First BBQ Contest of the Season

Jon and I made it out to Cedar Creek's Fourth Annual Smoke-Out last night.

Despite the cold and light rain, there was a party going on in Cedar Creek's park, with a live band, 25 competition barbeque teams, and plenty of mud! The number of teams in attendance bodes well for this BBQ season, and I went around and handed out copies of the Drippings newspaper. GOBS Past President Sonny Ashford had obviously been there earlier in the day, as several people had received copies already.

I enjoyed seeing some familiar faces -- Leonard and Julie Hawkins of Baby Back BBQ, the Smokin' South Omaha Boys (Dave Earnest), Rogue Q Smokers of the Serengeti (John Schneider), and The Smokin' Heads (Ryan Headley) -- as well as meeting some teams I hadn't heard of yet ... Rollin' in the Rub (Greg Ryan), Blue Yummy Smokers (Rick Dolphens -- who tells me the name references a liking of Bud Light), Curbie's Brew & BBQ (Rick Curbie, a Shriner clown), and The Mandelbaugh's (Mike Spence, formerly of the Smokin' Elvises. The team name references the Seinfeld character Izzy Mandelbaum, although online it's spelled differently.)

We'll post the results on the GOBS Blog as soon as we receive them from the Cedar Creek folks. I also worked on recruiting a couple of more teams to participate in the O! BBQ! contest next Saturday at Canfield's Plaza at 84th and Center in Omaha. Remember -- the deadline is Tuesday, May 6 to register!

I'll post pictures from last night as soon as I find out if any of them came out!

GOBS in the News!

The O! BBQ event made the Omaha World-Herald's Dining Notes column today. Although the World-Herald's style guide insists on spelling barbeque as "barbecue," we are delighted by the coverage!

They wrote:
Speaking of barbecue
If backyard barbecue is more your speed, Canfield Plaza and the Greater Omaha Barbeque Society will host a "BBQ How To" class from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10.

Local barbecue society members will lead seminars throughout the day on preparing your grill and how to cook foods on grills and in smokers.

The free event takes place in the west parking lot of Canfield Plaza, at 84th Street and West Center Road. It will include a minicompetition for up to 10 grillers. If you want to compete, register at www.canfields.com by Tuesday.

There was also a mention of the upcoming KCBS-sponsored Judges Training program on May 31 in Omaha. Here's the information from the Dining notes article:
The Kansas City Barbecue Society [sic] is offering a barbecue [sic] judging class in Omaha from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 31, in conjunction with River City Roundup.

All participants will become certified according to the society's rules, which means they get first crack at judging most society-sanctioned events.

Tom and Charlynn Manhart host the class, along with certified judge Merl Whitebook.

The $70 cost includes a one-year barbecue [sic] society membership. For more information or to register, contact Charlynn at (402) 709-0153 or charlynn.manhart@imswired.com.

O! BBQ: Be a Better BBQer!

Have you thought about competing in a BBQ contest but just don't feel you're ready yet?

Come on out to Canfield's Plaza at 84th and West Center Road on Saturday, May 10 for a special event: O! BBQ: How to Be a Better BBQer! The event is sponsored by the Greater Omaha Barbeque Society and Canfield Plaza.

Compete in our FREE BBQ How-To Mini Competition (limited to the first 10 teams) and win Canfield's gift certificates. Register to enter by Tuesday, May 6 by calling Bridget Brooks at 402-393-4600 or visit Canfield's website to download an entry form (click on the highlighted yellow text on the left hand side of the web page).

Contestants will provide their own smoking equipment, fuel, meat, and ingredients. Electricity is supplied, if required. Celebrity judges will evaluate your ribs, chicken, and brisket.