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Competition BBQ vs Restaurant BBQ

Posted on 8/6/18 at 9:54 pm
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 9:54 pm
I'll just start by saying that they aren't the same at all. Below are some things that I've read on here the past few months about the topic, and my thoughts on those statements.

"The Shed won Memphis In May, but the food at their restaurant is terrible." Brad is a great bbq competitor, but he isn't in the kitchen at The Shed cooking every day.
The quality of the meats, ingredients, prep, and techniques for competition bbq are an enormous overkill for a restaurant. The restaurant would never be profitable if it had to serve comp bbq. You also can't cook restaurant style bbq at a competition, you'd get your arse kicked every weekend.
"The judges at Memphis In May must love shitty southern Mississippi bbq". This is something that someone that has never been to a bbq competition would say. The judges aren't just local. Most of them come from all over the country. My 3 onsite judges for MIM were from North Carolina, Minnesota, and Alabama. There are some bbq sanctioning bodies that do use local judges, but definitely not at the world championships.
"Myron Mixon shows up at the little towns with his big rig, and high end meats to pad stats".(verbatim). That means nothing in blind box judging. The nice rig may give him a slight edge at an MBN contest, but not at any other contests.
"Let him cook on a BGE, and see what he can do." BGE's are not competition cookers. They're mainly for the backyard guy to pound his chest after overpaying for it. There have been a few people here and there that have competed on them, but it's very few and far between.

I can go on showing the differences, explaining some misunderstandings about competition bbq, and still not change your mind. These were just my thoughts, so feel free to share yours. The trolls will come out for this one, but I'm more interested in a serious conversation.

This has been brought to you by Myron "Crawfish From Arabi" Mixon. ;)
This post was edited on 8/6/18 at 10:03 pm
Posted by lion
Member since Aug 2016
769 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 9:59 pm to
I think 99% of the people get the difference.
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:00 pm to
After reading my post, I might've gotten a little off subject. Here's a couple key differences.
Competition BBQ
Higher end meats, more attention to detail, extremely efficient cooking, focusing on just one bite or portion, and over the top flavors.
Restaurant BBQ
Location, profit margins, food the locals will like and buy, higher volume to feed the masses, other people are cooking, etc.....I'm not a restaurant guy, so please give me more details here to help the discussion.
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:01 pm to
quote:

I think 99% of the people get the difference.

Well the 1% that don't are making their point very loud and clear.
Posted by t00f
Not where you think I am
Member since Jul 2016
90048 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:04 pm to
Next time you are in competition in NOLA I want to stop by, shake your hand, and say hi.
Posted by Tiger Ryno
#WoF
Member since Feb 2007
103106 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:04 pm to
I don't believe in competitions for BBQ and never will. Lost a good friend because I refused to join his team. Cook for the love of food and family. Not for stupid arbitrary trophies
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:06 pm to
It looks like my next local competition will be next month in Port Allen. Stop on by, I'll shake your hand, give you a beer, and might even feed you.
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:11 pm to
quote:

I don't believe in competitions for BBQ and never will. Lost a good friend because I refused to join his team. Cook for the love of food and family. Not for stupid arbitrary trophies

I still cook all the time for the love of food and family. What do you believe in competitions for? To each, their own.
Btw....how much sleep has your friend lost?
Posted by t00f
Not where you think I am
Member since Jul 2016
90048 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:14 pm to
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:15 pm to
If I post the location and date of the competition will it be deleted for advertising? I'm just not sure of that posting rule.
Posted by Martini
Near Athens
Member since Mar 2005
48853 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:19 pm to
quote:

how much sleep has your friend lost?



Probably a lot if he’s spritzing his meat all night.
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:21 pm to
quote:

Probably a lot if he’s spritzing his meat all night

Sadly, this is very true for some guys. Lol
Posted by Lsuhack1
Member since Feb 2018
866 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:24 pm to
Competition bbq sounds a lot like homebrew beer competitions, the goal isn’t to make the best you can, but to achieve a specific set of guidlines.
Posted by t00f
Not where you think I am
Member since Jul 2016
90048 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:25 pm to
quote:

If I post the location and date of the competition will it be deleted for advertising? I'm just not sure of that posting rule.


Not in this thread since it was not started with that intent.

So, hey CFA, can I have specifics on the competition?
Posted by golfntiger32
Ohio
Member since Oct 2013
12486 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:35 pm to
I will say that I think BBQ comps and reality TV shows about them have hurt the quality of consumer BBQ. It has increased the demand for BBQ, which has people opening BBQ restaurants that think you can buy a Southern Pride gas smoker and make good eatin BBQ. Not to mention prices at these places. I dont eat BBQ at a place where they dont use a wood fired pitt and I dont eat at a place that has elaborate decor. We recently ate at Skylight Inn BBQ in NC. Three people had some damn fine eatin BBQ for $19. Pound of meat, quart of slaw and cornbread, that also included fountain drinks. If I go to Cleveland to Michael Symons BBQ place a Pulled pork sandwich is $13 and sides are ala carte. I know location and all, but one guy cooks whole hogs over a brick pitt and the other uses a gas powered oven with wood chunks thrown in a basket and it is set it and forget it. The other has a pitt crew working all night smoking hogs. BBQ was always about using cheap cuts and making them eat like more exspensive cuts. Now its about buying $200 briskets and seeing who can get the 5 best slices from the center of the flat in a box of parsley.
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:36 pm to
quote:

Competition bbq sounds a lot like homebrew beer competitions, the goal isn’t to make the best you can, but to achieve a specific set of guidlines.

I've never heard of those contests, but I'd love to judge one. Lol
I guess they can be similar. Yes, there are guidelines to follow. I personally don't like eating competition bbq as much as I do regular, traditional, dry rubbed bbq. I like no sauce or a little on the side, but for contests the judges love them some sauce. So, I have to please them.
Some people think we're only out there for 2 days competing for "stupid arbitrary trophies", but there's a lot more at stake than that.
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:40 pm to
quote:

So, hey CFA, can I have specifics on the competition?

12th Annual Smokin' Oldies BBQ Cook-Off
This post was edited on 8/6/18 at 10:45 pm
Posted by Tigers0891
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2017
6577 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:47 pm to
I thought I didn't like you from the bits here and there on tv. This thread reaffirms this
Posted by Crawfish From Arabi
Member since Apr 2017
317 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:51 pm to
golfntiger32
Very well said. I've always said that the 1st season of Pitmasters in '09 changed everything. It's kinda dumb to think that a tv show can have that much of an impact on the bbq landscape, but it's very true. The show opened the idea to a bunch of people to say "If these guys on tv can do it, so can I."
Posted by t00f
Not where you think I am
Member since Jul 2016
90048 posts
Posted on 8/6/18 at 10:53 pm to
I’m coming back from Washington DC on that Friday, will try to make it out Saturday.
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