The great Texas Smoker Cook-off (Feb.28)
Just a few miles east of here, we found the annual smoker cook-off complete with a few children's rides and steering roping contest. Here you see some of the steers used.
Spanish-speaking cowhands use battery-powered electric prods to move the steers into the chute.
Smokers come in all size & shapes. This is a popular 'hobby' with folks and they take their work seriously. One competition can cost $100 to enter with their work beginning early Sat. morning around 6:30. Chicken, brisket & ribs are smoked. Then there is cowboy bread (flat & very good) along with the usual beans, all cooked on outdoor equipment which can be low tech or high tech, but all using wood (normally mesquite, but also oak) and/or charcoal.
There has to be one group called Lone Star, after all it is Texas.
For many this is a family even with everyone chipping in.
Of course the competition requires judges who are all volunteers. This group is judging the top 30 out of 100 rib entries.
All entries are boxed and labelled.
I asked these men to explain how they were deciding which of the ribs got entered and which not. The man on the right was surprised that I did not mind a bit of char on the rib. Appearance does count as well as flavour, tenderness, etc.
This is the crew designated to pick up the garbage. A few minutes earlier they had just lifted the plastic bag out of the oil drum and of course it broke. Missed that shot, but here they are cleaning up the mess. The fair grounds were surprisingly clean with most people using the trash cans.
A typical schedule of when items are ready for tasting. Entrance to the park cost $5 per car no matter the number of people; no charge for tasting.
The cooking time can be very long especially if the brisket is large, so these folks kept busy on the computer in the downtime.
The open fire in the front is where they burn larger pieces of wood. When almost down to coals they are shovelled into the burner part of the main piece of equipment to produce the smoke which is then drafted into the pit. Food is therefore indirectly cooked, thus the lengthy cooking times.
Smokers come in all size & shapes. This is a popular 'hobby' with folks and they take their work seriously. One competition can cost $100 to enter with their work beginning early Sat. morning around 6:30. Chicken, brisket & ribs are smoked. Then there is cowboy bread (flat & very good) along with the usual beans, all cooked on outdoor equipment which can be low tech or high tech, but all using wood (normally mesquite, but also oak) and/or charcoal.
There has to be one group called Lone Star, after all it is Texas.
For many this is a family even with everyone chipping in.
Of course the competition requires judges who are all volunteers. This group is judging the top 30 out of 100 rib entries.
All entries are boxed and labelled.
I asked these men to explain how they were deciding which of the ribs got entered and which not. The man on the right was surprised that I did not mind a bit of char on the rib. Appearance does count as well as flavour, tenderness, etc.
This is the crew designated to pick up the garbage. A few minutes earlier they had just lifted the plastic bag out of the oil drum and of course it broke. Missed that shot, but here they are cleaning up the mess. The fair grounds were surprisingly clean with most people using the trash cans.
A typical schedule of when items are ready for tasting. Entrance to the park cost $5 per car no matter the number of people; no charge for tasting.
The cooking time can be very long especially if the brisket is large, so these folks kept busy on the computer in the downtime.
The open fire in the front is where they burn larger pieces of wood. When almost down to coals they are shovelled into the burner part of the main piece of equipment to produce the smoke which is then drafted into the pit. Food is therefore indirectly cooked, thus the lengthy cooking times.
I asked these two if I could take a photo after Al commented (jokingly of course) that pizza was also being made. Inside the precious box is their cowboy bread. I declared it a beauty and gave them my blue ticket. Individual competitors collect them and some sort of award is given to the team with the most.
There was very little for sale - two different rides for the children and Funnel Cakes. The baking powder dough is put into a funnel and dripped into a deep fat fryer. End result is round with a bubbly-like top which is then sprinkled with icing sugar. I would have bought one, but they are huge. I liken these to beaver tails sold on the Canal during skating season. I've also heard them called elephant ears.
No fair is complete without live entertainment.
There was very little for sale - two different rides for the children and Funnel Cakes. The baking powder dough is put into a funnel and dripped into a deep fat fryer. End result is round with a bubbly-like top which is then sprinkled with icing sugar. I would have bought one, but they are huge. I liken these to beaver tails sold on the Canal during skating season. I've also heard them called elephant ears.
No fair is complete without live entertainment.A closer look at the construction of these smokers
This one is for sale - $2000 I think.
Like I said earlier, smokers come in all sizes.
with just as many different vehicles to haul them around.
Mostly people arrive at the fair in cars and trucks, but motorcycles are popular too. I missed the shot of their owner/drivers, equally well decked out.
This one is for sale - $2000 I think.
Like I said earlier, smokers come in all sizes.
with just as many different vehicles to haul them around.
Mostly people arrive at the fair in cars and trucks, but motorcycles are popular too. I missed the shot of their owner/drivers, equally well decked out.
posted by Pat @ 7:35 AM
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