Bandera cooking in the Bordertown Bash

chazrull · 05-19-2005, 05:59 PM

Brothers,
Last weekend at Fort Smith, on the banks of the Arkansas River, was held the Bordertown Bash, a KCBS sanctioned event. Amidst the brilliant chrome and fire truck red trailers, the coal black big as a car smokers stood a man and his Bandera, burning tiny chunks of wood and charcoal. I am that man.
Around 10 pm a thunderstorm, bred in the desolate wastes of Oklahoma, crossed the border to destroy BBQ and all it stood for. I pulled my Bandera under the 10' by 10' canopy I had, cut holes in the side of a coffee can, placed it over my smokestack so the rain wouldn't get in, and the heat wouldn't burn a hole in my shelter. Then I placed blocks under the table legs so water would run to the outside, and sat on a ice chest of beer to guard my cooker while around me, the big boys retreated into their RV's and 5th wheels.
Wind lashed at me, blowing black water under the canopy, crashes of lightening illuminated the Bandera, popping and hissing, steam billowing from its hot sides as I tended it, one eye on the guage, like a boilerman deep in the bowels of a victorian steam ship. At 3 am I went to turn my briskets over using a pig tail, when the brisket was half turned the pig tail ripped out of the meat and slammed into my forehead, raising a welp and making a "THWOK!" sound that echoed through the park. Around 5 am I lifted a bag of charcoal and the wet bottom fell out covering my left leg and shoe in black soot. All night I stood watch, and when the sun rose scattered branches and leaves attested to the violence of the storm.
I cleaned off the tables, finished the last of the margeritas, and when time came, pulled out the pork sholder, it was tender and juicy, I shredded it with a pair of forks until blisters appeared on my finger, and turned it in. Then watched the clock until time came for brisket. The first one wouldn't slice, it crumbled under my knife. Might have to turn in chopped brisket. I pulled the second brisket and it sliced perfectly, juices running like mountain streams from the meat. My wife carefully arranged the greenery in the turn in box and we fanned out the sliced brisket, then walked it to the turn in table, where I lifted it for her to kiss before turning it in.
Well, brothers, I got 8th place brisket and 18th place pork. Considering the competition and the storm, I was pleased. Lets see, that cook off in Columbus Acres is near the end of June, if I added a little more garlic to my rub.....

Solidkick · 05-19-2005, 06:10 PM

Great report Chaz!! Done the cookoff thing with the 'dera ourselves!
Not much sleep, but you know how she cooks!!

I'm very happy for your placings, and best of luck in your next one!

icemn62 · 05-19-2005, 06:18 PM

That was one excited night. I felt I was right with you guarding the beer on that cooler. Tonight I shall sit atop a beer cooler and drink to your fine scores from a competition you walked away from.

parrothead · 05-19-2005, 06:20 PM

Nice write up. I enjoyed reading it.

chad · 05-19-2005, 06:30 PM

Good job!

Bigmista · 05-19-2005, 07:28 PM

A smoker and an author. How about that?

The_Kapn · 05-19-2005, 07:34 PM

Fascinating write-up.
Chad and I know the feeling of being lost among the "high rollers"

We feel like "itinerent gypsies"--but cookin' is cookin'

Great results from a noble effort!
Thanks,

TIM

frognot · 05-19-2005, 08:05 PM

Dern fine post, bro. Keep up the good work!

willkat98 · 05-19-2005, 08:23 PM

Chaz
Your write up, the Charlie Brown competitor,

Makes me think I might just try to compete one day

great write up

Samichlaus · 05-19-2005, 08:40 PM

LOL

Great literary skills chazrull!

Good Show!

Ron_L · 05-19-2005, 09:10 PM

Great story!

So... Why is it that Q contests seem to attract thunderstorms like trailer parks attract tornadoes?

BrooklynQ · 05-19-2005, 09:40 PM

Great read and great BBQ. How can you go wrong?

Neil · 05-20-2005, 03:16 AM

Chaz, you paint a great a picture. Thanks for the story and congratulations on a job well done.

jt · 05-23-2005, 07:15 AM

Very enjoyable reading. And you placed! Awesome!

sigmasmokers · 05-23-2005, 08:58 AM

Great Story Chaz. Check out my post, Joy of Competative cooking a couple of posts down. I was right there with you 2 weeks ago. I even have the black boots to prove it, for I too, went to add more charcoal and had the bottom bust on me.
Makes it all worth it with good results from the judges. Congrats.

Steve

05-19-2005, 05:59 PM	#1
chazrull Found some matches. Join Date: 02-10-04 Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Bandera cooking in the Bordertown Bash Brothers, Last weekend at Fort Smith, on the banks of the Arkansas River, was held the Bordertown Bash, a KCBS sanctioned event. Amidst the brilliant chrome and fire truck red trailers, the coal black big as a car smokers stood a man and his Bandera, burning tiny chunks of wood and charcoal. I am that man. Around 10 pm a thunderstorm, bred in the desolate wastes of Oklahoma, crossed the border to destroy BBQ and all it stood for. I pulled my Bandera under the 10' by 10' canopy I had, cut holes in the side of a coffee can, placed it over my smokestack so the rain wouldn't get in, and the heat wouldn't burn a hole in my shelter. Then I placed blocks under the table legs so water would run to the outside, and sat on a ice chest of beer to guard my cooker while around me, the big boys retreated into their RV's and 5th wheels. Wind lashed at me, blowing black water under the canopy, crashes of lightening illuminated the Bandera, popping and hissing, steam billowing from its hot sides as I tended it, one eye on the guage, like a boilerman deep in the bowels of a victorian steam ship. At 3 am I went to turn my briskets over using a pig tail, when the brisket was half turned the pig tail ripped out of the meat and slammed into my forehead, raising a welp and making a "THWOK!" sound that echoed through the park. Around 5 am I lifted a bag of charcoal and the wet bottom fell out covering my left leg and shoe in black soot. All night I stood watch, and when the sun rose scattered branches and leaves attested to the violence of the storm. I cleaned off the tables, finished the last of the margeritas, and when time came, pulled out the pork sholder, it was tender and juicy, I shredded it with a pair of forks until blisters appeared on my finger, and turned it in. Then watched the clock until time came for brisket. The first one wouldn't slice, it crumbled under my knife. Might have to turn in chopped brisket. I pulled the second brisket and it sliced perfectly, juices running like mountain streams from the meat. My wife carefully arranged the greenery in the turn in box and we fanned out the sliced brisket, then walked it to the turn in table, where I lifted it for her to kiss before turning it in. Well, brothers, I got 8th place brisket and 18th place pork. Considering the competition and the storm, I was pleased. Lets see, that cook off in Columbus Acres is near the end of June, if I added a little more garlic to my rub.....

05-19-2005, 06:10 PM	#2
Solidkick somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-21-03 Location: Bandera Owner in Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great report Chaz!! Done the cookoff thing with the 'dera ourselves! Not much sleep, but you know how she cooks!! I'm very happy for your placings, and best of luck in your next one! __________________ Mr. Kick ------------------------------------------------ *Belly Brothers BBQ Team* "Sister Flame" Spicewine Trailer Smoker,Modified Bandera, Uni-Flame Chicken Cooker with a Spicewine Thermometer mod,Kingsford Barrel cooker and a super fast RED thermapen KC always said "fat cap up!!

05-19-2005, 06:18 PM	#3
icemn62 Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-10-04 Location: Los Angeles, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That was one excited night. I felt I was right with you guarding the beer on that cooler. Tonight I shall sit atop a beer cooler and drink to your fine scores from a competition you walked away from. __________________ Weber Kettle, WSM, CharBroil Gas Grill, George Foreman Grilll I AM LOVING THE SMOKE WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

05-19-2005, 06:20 PM	#4
parrothead somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice write up. I enjoyed reading it. __________________ Greg American Picker Blog

05-19-2005, 06:30 PM	#5
chad somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Clearwater, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Good job! __________________ Dave Southern Brethren BBQ Competition Team "It's all about getting paid!" - Myron Mixon "I love being hated in my hometown!" - David Hair KingFisher Gator Rotisserie cooker, WSM, Stainless 5 burner with IR gas grill, Turkey Fryer, Weber JD Commemorative grill, slightly used Bandera chamber for future use as a cold smoker, Masterbuilt 40" insulated ELECTRIC smoker

05-19-2005, 07:28 PM	#6
Bigmista somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-24-04 Location: Long Beach, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A smoker and an author. How about that? __________________ Wait! Bigmista wrote a cookbook? Exodus 29:18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD. God loves BBQ! Bigmista Custom Spicewine Trailer - Olivia J. PIMA Large and Medium Spicewines Weber Ranch Kettle - E.T. Remembering Scott

05-19-2005, 07:34 PM	#7
The_Kapn Moderator Emeritus Join Date: 04-08-04 Location: Marianna, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Fascinating write-up. Chad and I know the feeling of being lost among the "high rollers" We feel like "itinerent gypsies"--but cookin' is cookin' Great results from a noble effort! Thanks, TIM __________________ "Flirtin' with Disaster" BBQ Team (RETIRED) FBA and KCBS Cook and Judge. Former owner of a WSM, a Smokey Joe, a Charbroil Commercial gasser (junk), and the legendary "StudeDera". Now cooking with a FEC100, a Traeger Lil' Tex, and a Fast Eddy PG500 Proud Pellet guy cooking on real wood.

05-19-2005, 08:05 PM	#8
frognot Babbling Farker Join Date: 03-22-04 Location: Allen, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Dern fine post, bro. Keep up the good work!

05-19-2005, 08:23 PM	#9
willkat98 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Chicago Western Burbs, but always south of Madison Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Chaz Your write up, the Charlie Brown competitor, Makes me think I might just try to compete one day great write up __________________ . Bill-Chicago "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Jack Reacher Bandera, M-BGE, WSM, Gold Kettle, Kenmore Gasser, 36Qt Turkey Fryer, ECB, Dutch Oven

05-19-2005, 08:40 PM	#10
Samichlaus is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-22-04 Location: Huntington Beach, California Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	LOL Great literary skills chazrull! Good Show!

05-19-2005, 09:10 PM	#11
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great story! So... Why is it that Q contests seem to attract thunderstorms like trailer parks attract tornadoes? __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Saber Cast 500/Weber Gasser (RIP)/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

05-19-2005, 09:40 PM	#12
BrooklynQ Banned Join Date: 07-18-04 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great read and great BBQ. How can you go wrong?

05-20-2005, 03:16 AM	#13
Neil Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-04-04 Location: St. Joseph, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Chaz, you paint a great a picture. Thanks for the story and congratulations on a job well done. __________________ "You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need" Mange Bene Viva Bene! NB Bandera-Firebox & Baffle Mod, WSM, Weber: Performer(Col. Steve Austin Mod), WSM, Three 22 1/2" Kettles, 2 Brinkman Dual Zone Proffessional Grills, Smoky Joe, Uniflame Tabletop Gasser, Luhr-Jensen Big Chief, Turkey Fryer, Rocky Mountain Camp Stove & 3 UDS's.

05-23-2005, 07:15 AM	#14
jt Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-10-04 Location: BFE Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Very enjoyable reading. And you placed! Awesome! __________________ I didn't hijack the thread. I just took it in a completely different direction. Spicewine, 2 Dutch Ovens, Weber OTP, 18 " Weber Kettle, White Mountain Ice Cream Freezer, Whirly Pop, Cast Iron Hot Dog cooker, and a 10 year old. Moink. RIP - my NB Bandera "Sweet Blue to all" - E

05-23-2005, 08:58 AM	#15
sigmasmokers On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-26-04 Location: Tulsa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great Story Chaz. Check out my post, Joy of Competative cooking a couple of posts down. I was right there with you 2 weeks ago. I even have the black boots to prove it, for I too, went to add more charcoal and had the bottom bust on me. Makes it all worth it with good results from the judges. Congrats. Steve __________________ SteveC. ----------------- Pull My Pork! Modified Bandera,2 WSMs

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