Pork - pork - and more pork! Beautiful weather (no storms this year) contributed to a grand time among team members and guests at the 2012 Memphis in May international BBQ Contest. The blisters on my feet were painful reminders that I should have paid closer attention to the map before setting out and also worn appropriate shoes. Regardless, I wasn't the only one trying to find my team among the 100's of contestants. I always enjoy reading the names of the teams---everything from The Pit And The Pigulum...Pork Fiction...The Other Team...Natural Born Grillers...Smoky Bones...and the list goes on. This year the festival salutes the Philippines. Tents are up, cookers smoking, music playing, and team members are pulling together to showcase their creativity and delicious cooked pork. Shoulder, Ribs and Whole Hog are the categories for judging. A few of the teams are small privateers and others are large and corporate sponsored...all with the same goal...hoping to pull off a win while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow teammates and other teams. Friday night cooking before Saturday's judging is an all night affair. Constant monitoring the grill is a necessity and can't be overlooked. Too much of a good time the night before could result in an entry's disqualification if the meat is not properly cooked. It's not going to have a good ending when a team learns their cook fell asleep and woke a few hours prior to judging...the pork is not the only thing that's going to get cooked--if you know what I mean! Since I'm not one of those who can stay up all night, I leave the park, climb the steps to the bluff and take one last look. The mighty Mississippi is upstaged briefly while in it's darkness, reflections of twinkling lights, forceable streams of music, and exhilarated merriment are contained within gentle breezes. Good Night and Good Luck to You All! Posted by Valerie
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