Hello again! As you may know, May is a wonderful time in Memphis. Every weekend in May, Memphis holds a festival on the banks of the Mississippi River. This weekend, was the World Championship Barbeque Competition (a.k.a. BBQ Fest.)
This year, 256 teams competed at BBQ Fest for the title of: Miss Piggie (Grown Men dressed a pigs), Best Booth, Best T-Shirt, Beef, Poultry, Hot Wings, Exotic Meats, Anything but Pork, Baked Beans, Tomato Sauce, Mustard Sauce, Vinegar Sauce, Shoulder, People’s Choice, Whole Hog, Ribs, or Patio Porkers.Â
Each team consists of between ten and forty members who spend the entire weekend at Tom Lee Park tending to the grill (or sitting around enjoying the weather!) Often times, teams will hire a pit master from a BBQ restaurant out of town to cook for them at BBQ Fest.
I have found that in order to really enjoy BBQ Fest there is only one thing you need to do: befriend someone who is on a team. Because of health codes, BBQ teams can’t serve their food to the public, so the only way (other than People’s Choice) to stuff your face full of ribs is to be in one of the teams’ tents. The only way to get inside a tent is to know someone. This is easier than you think. Often times you will know someone who knows someone who knows someone which is usually good enough for some free food. For the past two years, I have gone to the Born in the Que’s tent which has lots of Rhodes alumni who are members. They don’t really seem to be in the competition for the glory but rather to have a good time for the weekend.
You can read all of the Commercial Appeal’s coverage of BBQ Fest here.
Of course, whenever you visit Memphis, in the month of May or not, you will have to be sure to sample some Memphis BBQ. Everyone in Memphis has a favorite restaurant and I’m sure there will be many who disagree with me, but I will say that without a doubt, The Rendezvous has the best ribs in Memphis. Some people would vote for Corky’s, Interstate, Central BBQ, Bar-BQ Shop, Cozy Corner, or Neely’s, but I think the Rendezvous is the best.
Here are some pictures (borrowed for the MIM website) of BBQ Fest:
Tents in Tom Lee Park
Miss Piggie Contest!
–Caroline
I would definitely vote for BarBQ Shop over Rendezvous, but I prefer a pork sandwich to ribs, and wet ribs to dry.
256 teams – wow! I am guessing such an event can only be seen in Memphis!