Slidell BBQ Challange (Slidell, La)

 

Boys and girls, I just came back from my first BBQ competition in Slidell, La. Even though I did my research and took notes, I still made a handful of rookie mistakes. Overall I didn't do too bad for my first competition. While I spaced out and had my chicken in the smoker for too long, my ribs turned out great. I was a little disappointed with getting 5th place in Ribs but i can't complain too much being a rookie. Here is a small list I made that might help out other future rookies.

1.  Unless you live in the same town as the competition, set up a cot and sleeping bag and stay the night on the site. Setting up tents, chairs, smokers, etc at 5am sucked and I will not be doing that again.
2. Make a check list in an Excel Sheet. Even after I made the check list and edited it twice, I still forgot some things. Note: keep it saved and add to it every time.
3. Be prepared to spend some money. After an application fee, buying meat, other groceries, beer, and A LOT of shit at Academy (canopees, chairs, tables, etc...), before you know it you are broke.
4. Don't be dick competitor or a bad sport. It's nice to sample the goods of the other compeitors, swap secrets, etc... You also might learn something from somebody old.
5. Don't forget to garnish your styrofoam box.
6. You can never have too many tables. I brought 2 and could have used a few more.
7. After the day was done I was so red I looked like a white trash hillbilly from West Virginia. Bring some sunscreen.
8. Bring a vegetable or a piece of fruit with you. Even I was tired of BBQ.
9. Don't let the big rigs intimidate you. WSMs and Green Eggs can do just as good of job if not better than a pit with a hitch...I saw the scores...
10. Tell people you are from Texas. You will get the respect and street cred you deserve.

That's it for now. Overall I had a great time and was not expecting the day to be so exhausting. I don't know how the pros do this every weekend.

Yes they did misspell Colt 45s

My 5th place ribs...