If nothing else goes right this trip it will still be a success. The reason for that is because Patrice got compliments today about her shirt, hat and pants (see below).
After checking in at the judges tent we received our Friday assignments: 1:00 pm Tomato Sauce Samples; 1:45 pm Seafood Samples. Huh? Where’s the pork?
While waiting for our tastebuds to be called to duty we ran into our friend, Lance, from the Tastin’ Round Town tour. Last year Lance gave us our crash course into Memphis BBQ. He also told us how to become judges and thus is responsible for us being here this weekend. If you are in Memphis I would strongly recommend you take a tour with Lance. A word of warning, do not eat before the tour and do not plan to eat after the tour. Check out his website at http://www.tastinroundtown.com.
Our judging time finally came. Patrice and I first judged BBQ sauces which was a good introduction to the process. The seafood judging that followed was amazing. We were at different judging tables and thus judged different items. Patrice had 6 dishes all of which she said were amazing. I only had 4 items to evaluate and they were beyond description.
After our judging duties were completed we decided to visit the various booths. The cookers were incredibly gracious inviting us into their cook areas and sharing their methods. We got to see a variety of “Whole Hogs”. If you have a weak stomach area you might not like to look at the pictures below.
Tomorrow we get to judge pork. I don’t think my Grandpa Sam would have been very proud. Good thing he is dead because if he heard his grandson was judging a pork cooking contest it would have killed him.
Until tomorrow.
Robert Reiss Travel Blog and Other Ramblings 