Riverside Blues and Barbecue Festival - Part II

There is a sub-culture here that is so rich I am surprised that Tom Wolfe has not written a book about it, at least I don’t think he has. Clearly, there are caravans of competitors driving back and forth, up and down the Interstates weekly, heading for one of the many competitions of which this is only one example.

Each team hopes through competing in these certified local fests to qualify for one of the national contests where the big prize money and honors can be earned. Of the 20 teams that competed this past weekend, all but two were from our six state region, and of those two, one was from NY and one from FL.

A single organization, The Kansas City Barbecue Society serves as an international sanctioning authority for the competitions, and has a rigorous set of specifications for how contests are to be organized and judged. Here at the Riverside Blues and Barbecue Fest in Greenfield, a second organization, The New England Barbecue Society also sat in judgement and while categories varied a bit, clearly regional tastes differ as quite different results were posted.

While an impressive number of brewmasters, local, regional and national were on hand with examples of their artistry for visitants to sample, they were subject only to popular taste at this event.

Attendees, as a result of state food service regulations, could not purchase from the competitors, but a peoples choice competition in which the festival provided all the meats, chicken wings and pork, which then cooked by the competitors, were available for sampling and voting.

I certainly participated with enthusiasm in that activity and while my taste clearly differs from my fellow peers, I was flattered to find my judgment more in line with the experts. One must find accomplishment wherever it resides.

I also find myself fascinated with the colorful logos that participants devise to identify their booths, broilers and vehicles. See the gallery of pics alongside this article.

Here is the extensive list of those judged worthy this weekend and my condolences to those not mentioned. Maybe next year, or maybe even somewhere, next weekend.

People’s Choice Contests

Saturday- Chicken Wings 

1st Place- Que and a Half Men (Pan #6) - $50 and Trophy
2nd Place- Holihan’s Beer Me BBQ (Pan #4)
3rd Place- Smokin’ Hoggz (Pan #12)
4th Place- Feeding Friendz (Pan #2)
5th Place- Smokin’ Bulldogs (Pan #11)

Sunday- Pulled Pork

1st Place- Holihan’s Beer Me BBQ (Pan #5) - $50 and Trophy
2nd Place- Can “U” Smell My Pits (Pan #2)
3rd Place- Yabba Dabba Que (Pan #8)
4th Place- Florida Skin & Bones (Pan #12)
5th Place- Purple Pork Masters (Pan #7)

 NEBS (New England Barbecue Society) Grilling Contest

Grand Champion- $300 and Free Entry to 2013 NEBS Competition - Pork Butt & Chicken Legs
Reserve Grand Champion- $100 and Trophy - Feeding Friendz

Prizes for the following
1^st Place:       $50 and Trophy
2^nd Place:      $40 and Trophy
3^rd Place:       $30 and Trophy
4^th Place:       $20 and Plaque
5^th Place:       $10 and Plaque

Chicken Wings
1st Place - Feeding Friendz
2nd Place - Pork Butt & Chicken Legs
3rd Place - Holihan’s Beer Me BBQ
4th Place - Smokin’ Bulldogs
5th Place - Sweet Breathe BBQ

Sausage
1st Place - Sweet Breathe BBQ
2nd Place - Insane Swine BBQ
3rd Place - Pork Butt & Chicken Legs
4th Place - Smokin’ Bulldogs
5th Place - Feeding Friendz

Pizza
1st Place - Sweet Breathe BBQ
2nd Place - Pork Butt & Chicken Legs
3rd Place - Feeding Friendz
4th Place - Holihan’s Beer Me BBQ
5th Place - Smokin’ Bulldogs

Dessert
1st Place - Insane Swine BBQ
2nd Place - Feeding Friendz
3rd Place - Pork Butt & Chicken Legs
4th Place - No Swiners
5th Place - Smokin’ Bulldogs

KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) BBQ Contest

Grand Champion-$1,000, Trophy & Free Entry 2013 KCBS competition -
Smokin’ Hoggz
Reserve Grand Champion- $500 and Trophy - Purple Pork Masters

Prizes for the following
1^st Place:       $300 and Trophy
2^nd Place:      $200 and Trophy
3^rd Place:       $100 and Trophy
4^th Place:       $75 and Plaque
5^th Place:       $50 and Plaque

Chicken
1st Place - Feeding Friendz
2nd Place - Smokin’ Hoggz
3rd Place - Smokin’ Bulldogs
4th Place – Holihan’s Beer Me BBQ
5th Place - Yabba Dabba Que!

Ribs
1st Place - TWC Cooking
2nd Place - Pork Butt & Chicken Legs
3rd Place - Purple Pork Masters
4th Place - Holihan’s Beer Me BBQ
5th Place - Insane Swine BBQ

Pork
1st Place - Lakeside Smokers
2nd Place - Sweet Breathe BBQ
3rd Place - Meat@Slim’s
4th Place - Can “U” Smell My Pits
5th Place - Insane Swine BBQ

Brisket
1st Place - Smokin’ Hoggz
2nd Place - Que and A Half Men
3rd Place - Can “U” Smell My Pits
4th Place - Purple Pork Masters
5th Place - Florida Skin & Bones

We would be remiss were we to ignore the noble efforts of those visitants who subjected themselves to public inspection and intestinal challenge.

Pie Eating Contests

Saturday
Youth- Cassidy Morgan of Lunenburg, MA
Adult- Rick Bonfiglio of Greenfield, MA

Sunday
Youth- Alex Sylvester of Leeds, MA
Adult- Lauren DeHoyos of Greenfield, MA

Riverside Blues & BBQ - Part I, The Music