The Great American BBQ Festival
John Ryan, Aussie BBQ aficionado (who is completing his training as an official judge in this highly competitive field) has…
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John Ryan, Aussie BBQ aficionado (who is completing his training as an official judge in this highly competitive field) has been doing us proud on the competitive BBQ circuit in the US.
John has just returned to his adopted home of Kansas City, from the 5th Annual Great American BBQ Festival in Bonner Springs (about 15 miles from KC). This 3-day event had over 170 teams participating in the open contest, 70 teams for the invitational contest and 60 teams for the brisket competition. All teams were cooking over live coals and the event showcased the best of American ‘Q’ing’.
The event is one for the entire community – even the restaurants are encouraged to enter a team – with fireworks, carnival rides, free BBQ tasting, a BBQ expo, a rib eating contest, culinary demos and of course the BBQ competitions!
John had a great time at the event, stating, “I’m almost smoked out, and as you know me and BBQ smoke, that’s saying something!”
A Kansas City.com article best described the atmosphere of the event:
“As invitational cookers fastidiously put the finishing touches on their final entries, event organizer Paul Satterfield’s golf cart zoomed about the event grounds, careening around sunburned children, ice-cream stands and entertainers clad in Renaissance clothing.”
These live coal BBQ competitions are serious business with the 70 teams competing in the invitational contest vying for a $US 73,000 prize!