T stand for Tuesday, but I’m talking BBQ!

That’s right, BBQ!! We had  three day treck to Vista, California this weekend,  pretty little town about 15 miles off the coast.  My DH and both sons decided they wanted to try a Smoke’n  BBQ competition, Kansas City style.  It was set up like a street fair and there were about 45 BBQ contestants and lots of street venders selling stuff.  The venue was chicken (thighs only) pork ribs, pork butt (or pulled pork) and beef brisket.
What a whirl wind these competitions are, pulling in, setting up (trailer, smokers, tables, cleaning stations, prep stations and cooking utensils)   We couldn’t pull in until 1:30 PM on Friday and had to be cleaned up and off the street by 9PM Saturday night! There was a meeting of all the contestants to go over the rules (mostly of the city of Vista) at 7PM. Then it was back to the cook site, get smokers ready, start prepping the meat ( doing some trimming and getting the rubs on) , getting the fires started and going over the cook time table.  You have to put the meat on according to how long they each take, and have them ready to turn in for judging at designated times, and only a 10 minute window for each category.
So enough chatter here are a few of the 181 photos that were taken.

Youngest son Tony, also our Pit Master.  The apron has our team name on it.

Tony and one of his friends and his son

Prepping the brisket

9 PM Friday night lighting the fires



5 AM Saturday, Brian our oldest son, starting to prep the ribs

This would be the coffee mug for this week...LOL

Chicken ready to turn in....mmmm this was so good!

Ribs getting one last wash of glaze, back on the fire for a few minutes.

So how did we do?  Well we didn't place in the top 10, but were weren't in last either LOL!  We fell in the lower half, but we felt THAT wasn't bad since none of us have never done this before, and we beat out some that have been doing this for awhile!  Now all the talk is about what we will do differently "next time"  Oh ya, there will be a next time!
So Thank you to Elizabeth and Bluebeard for allowing me to brag on this lovely T stands for Tuesday.  I have my cuppa in hand and I am ready to see what everybody else is doing.....

Line of people waiting for some of our samples.  GD, Hannah taking tickets