Author Archives: Brian Walrath

• Interview with the Champs – Pullin’ My Money Muscle

  June 16, 2019 10:25 am Comments Off on Interview with the Champs – Pullin’ My Money Muscle

  

  Day one of the BBQ Jamboree in Fredericksburg, VA saw a new face in the winner’s circle. Tom Sainclair, pitmaster of Pullin’ My Money Muscle Competition BBQ Team pulled of his first KCBS grand championship. Check out Tom’s answers as we inquired about his first GC and all-around interesting weekend! Tom’s been hot this year and I bet the next one is around the corner!

  Question:
  So, we understand you had some troubles right out of the shoot in Fredericksburg…tell us about that.
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  Yes, we all had a tough offseason. Our trailer was in the shop for almost 6 months getting worked on with all our smokers in it so we never got to practice the whole off season. Our truck was having fuel pump issues and I have had bad back troubles. The truck was bucking on the way down to the competition so bad, Melissa wanted to turn around and go home and cancel. We already had cancelled Hagerstown because of all this and I really didn’t want to cancel another one. We pushed on and made it but it took forever and we were exhausted.
  
  Question:
  How did your cook on Day 1 go? Were you confident?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  In a word….NO!!! Our cook was challenging. My back was so bad at one point I couldn’t stand up from a seated position without help. I was walking with a cane. One of the teams gave us some pvc piping to put on the legs of our table so I could stand up while making the boxes. We forgot a rub and foil. Other teams were very nice and helped us out with all these things but I was just trying to turn in some decent food. That’s what I thought we produced, decent food, not special just good. In fact, I thought our day 2 food was much better and we finished 19th, so goes to show you what I know!
  
  Question:
  When did you know you might have a chance to pull off the win?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  Well we started awards with a 1st in sauce and a 1st in chicken. We then got 8th in ribs but it wasn’t until we took 5th in pork I thought we had a chance. I mean I thought brisket was our best category but you know how that goes, that’s normally the kiss of death. Then they called us 4th in brisket and I started to sweat.
  
  Question:
  How did it feel when they finally called your name as GC?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  Well I got really nervous when the organizer announced that the difference between 1st and 2nd was 0.6 points! My first reaction was omg we are going to come up short again. We have been so close so many times and I had myself talked into the fact that we were falling short again. Once I heard them call Wolfs Revenge as RGC I was hit with every emotion all at once. I mean everything we had been through, the lack of practice, the pain I was in, how long we have been waiting for this, it all hit at once. One thing I have never told anybody was that a couple of years ago we almost quit competition BBQ. We had a bad year, everyone was getting so good, I just didn’t see the point in continuing to dump more money into this hobby if we weren’t going to get many returns. We decided to give it one more year and see what happened. That year we did well, and here we are. I always wondered how I would react if we won, and the bottom line was I was just overcome and filled up with tears.
  
  Question:
  Some of the best teams in the country were there, how did it feel to beat them on this day? Did it make it more special?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  Listen, after waiting this long for a GC, I would have taken one against a bunch of backyard teams making their pro debuts! I guess to answer your question specifically though, yes it was very humbling to have it happen against such a great quality field as this one. Some of these teams have mentored us through the years, and a lot of them we look up to and admire for their unbelievable consistency. Bottom line is, competition bbq is tough. EVERYONE is good or they wouldn’t be there. So you definitely need a little luck no matter how good you are to win, and we were super lucky that particular day.
  
  Question:
  Now you’ve got a bung for a the “Jack,” and an entry into the Royal Invitational. What are your thoughts about that and will you go?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  So while we have certainly been a good team on the circuit for a while now, it took us a long time to pull all 4 meats together at 1 comp and win the GC. I would love to tell you that this will be our first of many, but I cant do that. We may never win another GC again. So yes, we are in the early stages of planning to go to the Royal, we want to go at least once. We only have like an 8% chance of going to the Jack, but hell yeah, if we get our bung drawn, I wouldn’t miss that for the world!! When we first started competing, I had a list of goals I wanted to accomplish, and going to the Royal and the Jack are the only 2 left I need to check off my list!
  
  Question:
  How did you celebrate after the big win on day one?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  Honestly, we didn’t really have much time to celebrate. By the time we got back to the trailer it was time to start injecting and getting ready for day 2. Also, once the adrenaline wore off, I was in incredulous pain. Sometimes I still don’t know if I even believe that it happened. If there was any competition, out of every one we have ever done, that I did NOT expect to win, it would have been this one with everything going on. It just goes to show you, on any given Saturday, anything can happen.
  
  Question:
  Where are you cooking next and what’s the plan for the rest of the year?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  We are competing in the double at Gettysburg Memorial day weekend. We are only signed up for 11 comps total this year, and we probably wont sign up for any more now either that we are adding the Royal. That will bring us to 13 and totally drain my vacation days for the year. If we get super lucky and get drawn for the Jack, we are in trouble!
  
  Question:
  Congrats again…anything you’d like to add?
  Tom Sainclair, Pullin’ My Money Muscle:
  I would just like to say that the reception we got, when they announced our name, was unbelievable. It was like a receiving line at a wedding. The bbq community is SO nice and So supportive its beyond comprehension. My phone was blowing up from other teams at other comps congratulating us. We love being a part of these wonderful people and what they represent. It’s said so much its almost cliché at this point, but everyone IS like family. I don’t think we could ever totally quit competition bbq because of the people in it.
  
  I also am so lucky to get to share these experiences with my 2 best friends in the world, Melissa and Dave. They are the best teammates ever. Angela, Dave’s wife, is a saint too. She always supports anything we want to do. Finally, thanks to you for asking us about our story!!

  

• Interstate BBQ Festival – Hagerstown, MD

  9:57 am Comments Off on Interstate BBQ Festival – Hagerstown, MD

  By Howard Poole, MABA Board member and pitmaster of Plum Crazy BBQ.

  Becoming one of the Premiere Events in the Mid-Atlantic Region, The Interstate BBQ Festival, hosted by Rob Immer, draws teams from up and down the coast to compete not only for the Grand Championship, but for the Maryland teams to compete for the MABA Maryland State Championship. The Interstate Festival typically draws 60 or more Professional teams, as well as one of the largest backyard competitions in the area. Along with the KCBS Main event, competitors also have the option of competing in ancillary categories on Friday evening. These categories include: Steak, Burgers, Dessert, Wings, and a Kids Que.

  Friday night was definitely a “high-flying” time for teams. During turn-ins, and Steak result announcements, teams dealt with wind, rain, and even tornadoes (Seriously! You can find the videos on the weather channel). Even with all of this rough weather, teams still turned in some great entries, and some fantastic steaks!! Congratulations to Piggin Whiskey on their Steak Championship!

  The Friday night weather led to some fantastic weather on Saturday. With the sun shining, and a slight breeze in the air, teams finally had a chance to dry off, safely visit with others, and focus on the big meats!! Teams turned in some great boxes, and the results showed.

  Congratulation to Uncle Pigs Barbeque Pit for winning Grand Championship, to Drilling and Grilling for Reserve Grand Championship, and to 3 Eyz BBQ for winning The Maryland State MABA Championship.

  

  For Full KCBS Results, Click Here.

• The Ironman – Greencastle, PA

  9:52 am Comments Off on The Ironman – Greencastle, PA

  By Howard Poole, MABA Board member and pitmaster of Plum Crazy BBQ. 
  

  It’s not often that BBQers get associated with Ironman competitions. Most of us aren’t considered brisk joggers, let alone a group known for running through intense triathlons. Yet, at the beginning of April, teams come from miles around to try their hand at the Ironman KCBS Contest in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Instead of running or swimming, teams are tasked with cooking old school. That means no electronics, and limited meat per each team. It is an intense match to find out who truly knows the smokers they use, and who can pull off near perfection with so little room for error.

  Teams started Friday night with the Ironman Steak Cook-off. A lot of great steaks were turned in, and even though it rained most of Friday evening, the rain did let off in time for new SCA reps Keith and Angel Todd to announce the winner. Congrats to Michael Rosenthal of Dr. Pearls Medicinal Smoke on achieving Grand Champion at the cook-off, and for securing the golden ticket to the World Steak Championship!!!

  

  Friday night broke into some great early April weather (woohoo Ironman!!) and made for some great cooking conditions. To truly give the Ironman its namesake, teams must take the meat into account. Teams are allowed to cook 1 pork butt, 1 brisket, 1 rack of ribs, and 7 chicken thighs max. So if one mistake is made, it could cost a cook big. Even with all of these extra challenges, teams came back with some great scores, and turned out some fantastic BBQ. Congratulations to Wolf’s Revenge BBQ for the Grand Championship and to Piggin Whiskey on RGC.

  

  Click here for full results

• Mid-Atlantic BBQ Expo a Huge Hit!

  9:41 am Comments Off on Mid-Atlantic BBQ Expo a Huge Hit!

  

  By Luke Darnell, MABA President, pitmaster for Old Virginia Smoke

  The first ever Mid-Atlantic BBQ Expo and Contest was a huge hit.  Held at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, the event attracted BBQ suppliers, vendors and enthusiasts from all across the region for a celebration of meat and smoke.

  The expo featured delicious BBQ from vendors, as well as exhibits from sauce, knives, and smoker vendors.  Additionally, several of MABA’s pitmasters were featured in demonstrations live on stage.

  The weather was a little better on Saturday which produced a well-fought BBQ battle on the boardwalk.  Congratulations to All Fired Up on the RGC and Weekend Smokers on the GC.

  See full KCBS results here.

  .

• Three Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup Champions Crowned in the Spring

  9:14 am Comments Off on Three Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup Champions Crowned in the Spring

  Congrats to 3 Eyz BBQ on winning the Maryland MABA Cup at the Interstate BBQ Festival!

  

  Congrats to Wolf’s Revenge on winning the Virginia MABA Cup in Fredericksburg, VA!

  

  
  

  Congrats to Convicted Pigs BBQ on winning the West Virginia MABA Cup in Roanoke, WV!

  

• BBQ Gives Back Crowns Good Smoke as the Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup Champion

  9:10 am Comments Off on BBQ Gives Back Crowns Good Smoke as the Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup Champion

  by Luke Darnell, MABA President and pitmaster for Old Virginia Smoke

  

  You may have needed an ark to get to your site, and you may have been on the search for “umami,” but this year’s BBQ Gives Back did not disappoint.

  This was the first year that the competition was a double contest, and by and large the event was a great success from organizers Bill and Mary Jones.

  This year’s event, as always, featured a contest within a contest, pitting all 8 of the Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup winners against each other for the MABA Cup Championship.  New this year, however, was that the MABA Cup winners would combine both scores for a two day total to crown their champion.

  Day 1 featured some grizzly weather, but the teams endured.  Who Cares BBQ was crowned GC for Day 1, with Good Smoke as RGC.

  The weather improved with Day 2, and double was very successful.  On Day 2, Good Smoke BBQ was the GC with Old Virginia Smoke winning RGC.

  Their 2 day combined total gave Good Smoke the Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup Championship!

  

  Also at this event, BBQData.com provided an award for the two day score winner which was also Good Smoke.

• Contests, Cookers, BBQ Prizes, and TOY Awards Headline 2019 MABA Annual Banquet

  February 15, 2019 4:41 pm Comments Off on Contests, Cookers, BBQ Prizes, and TOY Awards Headline 2019 MABA Annual Banquet

  Over 30 contests, three awesome cookers,  and dozens of other top-notch barbecue  products to be raffled off at the MABA Annual Meeting February 23rd in Charles Town, West Virginia!  

  There’s still time to sign upfor the MABA Annual Banquet, but time is running out.  Be in attendance for your chance to win free contest entries and fabulous barbecue prizes.  See who will walk away with Tier 1 and 2 trophies and checks in all four meat categories and overall for the 2018 season.  Find out who you, members of MABA, selected to represent you on the board of directors for 2019 – 2020, and much, much more!

  Here’s a list confirmed list of the contests that have graciously donated an entry into the raffle!  Remember, you must attend the MABA Annual Banquet to win!

  Boo-B-Que

  New Castle Colonial BBQ

  MD State BBQ Festival

  Beltway BBQ Showdown

  Interstate BBQ Festival

  Smokin on the Dock of the Bay

  Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown

  Kings of Q

  BBQ Capital Cookoff

  Currituck Heritage Festival

  Butts & Beans BBQ Challenge

  Jiggy with the Piggy

  Mountain High BBQ Festival

  Polar Pig BBQ Cook Off

  Smoking in the Foothills BBQ Festival

  Tilley Biker Blues & BBQ Rally

  I Love BBQ & Music Festival

  Ribs and Rhythm & Blues

  Smoke in the Grove

  Smoke in the Park

  York County BBQ Festival

  Gettysburg BBQ Festival

  Twin Valley Fire & Smoke

  Mohegan Sun

  Que & Cruz

  BBQ Gives Back

  BBQ Jamboree

  Chesapeake Jubilee

  Chillin & Grillin in the Glades

  Covington Cork & Pork

  Almost Heaven BBQ Bash

  Smokin on the Buffalo

  Lancaster BBQ Supply SCA

  Also donated for the banquet raffle are the following great barbecue products/companies:

  Aporkalypse Now BBQ & Steak Class March 2-3, 2019

  Aporkalypse Now BBQ & Steak Class April 13-14, 2019

  Threadzone team shirt coupon

  Flameboss WiFi temp controller with universal adapter

  GrillGrate set (3 panel 16.25”)

  Tub o’ Towels

  Monolith Classic Cooker

  Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kookers

  Killer Hogs Rubs and Sauce Basket

  BBQ Bob’s rubs and sauces

  Stubb’s BBQ Sauces

  And More!!!

  The Mid-Atlantic Barbecue Associationis pleased to be able to raffle off THREE cookers at the 2019 MABA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet:

  

  The first cooker is a Monolith Classic with DigiQ DX2 donated by  .

  

  

  

  The second cooker is a Gateway Drum Smoker courtesy of .
  

  

  

  The third cooker is an Original PK Grill & Smoker donated by .
  

  Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20.

  Tickets will be sold on the web until Thursday, February 21, 2019, and in person at the Annual Meeting. You DO NOT need to be present to win.

  Your ticket numbers will be generated at random. Your tickets will be input into the drawing which will be held during the annual meeting on February 23, 2019.

  Cookers or cooker gift certificates will be available to pick up at the annual meeting. If not present, arrangements will need to be made with the supplier for pickup/shipping. Any costs for customization or upgrades to the models donated, taxes, shipping costs, and/or other crating costs are the sole responsibility of the winner. Limit one win per person.

  Again, you DO NOT need to be present to win this drawing.

  CLICK HERETO PURCHASE TICKETS!

• WV BBQ Bash Planning a “Heavenly Cookbook”

  January 18, 2019 4:40 pm Comments Off on WV BBQ Bash Planning a “Heavenly Cookbook”

  

  
  Every year, most event organizers struggle to secure adequate funds to produce a great event.  Some are blessed with a gate admission to help cover infrastructure and other costs that business sponsors don’t normally want to cover (event insurance, porta-johns, power, and so on).  With a free admission event, however, the struggle often becomes even more difficult, so we have to get creative (beyond elimination dinners, Bingo games, and gun bashes).

  This year, the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash is excited to announce a great new project … the 2019 WV BBQ Bash Cookbook, with delicious recipes from some of the top BBQ Pitmasters and Judges in the Mid Atlantic Region … and beyond!  So far, we’ve not heard of one being done in MABA Land (as Luke refers to it), so we’re excited to kick off the first one (to our knowledge) in the area, and hope you ALL will help make it a success and a great souvenir – the public will love having a collection of recipes from top BBQ teams and judges across the US.

  As BBQ pitmasters, Restaurant Owners, Chefs, and others in our BBQ family who just love to cook, each of you has that favorite recipe (or several), to help fill this cookbook with ALL kinds of great recipes (not just BBQ) contributed by “YOU” and your fellow BBQ lovers.  We’re inviting ALL of our current and prior BBQ teams and judges, and others who’ve perhaps not been able to come to our event, to submit your favorite recipe(s).  Feel free to submit as many as you wish … in any category you wish.  Think Poppy Seed Nut Rolls, Venison Backstrap with a Cognac Mushroom Sauce, or Baylie’s Special Christmas Fudge … yep, we’ve already received these and others.

  Recipes will be categorized as follows, so pick your favorite(s) and share away:

  ~  Appetizers & Beverages ~  Bakery & Breads

  ~  Sauces, Soups, & Salads ~  Main Dishes

  ~  Sides & Veggies ~  Desserts & Sweet Stuff

  ~  Smokin’ & Grillin’ Goodies ~  Everything Else

  Submitting your recipe(s) is quick & simple by entering them directly into our online account (directions follow) OR  emailing to our special email (for recipes only) at:   wvbbqbashrecipes@gmail.com  Please include your name, team name or Judge information, and location (city, state).

  ~  You can also visit our WV Bash Cookbook account at  www.typensave.com  and Click “Log In”

  Enter User Name:  WV BBQ Bash

  Password: dishes768

  Add your name, BBQ Team name, Judge Info, click “continue”, then “Add Recipes” … and off you go.

  Recipe Writing Tips: (more details are available on the site under “Recipe Tips”)

  • When adding recipes, please preview the “Recipe Tips” for additional information.
  • Enter ONLY 1 ingredient per ingredient line using standard abbreviations
  • List ingredients in order of use in the ingredients list and directions.
  • Include container sizes, e.g., (16-oz.) pkg., (24-oz.) can.
  • Write directions in paragraph form, not in steps.
  • Use names of ingredients in the directions, e.g., “Combine flour and sugar.”  DO NOT use statements like, “Combine first three ingredients.”
  • Include temperatures and cooking, chilling, baking, and/or freezing times.
  • Remember to click “Preview” to view your entry “before” clicking “save” and logging out.

  **  If you have problems adding recipe, please call Morris Press Cookbooks at 800 / 445-6621 (Monday-Friday -8AM – 5 PM Central Time).  Mention you’re working on the WV BBQ Bash cookbook, and they’ll gladly help you!

  We really need your recipes by February 15^th(gives you something to do before BBQ season kicks into high gear), to have books available by early May.  Retail price depends on the total number of recipes & other factors, but we should have a price in the next few weeks.   If you’d like to reserve a copy (or more)  let us know at wvbbqbashrecipes@gmail.com.

  We REALLY hope ALL of you will participate by sharing a recipe or two.  Net proceeds from cookbook sales will  help defray some of our event costs since the event is free to the public. Thanks in advance for helping make the 2019 WV BBQ Bash Cookbooka truly unique souvenir.

  Jody Light
  Almost Heaven BBQ Bash

• MABA Awards Banquet at Charles Town Races and Slots Shaping Up to Be Epic!

  4:40 pm Comments Off on MABA Awards Banquet at Charles Town Races and Slots Shaping Up to Be Epic!

  Over 30 (and counting) Contest Giveaways, Dozens of BBQ Prizes, and Multiple Great Cookers To Be Raffled Off at the MABA Annual Meeting February 23, 2019.

  

  
  That’s right – We’re giving away more contests, prizes, and smokers at the MABA Annual Meeting than ever before! MABA members can attend for FREE and their guests are only $10 per person.

  To win the contest entries and other various prizes, you must attend the MABA Annual Meeting. However, we will be selling online raffle tickets for the separate drawing of not one, but multiple cookers this year and you don’t have to be present to win one of those (cookers to be raffled will be announced soon)!

  Please note that with the new venue we have to have an accurate count for food and beverage! So, please register for the annual meeting here. Guest tickets can also be purchased at that link. Only pre-registered MABA members and their paid guests may attend the annual meeting.

  You’ll also not want to miss the announcement of new board members elected by you, the members of MABA. We’ll also be giving away awards for the Team of Year chase, Tier I and Tier II. You won’t want to miss seeing who finished in the top ten in each category and overall!

  Click herefor all of the information about the Annual Meeting and local hotel information!  Current contests that have donated a free registration for the banquet raffle:

  Boo-B-Que

  New Castle Colonial BBQ

  MD State BBQ Festival

  Beltway BBQ Showdown

  Interstate BBQ Festival

  Smokin on the Dock of the Bay

  Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown

  Kings of Q

  BBQ Capital Cookoff

  Currituck Heritage Festival

  Butts & Beans BBQ Challenge

  Jiggy with the Piggy

  Mountain High BBQ Festival

  Polar Pig BBQ Cook Off

  Smoking in the Foothills BBQ Festival

  Tilley Biker Blues & BBQ Rally

  I Love BBQ & Music Festival

  Ribs and Rhythm & Blues

  Smoke in the Grove

  Smoke in the Park

  York County BBQ Festival

  Gettysburg BBQ Festival

  Twin Valley Fire & Smoke

  Pigs in the Pit

  Que & Cruz

  BBQ Gives Back

  BBQ Jamboree

  Chesapeake Jubilee

  Chillin & Grillin in the Glades

  Covington Cork & Pork

  Almost Heaven BBQ Bash

  Smokin on the Buffalo

  Mohegan Sun

  Lancaster BBQ Supply SCA

• Pigs in the Pit Alton, VA

  November 19, 2018 12:17 am Comments Off on Pigs in the Pit Alton, VA

  

  Pigs in the Pit was a new contest in Alton, VA hosted at the Virginia International Raceway. ?The entire event and area in southern Virginia were greatly affected by the remnants of Hurricane Michael. ?Power issues in surrounding areas, highways that were flooded out, and thousands of down trees blocking many highways made it a challenge just to get to the venue. ?In fact, power was restored to the venue just hours before most teams arrived. ?Parts of the track were flooded so all events including racing and an Oktoberfest beer festival were cancelled. ?The only event that went on as planned the entire weekend was the barbecue contest…we’re a resilient bunch!

  The organizers did a great job for a first year contest and every one of our needs were met the entire weekend. ?Perhaps the other events being cancelled was a blessing in disguise because it gave this first year contest a chance to get a KCBS event under their belt before adding many other events on top of it.

  When the dust settled and the awards were handed out, it was Wolf’s Revenge taking grand champion. ?Congratulations to 3n1 Q on reserve!

  See full KCBS results here.

  

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