Judging "left-overs" - take home or NOT?

[bbq.tom]

I just judged a KCBS contest on Saturday and all the judges were instructed to throw away ALL of the entries on their plate after judging. It was explained by the contest organizer that the cooks didn’t want the judges to take anything home that they judged. That they (the cooks) only turned in entries for judging and NOT for anyone to take home.

I am not only a judge, but also a competitor, and I have NO problem with judges taking home ANYTHING after judging. It just seemed a total waste to throw away all that “left-over” meat! At other contests the left-overs are taken home and I share with my wife and/or enjoy them for lunch later that week.

I would love to hear opinions from other judges and competitors on this issue. The contest organizer DID provide some “non-judged” (already bagged) pulled pork for the judges to take home.

What is your opinion (and why)???

[JayAre]

I dont have a problem with Judges taking leftovers home, I do however have a huge problem with judges who only show up to get free bbq and dont take the judging serious.

[Fatback Joe]

Originally Posted by JayAre

I dont have a problem with Judges taking leftovers home, I do however have a huge problem with judges who only show up to get free bbq and dont take the judging serious.

Same here.

[Lake Dogs]

Problem with judges taking home meat? What? Hell, in MBN judges are invited to come back to teams areas and take bags of pulled pork or ribs home... When judging I've always come home with a box of either doggie scraps or food for us. New organizer, perhaps?

[EatonHoggBBQ]

Toss leftovers.
Just saw the classic case of one bite then load up the zip loc bag this weekend in Liberty, IN. As a judge I am truly embarrassed that this type of judge exists and is deciding the fate of hard working cooks that are putting their all into their turn in boxes.

I also want to add that this judge was a new judge with less than five contests judged, and for each category was the first one done filling out the scorecard.

[Smokin' Gnome BBQ]

my fear is that some judges rush to fill up there coolers and dont take an ample sample to fufill their judging obligations.. judge first ...cooler second..

[huminie]

The judges should be there to judge, not to receive free food.

[ique]

I'm always surprised that someone would want to save a piece of barbecue with a bite taken out of it for later.

[bover]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Gnome BBQ

my fear is that some judges rush to fill up there coolers and dont take an ample sample to fufill their judging obligations.. judge first ...cooler second..

Exactly! As a judge when I see others taking a single bite then transferring the rest to the cooler I really have to wonder if they are getting enough to give an accurate score. This is why I don't like the idea of allowing leftovers from the judging table at all. Taking some from the grazing table after judging is done however...sure, as long as the non-judging volunteers have already had their fill.

[PorkQPine]

Two problems with taking turn-in's home. 1. Judges can take your product and show it to other teams. 2. Judges, if they are a team member, can show their team what you do and your flavor profile. 3. Judges can take small bites so they have more to eat when they get home. As a CBJ for many years and having judged many contests I have seen all of the above.

[bbq.tom]

Originally Posted by PorkQPine

Two problems with taking turn-in's home. 1. Judges can take your product and show it to other teams. 2. Judges, if they are a team member, can show their team what you do and your flavor profile. 3. Judges can take small bites so they have more to eat when they get home. As a CBJ for many years and having judged many contests I have seen all of the above.

Just curious - how can a judge take "your" product and show it to other teams when they have NO IDEA who's product they are judging? Also, how can a judge show "their" team what "you do and your flavor profile" if they have NO IDEA who's product they are judging? Having judged KCBS, MBN, and North Carolina Pork Council, I can honestly state that I have absolutely NO IDEA who's product I am tasting/judging when judging "blind".

[Tarheel]

The contest is Hog Fest in Edenton. Yes, the judges were not allowed to take any of the items that they recieved to judge. My instructions were that the meat was sent in for one reason only and that was to be judged. I also explained that the cooks would be providing goodie bags of there meat for the judges who wanted them. It was not just pulled pork, it was all four meats and was provided by the cook teams. I had two coolers full from the cooks that the judges did not take and it was divided up between some of the workers at the event. The extra meat in the boxes was eaten by the workers as well. The only waste here was the meat that was on the plates to be judged and I don't consider that a waste because it served its purpose.

I have seen judges who come to a contest and take a minimal bit from the entrie and then it goes in a cooler. I have listened to other judges talk about it as well. My goal is to make sure that all judges take this as serious as we do as cooks. I also have a obligation to the cooks who attend our contest to provide them with the best judging possible.

I also understand the sacrifice that judges make to come and judge and want to provide those who want to take some meat home that as well.

It is my hope that this will become a standard for all contest.

This is my opinion as a cook, judge, and orginizer.

Roy Murray
Tarheel Smokers
Hog Fest in Historic Edenton orginizer.

[cmcadams]

I've cooked and judged, and I don't see any sacrifice that judges make. They travel because they want to, not because their presence is that important. With good communications, most events I've seen would have no problem getting judges that are trained a bit in what to look for, etc.

I've seen several judges that are there primarly for the take homes, with no regard to the time and money put in by the cooks. I'd prefer all events not allow judges to take anything from the judging table. As a cook, I'm happy to give out samples after, but I'd rather know that the judges are actually judging, not hoarding leftovers.

[theflints01]

Isn't this part of the table captains job, to make sure the judges are actually judging? We are instructed to take at least two tastes of every turn in, but not gorge ourselves as that can affect your palate. With the size of some of the slices and chunks of brisket and pork and all the chicken thighs, there will be leftovers no matter who's judging. Why toss good meat, it makes a great pot of beans.

They travel because they want to, not because their presence is that important

Yesterday I drove 130 miles to judge a comp. Many judges came from farther. If you want local yokels and "celebrity judges" resposible for your payoff, good luck. When I compete I feel very comfortable that we in the PNWBA get experienced judges at all of our comps and get judged fairly and evenly. I do think it's important. If they want to keep the leftovers, fine by me.

[Sawdustguy]

I can see the points that have been presented but I really hate to see good edible food just tossed in the trash.