practice boxes

[CajunSmoker]

The following two threads have got me in the mood to practice making some boxes.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=36590

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...t=36655&page=7

My only comp was an IBCA contest and we didn't use any garnish. Since I plan to go to KCBS contests this year I figured I better get started practicing. I have to admit that getting that garnish to behave is a lot harder than I expected. Anyway, here are my first two boxes. Ribs and brisket. I had to hurry a little since my daughter in law was waiting on me to finish so she could take them home with her Tell me what you think, so I can try to do better next time.

[ModelMaker]

Nice work mostly!!
You need to get a little more even and thicker bed of garnish. It looks like your using the smallest piece of parsley of the bunch. Try using larger groups (stalks) and fill up the bottom well. Also you must clean the sides of the box that are visable of sauce and crumbs.
The ribs should look as close as possible as one slab. We all know they're seperate pieces but the more it looks like a slab the more points you'll garner.
The brisket should be all the same size and placed in the box with the exact same margin showing from every piece. Easier said than done right? I think I would have put 2 or 3 more slices in or some chunks with bark or some burnt ends.
All in all a good base to work from.
ModelMaker

[Ford]

Ribs - the meat looks great so overall appearance probably 7. It's not a 9 because there's parsley hanging over the ribs. Try to put the meat on top of garnish and not have green more than half way up the ribs. I'd just do 6 ribs in the box. makes it a little more squared up and you're not crowding garnish up over the top of the box.

From the looks of those boxes I think maybe you know how to cook.

Brisket - 6. need to even up the garnish along both sides. Uniform level of height. As above lay the meat on top of the garnish. I like to use 10 slices if I have 10 good ones. It makes the box look fuller. There's some "stuff " on the slices that makes it look bad. If the slices all can from the same brisket in order then they should line up better in the box.

For practice try taking shredded lettuce to fill half way up the box. The use leaves of green leaf to cover it. Now put the meat in leaving a border of lettuce around each side. Of course parsley looks better but this takes 2 minutes and parsley takes 30-40 minutes. It will give you an idea of how the meat can sit up in the box and jump out at you.

[Ron_L]

My comments are in line with Ford.

i do have a couple of general things, however... Ford, I like your suggestion of using a bed of shredded lettuce as a base. Would this be legal in a competition? I suppose as long as it was shredded leaf lettuce, not iceberg, that would be OK.

Modelmaker, you commented about trying to make the ribs look like they came from the same slab. We try to do this, too, but as a judge, I typically have 30 seconds or less to look at each box. I don't know if i would really notice if the ribs were from one slab or not. Maybe subconsciously? I don't know.

[MilitantSquatter]

As a judge, I would give those ribs a 9 for appearance. Honestly, those are some of the most appealing rib pics I've seen here in a while strictly from a meat standpoint. As a judge, I don't really give a crap about how the garnish looks. In the few seconds, I'm looking at the box my eyes are only on those ribs and garnish usually never sways my opinion.

As a cook though, I agree with others, you need to work on the box layout as most judges won't score like I would.


The brisket - a lot less appealing. 6-7 as a judge. Looks a bit tough/dry and not fond of whatever that stuff is on the slices. As a cook, I agree again on the box needing work. More slices, better layout, more attention to the garnish.

Good luck... you'll get there soon enough.

[KC_Bobby]

A bed of shreaded lettuce is legal, in fact I'm pretty sure it's legal to just present the meat on shreaded iceburg if the competitor would like. I think we had samples that way in judging class. Someone please varify.

And I do think many judges do notice if the ribs came from the same rack or not, thus no reason to leave points on the table rather than on your card.

[Ron_L]

Originally Posted by KC_Bobby

A bed of shreaded lettuce is legal, in fact I'm pretty sure it's legal to just present the meat on shreaded iceburg if the competitor would like. I think we had samples that way in judging class. Someone please varify.

And I do think many judges do notice if the ribs came from the same rack or not, thus no reason to leave points on the table rather than on your card.

I'm not suggesting that anyone should not try to have ribs from the same slab. I agree that is would be silly to leave points on the table just in case. I'm just not sure if there is time to truly tell.

As far as the shredded lettuce, I looked at the rules and as KC_Bobby said, it is legal. (Emphasis is mine). It doesn't specifically state iceberg is Ok or not, however. It just says fresh green lettuce.

9. Garnish is optional. If used, it is limited to chopped, sliced,
shredded or whole leaves of fresh green lettuce, curly parsley,
flat leaf parsley and/or cilantro. Kale, endive, red tipped
lettuce, lettuce cores and other vegetation are prohibited.

[Big Mike]

I agree with everyone else. Even out the garnish all around the box. You want it to be as uniform as possible. Same with the meat, make it as uniform as possible. I try and keep my brisket slices as close to the same length as possible. If they are different sizes I arrange then longest in the back to shortest in the front. If you apply sauce to the brisket, apply it evenly, no streaks or globs.

The ribs do look good. Again, just even up the garnish and don't let it hang over the meat. Try and make all of your cuts as smooth as possible so that you don't have a frayed edge look.

[CajunSmoker]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm gonna give it another run next weekend with chicken and p pork. You know what they say, practice makes perfect (or at least better).

[Nitrofly]

Hi Roger


I have to be honest I think both
boxes are too messy for turn in.
I would give the brisket a 7 for
appearance and 6 for the ribs.
But I also showed them to the wife
a CBJ also and she said 8's for both
boxes.. How were the ribs?? they
look fatty to me and unless it was your
pet pig that's not your fault. and for the
brisket looks tasty moist. there pieces
of something that are bigger then KCBS
allows, Would I taste them with an open
mind. as some would say I'm just an SMA

Sorry

[CajunSmoker]

Originally Posted by Nitrofly

Hi Roger


I have to be honest I think both
boxes are too messy for turn in.
I appreciate your honesty and tend to agree with you. Like I said in my first post, it was my first try and I had a daughter in law rushing me so she could take the boxes home for dinner
I would give the brisket a 7 for
appearance and 6 for the ribs.
But I also showed them to the wife
a CBJ also and she said 8's for both
boxes.. How were the ribs?? they
look fatty to me and unless it was your
pet pig that's not your fault.
The ribs were very good, not fatty at all.
and for the
brisket looks tasty moist. there pieces
of something that are bigger then KCBS
allows,
The pieces of something that has been mentioned a couple of times are pieces of rub that had come off in the au jus. I gave it a couple of brushes to try and keep the pieces from looking dry in the picture. Every time i take a pic of brisket slices they look dry to me.
Would I taste them with an open
mind. as some would say I'm just an SMA

Sorry

Certainly nothing to be sorry about, I asked for honest critiques and you gave yours. Thanks for taking the time to look and comment.

Rodger

[tony76248]

Stick with IBCA. Why deal with someone not liking how your meat looks or the garnish. It should be all about the flavor and texture....

[Mitchelina]

Guys, I think a 6 is too harsh. Garnish should not be a factor in any way unless it's out of spec. Yes it enhances the box but when I catch myself getting hung up on the garnish when I'm judging I really have to make a mental adjustment. Any CBJ class is going to tell you not to judge the garnish. You focus on the appearance of the meat.

Given that, based on the pictures I'd say between a 7-8 but I'd want to see the real thing to know for sure. The meat looks nicely cooked, I don't think the brisket looks dry, I think it looks moist. One of the things we like to do is lay the brisket slices in on the diagonal. And if you have good looking ribs, maybe flip one on it's side.

Keep playing with it. You'll find your own style. Also be sure to take pictures at turn in so when you do hit it you have a reference for the next time.

[cmcadams]

I haven't read the others yet, but I'd say a 7 on the ribs; they look tastey, but messy and the garnish actually detracts for me, looking like you're trying to cover things up.

The brisket I'd give a 6-7. Get the rub off the slices, even them up and put about 3-4 more slices in, or burnt ends/cut up bark.

I used to be against saucing my brisket, but I do it now for comps... judges tend to like sauce, and even the ones that don't mind dry still like sauce. IMO, you're more likely to have a judge say something should have been sauced than one say something shouldn't have been sauced.

It was actually Ford that first mentioned something about saucing, though he probably doesn't remember. Our first comp was in Carmel, IN, in 2005, and Ford was there but not competing; he was a huge help to us on Saturday morning. We didn't win anything, but didn't come in DAL, and came in middle of the pack with brisket.

[TOPS BBQ]

Rodger - In KCBS garnish is OPTIONAL. The meat does look VERY good. If I were you, I would learn how to prepare MUCH better boxes or just submit as you would IBCA.

I believe those boxes would not be scored as well because of the looks of sloppy garnish. If you're going to add it, you better make it look like you put some time into it.

That meat does look good though. Try evening out the brisket and show the side of the ribs more so that the smoke ring can be seen.

Good Luck!