I had never even attended a BBQ Event before, so when the folks at Seminole Casino Immokalee asked me if I’d like to be one of the judges for their 2nd Annual Pigs in Paradise, I said yes. As I pulled into the space, it looked like a giant carnival in the distance.
Once I got close, I realized all the colorful banners were there to show off some of their BBQ titles.
The 6 BBQ Competitors were…
The smell in the air was intoxicating, and I’d never seen anything like this. Six BBQ vendors were doing their thing, and two other folks were selling lemonade, corndogs, corn, and all that festival-type food.
Everyone was here for the BBQ, and I couldn’t wait to start judging. This was probably one of the trickiest judging assignments I’ve ever tackled since everything was similar yet different.
These guys are pros, and it came down to slight differences in sauces or texture. Since it was a blind tasting, I still don’t know which one I thought best, but I remember that in the Ribs Category, rib #1 was tops in my book.
My Favorites
Pigs in Paradise Winners
The judging occurred on Saturday; the winners were not announced until Sunday. I, unfortunately, was not there when the winners were given their trophies; here are the victors:
Grand Champion
Porky N Beans
People’s Choice
- 1st—Big Boned
- 2nd—Blazin’ Bronco
- 3rd—Fat Fred’s
Brisket
- 1st—Big Boned
- 2nd—Porky N Beans
- 3rd—Blazin’ Bronco
Pulled Pork
- 1st—Porky & Beans
2nd—Big Boned
3rd—Johnson’s
Sauce
- 1st—Blazin’ Bronco
2nd—Porky N Beans
3rd—Johnson’s
Ribs
- 1st—Blazin’ Bronco
2nd—Porky N Beans
3rd—Johnson’s