Santini BBQ event smokes and competes Saturday
A Backyard Bar-B-Que Competition along with an Old Fashioned Street Market will be featured during “Smokin’ in the Mangroves” at Santini Marina Plaza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday.
Members of the Florida Bar-B-Que Association along with local amateur teams will compete for large trophies and bragging rights. So far, 12 barbecue teams have signed on for the free admission event, including Texas Tony’s; Smoke on the Border; Scott Que & Big Shoog BBQ; Smokin Butts BBQ; Two Crackers Cookin; Bonez Brothers Bar B Que;; Zoo Wee Mama; Backyard Bar B Que School; Big Papas Country Kitchen – Flippers on the Bay; Smugglers BBQ – South Beach Grille; and Redneck Yard Hogsout.
“We’ve had incredible support from the Florida Bar-B-Que Association to help us in all-things barbecue,” said event organizer Bonnie Roberts, who also noted attendees will be able to purchase barbecue, other dishes and drink from the teams utilizing “pig bucks” which will be sold at the entrance to the event for $1 each.
Skeeterland Bluegrass Band will be providing the entertainment from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and DJ Larry will spin tunes from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
The Backyard Bar-B-Que Cooking School, which was supposed to be part of the overall event, has been postponed and is expected to be an independent event during the latter part of the summer.
BBQ entrants will set up on Friday, from noon to 5 p.m., then congregate for a mandatory chef’s meeting and product inspections at 6. Many of the entrants will be ‘camping out’ right at their site as they ‘smoke’ through the night.
On Saturday, the action continues with the competitive juices and barbecue sauces flowing.
“Most of these competitors all know each other and travel the sanctioned barbecue event circuit together,” said Roberts. “I cannot get over the camaraderie between these barbecuers. I am very impressed with the barbecue teams so far.”
During the event, 20 celebrity judges will determine winners in the chicken (11 a.m.), ribs (noon) and pork divisions (1 p.m.) Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place in all divisions as well a Grand Reserve award for first place overall and a Reserve award for second place overall. All awards for first, second and third place in all divisions as well the People’s Choice award will be awarded between 2 to 3 p.m.
“The grand prize overall (Grand Reserve) and second place overall (Reserve) and also the most coveted People’s Choice award will be presented as the finale to a fun day at the marina,” said Roberts. At the front gate, attendees will be given a “Peoples Choice vote ticket” so they may vote for their favorite BBQ team.
Before the actual judging, Bruce Armstrong, a sanctioned judge of the Florida Bar-B-Que Association, will give instruction to the celebrity judges. Texture, appearance and taste are three big factors.
Roberts is also excited about having a full cast of street vendors in the parking lot for the ‘old fashioned market’ involving many artisans demonstrating their arts and crafts on site.
“We have quite a lineup of vendors with lots of new and different participants,” she said.