Took the family to the Vista, CA Smokin Q contest today, had some good Q, some just ok, and had a few questions.
How close are the samples to the actual turn-ins in quality (generally speaking). I tried probably 6-7 ribs, and only one was what I would consider outstanding. I wish I could remember that team's name so I could give them a shout-out (and so I could see how they finished). One rib was actually raw (which I discreetly showed the lady at the sample table), most were surprisingly mild in flavor.
Two teams brisket was outstanding, Pitcrew was one and I cant remember the other. Both were very tender and moist, the other team's brisket had an extremely strong beefy flavor - more so than any other I tried. I see Pitcrew finished high in brisket - congratulations! The other 3-4 briskets I tried were no where close to these two; this seemed to be the category with the biggest differences between the best and the rest. I wish I knew how to cook brisket like those two teams.
Pulled pork - all that I tried were good, with not a lot of difference between them. Feel sorry for the judges having to distinguish what was to me very small differences.
My wife LOVED the peach cobbler from When Pigs Fly!
I was disappointed that alot of the top teams that I recognized didn't do samples, or were out by the time I made it to their booth.
I was very impressed with the obvious amount of time, effort, and money these teams put into the competition; and I am very jealous of alot of those smokers!
How close are the samples to the actual turn-ins in quality (generally speaking). I tried probably 6-7 ribs, and only one was what I would consider outstanding. I wish I could remember that team's name so I could give them a shout-out (and so I could see how they finished). One rib was actually raw (which I discreetly showed the lady at the sample table), most were surprisingly mild in flavor.
Two teams brisket was outstanding, Pitcrew was one and I cant remember the other. Both were very tender and moist, the other team's brisket had an extremely strong beefy flavor - more so than any other I tried. I see Pitcrew finished high in brisket - congratulations! The other 3-4 briskets I tried were no where close to these two; this seemed to be the category with the biggest differences between the best and the rest. I wish I knew how to cook brisket like those two teams.
Pulled pork - all that I tried were good, with not a lot of difference between them. Feel sorry for the judges having to distinguish what was to me very small differences.
My wife LOVED the peach cobbler from When Pigs Fly!
I was disappointed that alot of the top teams that I recognized didn't do samples, or were out by the time I made it to their booth.
I was very impressed with the obvious amount of time, effort, and money these teams put into the competition; and I am very jealous of alot of those smokers!