Tag Archive: KCBS

  1. FAQue – Let’s Meet Don Schorder, Owner/Pitmaster of All Fired Up BBQ

    Comments Off on FAQue – Let’s Meet Don Schorder, Owner/Pitmaster of All Fired Up BBQ

    By Amy Overbey, MABA Board Member and Co-Pitmaster of Team Meat Coma

    In this first edition of FAQue, we get to know Don Schorder, Owner/Pitmaster of All Fired Up BBQ!

    Amy Overbey:
    Who is on the team? and Where are you from?

    Don Schorder, All Fired Up BBQ:
    Don Schorder, Alabama, Trish Schorder (wife), New York, Pete Enzor, Ohio, Ray Lippy, Maryland, and Rob Watkins, Washington

    AO:
    How long have you been competing?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    We have been competing for the last 3 ½ years. I had decided that I wanted to get in to the BBQ competition world and give it a try, so I sold my 1968 Chevy Nova and used the money to buy my grill and some of the other much needed equipment to start competing. The first 2 years we did backyard competitions and moved up to the KCBS pro level competitions last year.

    AO:
    How did you come up with your team name/logo?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    So, we always referred to starting the grill as “getting it fired up,” and it stuck and when we were thinking of names it came to me “All Fired Up BBQ” it’s what we do and we love getting all fired up for BBQ. The logo was a struggle, we went back and forth with it. We tried a couple of logos with pigs cooking on a fire, we were all over the place on deciding. Then my wife came up with the idea to use the grill as our logo, it was unique and would clearly demonstrate the idea of being all fired up, with the flames coming out the mouth, so we contacted an artist and told him what we were looking for based off of my wife’s idea and the result is what we see today.

    AO:
    What smoker(s) do you cook on?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    We use an HBT reverse flow trailer smoker, it was custom built from Alabama.

    AO:
    If you could add a 5th category, and it can be anything, what would it be and why?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    If I could add a fifth category it would be a dessert. In my off time, I dabble in making cheesecakes.  Last year I figured out a way to make an authentic New York style cheesecake on my grill.  So I made a candy bacon and maple cheesecake and turned it in at a comp that had a Chefs Choice category and we won, it was amazing they gave us a perfect score of 180.

    AO:
    Where is your favorite place to cook (can be a favorite comp, but doesn’t have to be, can be anywhere)?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    We don’t really have a favorite place per say, but we do love doing the competitions that are in our backyard.  Competitions like Naptown, and the Beltway showdown are close and we can have family and friends there, it always makes it more fun and enjoyable.

    AO:
    What is your favorite beverage at a competition?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    We love to have some Crown Apple when we cook. We drink it straight or mix it with some apple juice, it makes it taste like sour apple Jolly Ranchers.

    AO:
    Any competition superstitions or something you cannot do without at a competition?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    So we do have one superstition. We don’t like to change our shirts after a cook.  We had a couple of comps in the beginning that we didn’t have the time to change so we have pictures of us winning awards with shirts all BBQ’ed up from cooking all morning. Ever since then we have been hesitant to change shirts after turn in.

    AO:
    What is your go to food after a competition?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    BBQ, we love to cook us some bbq at a comp, anything that isn’t one of the four meats.  Big Bronco burgers, Cowboy burgers, jalapeno poppers, Scotch balls or smoked buffalo chicken dip. We make the fun stuff to BBQ, we are there to cook so we’re going to cook and have a good time doing it. But after the comp, we try to have some pasta or a salad, just something different or maybe a little healthy. Except Pete he eats bbq all the time, he doesn’t like vegetables. I think he is allergic to them, unless they’re wrapped in meat.

    AO:
    If you weren’t competing all weekend, what would you be doing instead?

    DS, AFUBBQ:
    Competitions and prepping for competitions can take up some time. When we are not competing, we are vending bbq or doing catering jobs to raise money for the competitions.  When there is no cooking going on we try to relax and spend time with kids. We love to go camping or just traveling to places we have never been.

     

  2. PITS – Featuring Guzzy Q!

    Comments Off on PITS – Featuring Guzzy Q!

    In this first edition of PITS, Amy Overbey and her cohorts from Team Meat Coma introduce our audience to Seth Guzman of Guzzy Q BBQ and his competition set up!

     

  3. BBQ Jamboree – Virginia Two-Step, Fredericksburg, VA – May 12-14

    Comments Off on BBQ Jamboree – Virginia Two-Step, Fredericksburg, VA – May 12-14

    by Brian Walrath, MABA Board Member and Pitmaster for Brown Liquor BBQ

    James and Jeremy always put on a great contest and their BBQ Jamboree event is one of the marquee events on the east coast.  This year they decided to remove the festival parts of the weekend and just concentrate on putting on a great barbecue event.  AND, this year they decided to take the leap and do a double contest back-to-back.  Power, water, and all of the things pitmasters rely on are always top notch right down to the free ice for teams.  Fifty-four teams competed on day one and 43 teams fired it up for day two.  Two additional awards would be given out on this special weekend in the Mid-Atlantic.  First, the two-day winner would be awarded for the most overall points over the two-day cook.  This prize would bring additional money and a WWE-style kick-ass belt!  Also up for the grabs for all Virginia teams on day one was the MABA Virginia State Cup, additional money, and cool knife set by Gunter Wilhelm.

    James and Jeremy also invited everyone to a pot luck dinner on Saturday night and supplied the beer!  Teams brought amazing dishes and it was so nice to sit and relax with fellow teams, judges, reps, and organizers under one roof and enjoy some live music as well!

     

    Sharon Gibbs of Checkered Flag 500 celebrates her birthday with a tasty brew! (Sharon, you can blame Luke for this pic!)

    The results for Day 1:
    GC – Who Cares BBQ
    RGC – Uncle Toad’s Competition BBQ

    Chicken: Pork Barrel BBQ
    Ribs: Mudville BBQ
    Pork: Old Virginia Smoke
    Brisket: Uncle Toad’s Competition BBQ

    Full results from Day 1 here.

    The results for Day 2:
    GC – Old Virginia Smoke
    RGC – Rockin Robyn’s BBQ

    Chicken: Old Virginia Smoke
    Ribs: Lil Will’s Southern Que
    Pork: Rockin Robyn’s BBQ
    Brisket: Checkered Flag 500 BBQ

    Full results from Day 2 here.

    Overall Champion:
    Old Virginia Smoke

  4. Kings of Q BBQ cook off and Festival, Ayden, NC – May 19-20

    Comments Off on Kings of Q BBQ cook off and Festival, Ayden, NC – May 19-20

    by Brian Walrath, MABA Board Member and Pitmaster for Brown Liquor BBQ

    Ayden is home to barbecue in the barbecue proud state of North Carolina.  It’s also home to Bum’s Restaurant and Skylight Inn…two eastern North Carolina landmarks for barbecue.  Now, in only its second year, the Kings of Q BBQ cook off and Festival in Ayden, NC has become truly a hidden gem of KCBS contests in the Mid-Atlantic.  This small town of just under 5,000 folks, rolls out the red carpet for us barbecue competitors.  Everything we need is taken care of.  And if it’s not, you won’t go an hour without someone from the town checking in on you to make sure they get it right!  Even the mayor stops by multiple times during the event to check in on you and see that you have all you need!  And if you need a ride on a golf cart…just see our old buddy the fire marshall and his boys and they’ll hook you up!  Power, water, ash barrels and grease barrels are literally steps from our site!  And, it’s always nice to get a little further away than normal and experience southern hospitality and catch up with some teams we don’t see all the time in our usual stomping grounds.

    A couple big questions about who would take the top prize were soon to be answered.  Would Redneck Scientific defend their title among the craziness this year of opening a restaurant and vending the event?  Would Old Virginia Smoke pull of wins in back-to-back weeks?  Would Muttley Crew continue it’s hot start to the season?

    The results were interesting…here they are:

    Congratulations to Jerry Stephenson and Roxanne Manley for repeating as Ayden Grand Champions!

    GC: Redneck Scientific
    RGC: Macadoo Heights BBQ

    Chicken: Hickory Barbecue Company
    Ribs: Bobo’s Que
    Pork: Bobo’s Que
    Brisket: Macadoo Heights BBQ

    Full results here.

  5. Interview With the Champs – Luke Darnell, Old Virginia Smoke

    Comments Off on Interview With the Champs – Luke Darnell, Old Virginia Smoke

    by Brian Walrath, MABA Board Member and Pitmaster for Brown Liquor BBQ

    You may not believe this coming from me, but I met Luke Darnell over a few drinks.  Since that time, we’ve grown a great friendship.  He’s been there for me in some dark days and been there to celebrate some of my greatest accomplishments.  That’s just Luke…he’s always there for me, for you, for everyone.  He’s the mayor of Barbecuetown as I say.  He knows everyone.  He’s an ambassador for our sport…and has a KCBS award that says so.  He won’t like this, but I’ll say it here anyway…I once asked Luke what his goal in barbecue was.  He looked me dead in the eye and without hesitation said, “I want to be the best in the world.”.  He’s spent countless hours practicing and even more hours traveling to cook.  Combine that with a thirst of learning everything out there and taking multiple classes, he’s put himself and the Old Virginia Smoke team in position to be among the best in the world…and I for one won’t count him out to one day be the very best.

    Now, I like to feature first-time winners and lesser know teams with recent wins here with IWTC, but after coming to Fredericksburg, VA for the first annual two-step double contest and winning the whole shootin’ match, I thought it might be time to feature the big bearded softy with the best branded gear in barbecue!  So, without further ado, I give you Luke Darnell…

    Question:
    Boom!  Let’s get to this early…as a fellow Northern Virginian, how was it to win on day two in what is one of our closest contests and home state?

    Luke Darnell, Old Virginia Smoke:
    I can’t tell you how much it means to us. We’ve never won in Virginia.   Plus, the BBQ Jamboree was our very first contest more than five years ago.   Winning it is something the three of us have thought about for a long time.

    Q:
    Tell me what you were thinking after day one.  Did you feel good about being within striking distance for the two-day overall after a great sixth place finish or did you think otherwise?

    LD, OVS:

    We thought we had a chance, but knew we had to fix ribs.  They always say not to make any dramatic changes to your program, but we knew that we had to make one.  But we were also very aware That Who Cares BBQ and Uncle Toad’s were gonna have strong cooks as well.

    Q:
    You had Leigh Anne (teammate who recently moved to Arizona) back with you for the first time this year…what was it like to have the band back together?

    The Lil’ General, Kim Darnell, Luke Darnell, and Leigh Anne Terry…Old Virginia Smoke!

    LD, OVS:
    We were like peas and carrots again.  Like we were never apart.  Just smiles all around.

    Q:
    Describe the Lil’ General (Luke’s wife and teammate Kim) in four words.

    LD, OVS:
    Fierce.  Competitive.  Jovial. Vibrant.

    Q:
    This weekend you brought out a stellar John Busch impersonation.  What was your motivation and inspiration for the character?  Can we expect to see that or any other characters later this year?

    LD, OVS:
    I had been thinking about doing it for a while.   I even once had one of his trademark peach polos and hats from his van in my hands.  Johns one of my favorite people.   I jut thought it would be fun.  I don’t think there are any other characters planned, but you never know when one might pop up.

    Ok, here’s the short answer round, rapid fire:

    Favorite 80s band?  –  Prince
    Turn in music genre? – Gangster rap
    Bacon is ________? From the gods
    Most people don’t know I’m _________? I have a degree in creative writing
    Favorite brown liquor? – willet pot still reserve
    Favorite competition? – BBQ Jamboree
    Cats for dogs?-  so tough.  Probably dogs.
    Favorite place to vacation? – I love Key West

    Q:
    You’ve travelled all over the east coast, and as far as Arkansas and Kansas…what’s your favorite area to compete and why (reason does not have to be related to competitions)?

    LD, OVS:
    That’s a super tough question.   Each area has its high points and different reasons to go.  Kim and I love traveling to new states and cooking.  This year we went to Tennessee, and have future trips planned for Vermont and Illinois.  So I’d kinda have to say—our favorite area is wherever we’re cooking!

    Q:
    I ask this to all the teams that do IWTC, so you’re getting it too…what piece of advice would you give to teams to up their game or push them over the edge and win that first GC?

    LD, OVS:
    Practice is key.  You have to be able to maintain consistency in your product, and in yourself.  Keep a clear head and stay on your tasks.

    Q:
    What do you like to do outside of BBQ?

    LD, OVS:

    Is there anything else???  I do like wine tasting, bourbon tasting and beer tasting.  I also love golf and reading.

    Q:
    As many know, you’re the MABA president.  What do you want to leave as your mark on the association and/or what do you want to accomplish before your time as president concludes?

    LD, OVS:
    Hopefully we will be able to build a strong base for the Association to be able to grow and thrive in the future.Q:
    Now that you’ve won a grand in Virginia and been featured in IWTC, what are the rest of your goals for 2017?LD, OVS:
    To keep on trucking, and have fun at as many contests as we can.  Love our BBQ people.Q:
    Any parting shots?LD, OVS:
    Everyone be safe out there and get ready for an awesome summer.

  6. Naptown barBAYq Cooking Contest Crownsville, MD – May 5-6

    Comments Off on Naptown barBAYq Cooking Contest Crownsville, MD – May 5-6

    By Bill Wintermyer, Pitmaster Smokin Foolz BBQ

    Clouds, rain, bbq, and a CBJ class were in effect this weekend.  Kudos to the event organizers for implementing a plan “B” just in case it rained as much as forecasted.  Fortunately, the weather folks missed this time.  Before cooks had a chance to fire up their smokers there were 50 people taking the KCBS judging class.  Jen and I, with several other teams mixed in with people completed the 4 hour course and are awaiting our CBJ credentials.

    Long green mile for turn-ins, congratulations to everyone making the walk!
    Old Town Smokers happy with their spoils and some awesome Q being served to festival goers.

    So let’s dive into it, shall we! Chicken, that protein everyone hates to trim and prep – saw someone mention on Facebook it’s almost as bad as having a root canal done.  Well apparently 3Eyz BBQ didn’t get the memo and took 1st place with a 177.7372.  Ribs category, Big Ugly BBQ gave the judges product, just how a real good rib should taste and tender by taking 1st place with a 177.1428.  Pork category, Porks & Rec lead the field by taking 1st place with a 176.5716.  Last but not least, Brisket category, won by one of the hottest teams in the Mid-Atlantic right now Rockin Robyns BBQ with a 178.8800.  If I remember correctly in a bbq class I once took, it was mentioned that brisket wins championships.  Congratulations to all 1st place winners as well as everyone else who got a call or walk.

    Congrats to the winners:

    Chicken: 3 Eyz BBQ
    Ribs: Big Ugly’s BBQ
    Pork: Porks & Rec
    Brisket: Rockin Robyns BBQ

    Reserve Grand Champion: Drilling & Grilling
    Grand Champion: Rockin Robyns BBQ

    Full KCBS results here

     

     

     

  7. Jiggy With the Piggy Kannapolis, NC – May 5-6

    Comments Off on Jiggy With the Piggy Kannapolis, NC – May 5-6
    By LaRee Fink, Pitmaster – House of Smoke BBQ
    Entry Fee: $300.00
    Payout: $22,750
    Cook all four categories, plus People’s Choice, wings, and pork
    Jiggy with the Piggy is a KCBS sanctioned event and is a HUGE festival type of event.  Seventy-five teams cooked this event and the weather was a mix, from beautiful to chilly, and back to beautiful again.  The organizers, staff, and volunteers were extremely helpful and made everyone feel welcome.
    Eddie Smith and company did an awesome job putting this event together.  Turn-ins were about a five minute walk from the furthest most site.
    Sites were a big 25 X 50 and if you needed more, like Eddie says, “you need to downsize!”  Breakfast was provided and there was a choice of a boxed meal.  Lots of rides and freebies to keep the kids entertained and tons of vendors linked the festival grounds.  It was an amazing contest and I  definitely  recommend it to anyone that can come, put it on your calendars for next year folks, you DO NOT want to miss this one.
    Congratulations to the winners:
    Chicken: Southern Q Competition Cook Team
    Ribs: Baloney Joe’s BBQ
    Pork: Redneck Scientific
    Brisket: Macadoo Heights BBQ
    Reserve Grand Champion: Muttely Crew BBQ
    Grand Champion: Wolf’s Revenge BBQ
    Full KCBS results here
  8. Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC – April 28-29

    Comments Off on Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC – April 28-29
    By LaRee Fink, Pitmaster – House of Smoke BBQ
    Entry Fee: $300.00
    Payout: $15,900
    Cook all four categories, plus People’s Choice, wings, and pork

    The Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cookoff is a sanctioned KCBS event and is a nice festival-type of event.  Thirty-eight teams cooked and the weather was beautiful!  The organizers, staff and volunteers were extremely helpful and made everyone feel welcome.  Turn-ins were a short three to four minute walk from the furthest most site and flowed very smoothly the way it was set-up.  Friday night dinner and Saturday breakfast were provided and were buffet meals that included wine and or beer.  Also, if you didn’t want to cook your own meals, Southern Lunch was a short 2 1/2 block walk away for a sit down meal as well as plenty of food vendors on site for a grab and go.  The festival provided lots of rides and freebies to keep the kids entertained.  It was a good contest and definitely worth doing, I would recommend if you can put this on your calendar for next year.

    Congratulations to the winners:
    Chicken: Mcadoo Heights BBQ
    Ribs: North Meets Sounds BBQ
    Pork: Carolina Smokin John’s BBQ
    Brisket: Muttely Crew BBQ
    Reserve Grand Champion: Smoking Butt Heads
    Grand Champion: Mcadoo Heights BBQ
    Full KCBS results here
  9. Interstate BBQ Festival Hagerstown, MD

    Comments Off on Interstate BBQ Festival Hagerstown, MD

    by Mark Gibbs, Pitmaster of The Checkered Flag 500 BBQ

    The second annual Interstate BBQ Festival is in the books for 2017.  This competition has quickly become one of the “must-do” contests on the Mid-Atlantic schedule.  In two short years, Rob Immer and his team have put together a well-organized, top flight contest that hosted 57 teams and Chamber of Commerce weather all weekend!

    The contest hosted Dessert, Burger, Kid’s Que and People’s Choice categories as well this year.  Dessert and Kid’s Que was brought home by We Rib U Long Time.  Top scoring Burgers by Brother-Uncle BBQ and People’s Choice was brought home by the Sauce This!  BBQ team.  I am sure they put some addictive chemical in their people’s choice because they have people drooling every week!

    Perhaps the most impressive presentation of the weekend was the MABA good luck shot hosted by Life is Good But BBQ is Better.  Or more accurately, the good luck shot, bloody Mary bar, and food spread. Many folks pitched in and Don and Sandy Wallace played host to what will be hard to beat for future good luck shot hosts…but they’re sure encouraged to try!  Check out videos here of the spread and actual toast given by LIGBBIB pitmaster Don Wallace!

    This contest included a lot of vendors, bands and activities for everyone.  Good Smoke BBQ from New York brought home KCBS Grand Championship.  MABA’s own Drilling and Grilling from Glen Rock, PA brought home the Reserve Grand Championship.  They are on a nice little roll here in the beginning of the season.  Keep it up guys!

    The Chicken category was won by 2 Rhodies BBQ and 2nd was Rhode Hog BBQ (I see a pattern here).  Rib honors were brought home by Piggin’ Whiskey BBQ.  These guys are starting to hit their stride in competition BBQ.  Remember that team name folks!   Drilling and Grilling brought home 1st Place honors in Pork and Bill Gillespie’s Smokin Hoggz MA brought home the big Brisket plank!  Great job to all of the teams that were called and we hope to be back for year three of this great event!

    Individual meat winners:

    Chicken – 2 Rhodies BBQ
    Ribs – Piggin’ Whiskey
    Pork –Drilling & Grilling
    Brisket – Smokin Hoggz BBQ – MA

    Congrats to Good Smoke BBQ for winning grand champion!

    Grand Champion – Good Smoke BBQ
    Reserve – Drilling & Grilling

    Full results can be found here.

  10. BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA

    Comments Off on BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA

    Submitted by…The Masked BBQ Writer

     

     

    The first BBQ Gives Back challenge was held in Urbanna, Virginia.  Bill and Mary Jones and their team put together a really nice first year event at the Bethpage Camping Resort.  Each team had a full site with hookups abound.  The weekend weather was exceptional for March, and 64 teams were signed up for what is probably the earliest MABA contest ever held.   The contest made a nice donation to Operation BBQ Relief and packed up food and canned goods for a local food bank as well.  Nice job BBQ Gives Back!

    BBQ Gives Back was unique in that it was a standard KCBS contest with two other contests within the main contest.  Confused?  Yeah, so were some competitors, but Bill and the team were able to sort out everything and keep the contest flowing nicely.  The two “sub” contests were the MABA State Cup Champions Cookoff (Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic BBQ Association) and the Virginia Grands Championship.  The MABA State Cup winners competed against each other using their position in the overall standings and Forest Hill, Maryland’s Rockin’ Robyn’s BBQ came out on top of a tough group of State Cup winners!  In the Virginia Grands contest, Wolf’s Revenge BBQ took home top honors.

    On the KCBS side of the field Old Virginia Smoke won the Chicken category.  Richmond’s own Wolf’s Revenge with Chiles Cridlin took home the big trophy in Ribs.  K&D Smokers with Kevin and Debbie Gary out of Winston Salem, NC took home top honors in Pork while Chris and Joan Clegg of Rhode Hog BBQ from where else but Rhode Island took 1st in Brisket.  Nice job to all that were called in each category.

    The Grand Champion on the KCBS side was Wolf’s Revenge BBQ and Reserve Grand went to Brian and Shannon Turner of Muttley Crew BBQ.  Great job in a really stacked field of competitors itching to get their BBQ season started!

    Individual meat winners:

    Chicken – Old Virginia Smoke
    Ribs – Wolf’s Revenge
    Pork – K & D Smokers
    Brisket – Rhode Hog BBQ

    Grand Champion – Wolf’s Revenge
    Reserve – Muttley Crew BBQ

    Full results can be found here.