Is comp Q better than it used to be?

G$ said:

Is the very best competion barbeque today, better quality than the very best competition barbeque from 5 and 10 years ago?

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No. Are a higher % of teams cooking very best quality bbq? Definitely yes.

I've got nothing concrete to base this on, so take it for what it's worth. I have a feeling that today's best BBQ would whoop the best from 10 years ago.
I also believe the average today is better than 10 years ago...

I tend to agree with Chris. The availability of information has done a lot to level the playing field.

I think Comp BBQ has changed a lot in that time. I started cooking with a buddy in Texas and that was IBCA style, and then we branched out to KCBS. The latter was a shock at first, because the flavor profile demanded a lot more work...and yes...sauce We did well enough to win a KCBS contest or two and go to the Royal, and then we learned how big the pond was.

The flavor profiles and process is much more refined and involved now, than what I knew or saw 10 years ago. In some ways I think it's further from what some purists would call BBQ. That's the nature of competition, though.

I think it HAS to be better. For the reasons articulated by Jorge, but also because the prolifieration of newer and more advanced equipment, as well. If all you have to do is fill a hopper, flick a switch and walk away, you can focus more on your flavor profiles.

tmcmaster said:

I think it HAS to be better. For the reasons articulated by Jorge, but also because the prolifieration of newer and more advanced equipment, as well. If all you have to do is fill a hopper, flick a switch and walk away, you can focus more on your flavor profiles.

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I don't know that I can say that it's better. It's different, and it's more precise in terms of the flavor profile and process.

I'll be honest, if I was sitting at a table judging today and I got some of the old school product that WAS COOKED WELL it might stand out enough to score really well....and that's taking into consideration that each entry is judged solely on merit.

Jorge said:

I don't know that I can say that it's better. It's different, and it's more precise in terms of the flavor profile and process.

I'll be honest, if I was sitting at a table judging today and I got some of the old school product that WAS COOKED WELL it might stand out enough to score really well....and that's taking into consideration that each entry is judged solely on merit.

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I agree, but I think the word 'better' is very subjective. Better could be a more efficient use of time/material. Better could be overall quality... Maybe I should have said that Competions are BETTER (less stressed, fewer 'hiccups') using more advanced technologies... :tape: