5 stars

Too Sauced To… 01/16/2011

Memphis in May BBQ Contest

Provided by Citysearch

First let me start off by saying that all of Memphis in May, from the first band at music fest to the last note of the Sunset Symphony is absolutely amazing!!! While I love both the Beale Street Music Festival and the Sunset Symphony, my favorite part of Memphis in May is the World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. Known as the MIM WCBCC or BBQ Fest to the locals, this festival, with over 82 TONS of pork cooked in 3 days, is certified by Guinness as the ""Largest Pork BBQ in the World"". \r \r Now I have cooked in this contest for over ten years, so this is a kind of insiders view of BBQ Fest. While it is fun to stroll up and down and look at the rows of team booths, the real fun happens inside them. For people not in the know; You are only able to get into a booth if you are a member of that team or know someone who is a member...or you get really lucky and schmooze your way in. You see, all the booths are private team parties, and most of those teams pay for this contest out of their own pocket. In simple terms, anyone not on a team, or a guest of a team will not get to eat and drink for free. There are vendors selling BBQ and Fair food to people not affiliated with a team.\r \r SO...the best way to experience this wonderful contest is on a team right? That’s why you join a team...yes even if you are from out of town, you can join a team. I know many teams that accept members through their Facebook and team websites. \r \r If you don't want to join a team then get on Facebook, and make friends with some of the teams...post on their wall, have conversations with them, ask them questions, and low and behold many of them will invite you into the booth...In fact if you need somewhere to start, say hi to my team - Too Sauced To Pork. We are all very nice people and are friends with a lot of teams.\r \r If you don't want to make any effort and just want to go to the festival and walk around, then this is the option for you - \r \r The Peoples Choice Contest - From 2-6pm on Thursday and Friday of the contest. $4 gets you 5 samples of BBQ which you vote on, the winner is determined by the masses.\r \r Cooker Caravan - This program is free and lets you tour team booths*Thursday and Friday\r 11:30 am - 3:30 pm\r (last tour leaves at 3:30 pm)\r *Saturday\r 10:30 am - 2:30 pm\r (last tour leaves at 2:30)Teams give you guided tours of their booths, and here's a little secret...a few of us will invite you back for the party :-)\r \r Neil Gallagher\r Pitmaster - Too Sauced To Pork BBQ\r Memphis TN - Buffalo NY

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