Arthur Illinois - October 12-13, 2012

KCBS Competition barbeque and bluegrass

The Thrill of the Grill - Competition BBQ for everyone! - $600 Cash Prizes
                            Saturday October 13, 2012

You do not need any fancy equipment... just your backyard grill or smoker and a little cooking skill. If you have every wanted to try competition BBQ but are not up to the task of 4 perfectly cooked meats 30 minutes apart, try the CIBR Thrill-of-the-Grill. Just two meats, you don't have to cook them all night, and you can probably get all your equipment into the trunk of your car. In fact our "thrill" area is more like a block party cookout than a competition. Everyone has fun, exchanges a few tips and ideas, gets the feel for the full scale competition, can check over some of the big boys equipment, and a few go home with some bragging rights.

Two categories, cook them both. Pork Ribs and Chicken (any part of the chicken-usually thighs, upper wings or breasts, probably not necks or gizzards but hey...) cook them the way you like them, dry rubbed, mopped, just plain grilled, sauced or however.

Prize money available in the Thrill competition totals $600 with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category paying $100, $50 and $25 plus $250 for the highest combine totals from both categories. Additionally, our sponsor WMCI Radio always comes up with a bunch of extra items to add to the prize pile.

BYO everything, no electricity is provided ( if you wish electricity for overnight - $25 extra with special registration), water will be available nearby, but not provided to your cook space - bring buckets or a hose for cleanup and sanitation.  We will check in your meat when you arrive. It must be iced, and raw (i.e. not marinated, injected or pre-rubbed until after you check in. If you must cure your meat longer, come down on Friday, check in early and you may start anytime after being checked in.) As for equipment... Most teams will bring a small grill or smoker of some kind, a popup tent, maybe a small table to prepare their meat and fix their turn-in boxes on, some utensils, some lawn chairs, snacks and cooler full of refreshments.

Arrive in Arthur at any time, as early as Friday morning, but as long as you can be here in Arthur by 10am or so on Saturday to start your fire, you can easily get in the game. Park right where you cook, kind of like a tailgate.

Visit the KCBS website for detailed judging rules and procedures. With the exception of 1. the four meats required by KCBS being only ribs and chicken, 2. our allowing gas BBQ grills to be used, and 3. the turn-in times, this is what we'll go by. Read carefully the section on garnish and added sauces. We will provide a numbered, plain, undivided 9"x9" styrofoam trays for you to turn in your entries. You may decorate your entry with green leaf lettuce or parsley only! You may submit your entry wet or dry as you like it. You will need to submit at least 6 separate portions (there will be 6 judges scoring your individual entry meat - each must get a separate portion - they will not cut or pull apart your entry) in each category to be judged. Cook a few extra!  If you can attractively arrange an extra 7th portion in your entry container it might be helpful, but is not required (plus the management always appreciates a bite!). We will go over all of this with you when you check in also.

If you have any questions on rules, our event or questions in general, we'll be more than happy to talk or email things out and help you get in the game.

If you like to grill chicken or ribs, give this a try. This contest is for the every day guy or gal... NOT for the pros... you will fit in with any kind of grill! In fact in 2008 two guys did well with grill composed of four aluminum turkey pans and a beer can smokestack all packed into a motorcycle saddlebag.

And unless you just charcoal your entry to death, you'll have a good chance at some bragging rights, a little cash and you'll have a lot of fun!