Hello BBQ Gang! Here's what's going on in the world of the Illinois BBQ Society... ~ Wanna cook with Bobby Flay? ~ Here's just one account of the first (and coldest) Illinois cook-off of the year... ~ Kenosha, Wisconsin...Intergalactic Home of The Barbeque Factory ~ Upcoming Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ Upcoming Classes... x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival State Championship, KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Cook-Off with Live Music, Battle of the Bands, Beverage Garden and MORE! Limited to 25 teams for 2008...get your application in early! Visit us online at http://www.GoCentralia.com/springfestival for application and additional information. Online: http://www.GoCentralia.com/springfestival Email: 2chubby@sbcglobal.net x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x Wanna cook with Bobby Flay? Here's your opportunity! We have been talking with Tasia, from the Food Network, and can now officially announce a new show called Grill It! with Bobby Flay! They're looking for people to grill alongside Bobby Flay with their best grilling recipes for Ribs, Chicken, Burgers, Sausage etc. So if this sounds interesting to you or you know anybody that you think would be interested in applying here's some more information: Create a 3-minute VHS Tape or DVD in which you cook us your favorite dish. In the video you'll need to tell how you created the recipe and the ingredients you use. All applicants must have a terrific personality and must Illustrate why you'd make a Fantastic candidate for Grill It! with Bobby Flay! Unlike "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" there are no winners or losers, instead Grill It! shows people how to grill with a well-stocked kitchen. All applicants must live in the U. S. and be 18 and over (although quick-witted teenagers with parents' permission can apply). To be considered, please mail your submission tape or DVD, original recipe and photo of yourself to the address below no later than March 15th, 2008. Food Network Attn: GRILL IT! with Bobby Flay 100 Leroy Street New York, New York 10014 Have fun and be sure to let us know if you apply/audition for this unique opportunity! *************************************** Here's just one account of the first (and coldest) Illinois cook-off of the year... The cold obviously made it an interesting day. When I arrived at the site I walked around to say hello to the cookers and either folks were huddled inside their cars, vans or campers, or they were bundled up so tight that I could only recognize two or three people! :-D The cold generated a couple of good stories. Burnt Food Dude almost didn't make it because his equipment was in his garage and the garage door was frozen shut. Dr. Chuckie made it to the site on Saturday but when it came time to set up on Sunday the back of his truck was frozen and even a locksmith couldn't get into it :shock:. He cooked a couple of categories on borrowed equipment. Smoke Hunters ran into trailer problems on the way to the site due to the cold and arrived late. As you can see from the results it didn't hurt him too much. Rick told me that he put his brisket in the WSM at 11:00AM for a 3:00 turn-in! He took first place in brisket! Rick, are you going to show up late for every comp now? :-D Despite the cold I think everyone had a great time. KRE Smokers (Keith and Rebecca) did a great job organizing the comp and Doug and the gang who ran it did fantastic. -- Ron L. As reported by Smoke Hunter Rick, the Des Plaines Winter Burn-Off Top 10... 1. Quau 2. Porkrastinators 3. KRE Smokers 4. Joey Mac's Smoke Stax 5. Smoke Hunters 6. Smokey Joel/Cubby Bear 7. CancerSucksChicago.com 8. Windy City Smokers 9. Bear Cat Smokers 10.Good Bad and Ugly Congrats to all the winners of the first Illinois contest of 2008! *************************************** Kenosha, Wisconsin...Intergalactic Home of The Barbeque Factory As mentioned in last week's eNewsletter, Alex & Kate Cothell (of Doctor Porkenstein fame) have opened their very own 'que joint in Kenosha, Wisconsin. If you find yourself anywhere near Kenosha, be sure to swing by The Barbeque Factory 1200 Birch Road Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140 They opened their doors on Saturday, February 2nd and I've been told their 'winter hours' are Thursday - Saturday, 11am to 7pm; Sunday, 11am to 3pm. CONGRATS & GOOD LUCK ALEX & KATE! *************************************** Upcoming 2008 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ June 14, 2008 - 4th Annual Smokin' in the Park - Contact: Hap & Becky Zook at 309-266-5078 or Jim & Anita Allen at 309-962-9388 - E-mail: bjzook@verizon.net or jaallen@msn.com ~ June 21, 2008 - 2nd Annual Galesburg Railroad Days Jaycees Rib Cook-Off - Contact: Sherry M. Kincaid - E-mail: ribcookoff@galesburgjaycees.org ~ October 12, 2008 - TENATIVE - Maschhoff's Pork Farm Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Julie Maschhoff, 7475 State Route 127, Carlyle, IL 62231 - Phone: 618-594-2125 - E-mail: juliem@pigsrus.net ~ October - Barn Burner BBQ @ Lamb's Farm - Contact: Claudia Stevens, 14245 W. Rockland Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847-990-3750 ~ Fax: 847-362-0742 - E-mail: crs@lambsfarm.org *THIS CONTEST IS PENDING KCBS SANCTIONING* *************************************** Upcoming 2008 KCBS Contests... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ May 2-3, 2008 - Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival - Contact: Shane Swartzlander - Phone: (618) 533-5703 ~ Fax: - Online: http://www.gocentralia.com/springfestival - E-mail: 2chubby@sbcglobal.net ~ May 9-10, 2008 - CANCELLED - Dust Off Your Grill Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Patty Peterson, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. - Phone: 217-258-2424 ~ Fax: 217-258-4135. - E-mail: ppeterson@sblhs.org ~ May 16-17, 2008 - The Randolph County Pig Party - Contact: Jason Vallett, 402 E. Broadway, Steeleville, IL 62288. - Phone: 618-965-3414 ~ Fax: 618-965-3177 - Email: jason@gregvallettautosales.com ~ May 24-25, 2008 - Red, White & Bar-B-Q - Contact: Jim Addington, 337 E. Traube Street, Westmont, IL 60559 - Phone: 630-443-2013 Fax: 630.443-2017 - E-mail: jaddington@ambankqc.com ~ June 13-14, 2008 - King City BBQ Showdown - Contact: Troy Heitmeyer, 104 N. 9th Street, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 - Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ Fax: 618-242-3383 - E-mail: troy@cmacsoft.com ~ June 13-14, 2008 - Elk Grove Rotary Ribfest - Contact: Ron Nunes, 701 E. Irving Park Rd, Ste. 200, Roselle, IL 60172 - Phone: 630-307-8744 ~ Fax: 630-307-8755 - E-mail: rnunes9457@aol.com ~ July 11-12, 2008 - Illinois State Championship & Butt to Butt Pork Invitational - Contact: Connie Smith, 301 E. Sunrise Drive, Shannon, IL 61078 - Phone: 816-864-2542 ~ Fax: 815-864-2825 - E-mail: rrribs@frontiernet.net ~ September 12-13, 2008 - Southern Illinois Bluegrass & BBQ Festival - Contact: Rick Russ, TourSalem.com, 101 South Main Street, Salem, IL 62881 - Phone: 618-548-7752 ~ Fax: 618-548-5330 - E-mail: fun@bluegrassbbq.com ~ September 19-20, 2008 - - Carbondale Main Street Pig Out - Contact: Meghan Cole, 121 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901 - Phone: 618-529-8040 ~ Fax: 618-529-8041 - E-mail: info@carbondalemainstreet.com ~ October 10-11, 2008 - Central Illinois Bragging Rights - Contact: George Fritz, 136 S. Vine Street, Arthur, IL 61911 - Phone: 217-543-2181 - E-mail: bbq@arthuril.com *************************************** Upcoming Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ Certified Table Captain’s Class: Arthur, Illinois - 03/07/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.CIBR-BBQ.com - Contact Information: George Fritz ~ Phone: 217-543-2181 ~ bbq@arthuril.com ~ Certified BBQ Judging Class: Arthur, Illinois - 03/08/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.CIBR-BBQ.com - Contact Information: George Fritz ~ Phone: 217-543-2181 ~ bbq@arthuril.com ~ Certified Table Captain’s Class: Mount Vernon, Illinois - 04/18/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.SouthernIllinois.com - Contact Information: Troy Heitmeyer ~ Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ troy@cmacsoft.com ~ Certified BBQ Judging Class: Mount Vernon, Illinois - 04/19/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.SouthernIllinois.com - Contact Information: Troy Heitmeyer ~ Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ troy@cmacsoft.com *************************************** Upcoming BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ Shannon, Illinois - 4/4/08 thru 4/5/08 - Old School vs. High Tech BBQ Cooking Class - Instructors: Johnny Trigg & Rod Gray - Location: Eastland Middle School ~ 601 Chestnut Street ~ Contact Information: Rod Gray ~ rod@pelletenvy.com *************************************** If you have a BBQ related news item you would like to share with the group, be sure to send it in! There is an easy-to-use 'Submit News' button on our website at http://www.ILBBQS.com ...use it often! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Well folks, that's gonna do it for this year's news and updates. I hope you have a most wonderful, and safe, New Year! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of you down the BBQ trail of 2008! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino