Beans and slaw, dependent up on their serving bowls it would be nice to have two identical bowls and have them centered between the chicken platter and the edge of the table on each side.

But, hey, that's just me.

Westexbbq · Nov 9, 2007

Amazing!
Gives a new slant on the old doing it with "Smoke and Mirrors" reference.:wink:

Porky · Nov 9, 2007

BRAVO, Diva. I think I saw a similar setup at a wedding I attended sometime ago. Of course they didn't have the same foods but the setup was very impressive. Guido, can I help..............and nibble a little.

Divemaster · Nov 9, 2007

Diva said:
Sounds like you are about as competitive as I am. Obviously start with a 6 foot table and put a plastic table cloth (from the roll) on it to protect it. Have a nice crisp, white cloth on top of it. I would get a big mirror (not framed) and put it on the cloth, centered, yet toward the back of the table. Display your hog on it, putting the pork around it, make sure you clean the mirror up when done with placement. At each end of the hog on matching wooden cutting boards, I'd have a brisket, partially sliced and a whole rack intact on the other with one rack cut through and have each board at an angle. I'd also surround the brisket with some burnt ends. On a smaller platter in front of the hog, I would put the legs and thighs with beer can chicken halves on each side kind of framing the pieces. The ABTs, I would make plenty of them and have them placed every so often on the pig mirror lengthwise going around the entire mirror. I would also purchase some small paper doilies and place the abts all around the table, not too much, just enough to make it "fun"! Beans and slaw, dependent up on their serving bowls it would be nice to have two identical bowls and have them centered between the chicken platter and the edge of the table on each side.

But, hey, that's just me.

I'm getting hungry!!!!

Please post pics!!!!

Diva · Nov 9, 2007

I don't have any pics

I made it up as I read what they were cooking.... I'm pretty good at placement.

Oh, on the pig, put him towards the back of the mirror that's on the edge of the table, that leaves more room for him to "shine". Center him horizontally, not vertically. The ABT's on the pig mirror, make them lengthwise on the edge of the mirror like a "frame"....on the left side start with the widest part of the pepper on the edge and work them that way towards the front of the mirror and around the corner, do the same on the right side and have them "meet" point to point.

Another thing, when you (if you even do this) place the chicken halves on each side of the chicken pieces platter, set a thigh under the top of each half so they're at a slant and the judges will see them angled. It'll be cool!

Whatever you do....take pictures and follow up, please.

ZBQ · Nov 9, 2007

I seem to remember Big Brother Smoke had a gig with a whole hog that I thought the presentation was cool but I can't find his post. He has done some nice weddings and I thought his presentaion was really nice.

Help us out here BBS.....

Is the head going to be attached?

I think it's cool, but some people might get kinda queasy over that.:roll:

Diva, do you cater? If not, you should! Sounds fantastic!:-D

BBQ_MAFIA · Nov 9, 2007

ZBQ said:
Is the head going to be attached?

I think it's cool, but some people might get kinda queasy over that.:roll:

I planned on leaving the head on, but I agree, some may ge queay over it.
I'm still going to have to think about it.

Thanks for the ideas!!

Cooking Contest at Work

BBQ_MAFIA

somebody shut me the fark up.

Diva

is one Smokin' Farker

Westexbbq

Quintessential Chatty Farker

Porky

is Blowin Smoke!

Divemaster

somebody shut me the fark up.

Diva

is one Smokin' Farker

ZBQ

is Blowin Smoke!

BBQ_MAFIA

somebody shut me the fark up.

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