My Chili and BBQ 100-item Checklist for Competitions

[Jhirshon]

All - I thought you'd appreciate this very comprehensive checklist that I use whenever I am preparing for a competition cookoff. It's as detailed as it gets and I hope others find it as helpful as I have - it's been an ongoing evolution of the list for several years now! If any of you have further refinements or suggestions, I'd love to add them into the master list!

https://www.thefooddictator.com/100-...d-chili-glory/ - original link

Here it is as well - the readers of The Food Dictator blog are known as Citizens, just so you know:

My Citizens, it is a fact of facts that the unmatched glory of TFD extends not only to his knowledge of world cuisine – but also to the subtle and arcane art of competitive cooking events!

I am to this day the only member of the International Chili Society to win on the first-ever attempt at a regional event – I am the only one in 50+ years to ever pull it off and move on to the World Championships!

This weekend, I take the next step and enter the seething competition found on the pro BBQ circuit! I encourage all Citizens to try this type of event as a competitor – at least once in your lives!

In celebration of your challenging spirit, let me share a checklist I have assembled over many years of cooking on the Chili circuit and with additions for BBQ as well – it will save you much heartache and will let you focus on the event and cooking, not freaking out if you forgot something.

Without further ado – the most comprehensive checklist on the Web follows:

Chili/BBQ Cookoff Checklist

1. ❏ Disposable foil pans
2. ❏ Spray bottle(s)
3. ❏ Meat thermometer
4. ❏ Sanitizing bucket
5. ❏ Aluminum roasting pans
6. ❏ Aluminum foil
7. ❏ Lighter fluid
8. ❏ Organizing cart loaded up
9. ❏ Flashlight
10. ❏ Notebook and pen
11. ❏ Sharpening steel
12. ❏ 3 sets of laminated recipe pages
13. ❏ Sunscreen SPF 50+
14. ❏ Cell phone battery charger and cables
15. ❏ Ash bucket
16. ❏ Newspaper for charcoal starter
17. ❏ Setup playlist for tunes
18. ❏ Confirm you have your grill(s)
19. ❏ Trash bags
20. ❏ Lighter
21. ❏ Matchkit
22. ❏ Charcoal starter
23. ❏ Hats for sun protection
24. ❏ Antibacterial spray cleaner
25. ❏ Toothpicks
26. ❏ Bluetooth speaker for tunes!
27. ❏ 2 heads curly parsley for meat garnish
28. ❏ BBQ heat protective gloves
29. ❏ Epi-pen for bee allergy
30. ❏ Portable med kit
31. ❏ Herbs, rub for tri-tip
32. ❏ 3 paring knives for thigh cleanup
33. ❏ Carving knife for tri-tip
34. ❏ Tri-tip for chili, all chili ingredients
35. ❏ Kielbasa Sausage, Peppers, Onions, Vinaigrette, Fresh Basil and Fresh Oregano and Hoagie Rolls for People’s Choice Meal
36. ❏ Rub, Butter, Herbs, Garlic, Chicken Stock for Thighs
37. ❏ BBQ sauce
38. ❏ BBQ brush set
39. ❏ Tongs
40. ❏ Hardwood charcoal (hickory)
41. ❏ Smoking chips
42. ❏ Grill cleaner
43. ❏ Flavor injector
44. ❏ Chicken thigh pans (2)
45. ❏ Get Taskrabbit day before and evening of to get stuff loaded and unloaded
46. ❏ Find ICS medal to strike unmitigated terror into competitors
47. ❏ Triple check all ingredients are packed
48. ❏ Load sign
49. ❏ Bug Spray
50. ❏ Several large bowls
51. ❏ Portable tool kit
52. ❏ Portable Generator
53. ❏ Bleach
54. ❏ Rubber gloves
55. ❏ Beer for drinking + beer for marinade + waters, sodas
56. ❏ Duct Tape
57. ❏ 3 gallons of water
58. ❏ Ice – lots of it
59. ❏ Matches
60. ❏ Fire Extinguisher
61. ❏ Can Opener
62. ❏ 3-Knife Set
63. ❏ 3 Tent chairs
64. ❏ Dishpan
65. ❏ Pack Banner
66. ❏ Charge generator night before
67. ❏ Strainer
68. ❏ Freeze Ice Gel Packs
69. ❏ Several rolls paper towels
70. ❏ 1 small ladle
71. ❏ 1 Chili Pot with Lid, 5-8 quart variety
72. ❏ 2 rolling ice chests plus AC cooler
73. ❏ Spice containers
74. ❏ 1 10 foot tablecloth
75. ❏ Plastic Spoons for Tasting
76. ❏ Measuring spoon set
77. ❏ 1 long-handled spoon
78. ❏ 3 Propane BU-6 Canisters + 2 burners
79. ❏ Cutting boards
80. ❏ 1 Heat Diffuser
81. ❏ Scrubbers
82. ❏ Square Sun Shade Sail 11 Feet 5 Inches
83. ❏ Slant Leg Shelter Side Wall
84. ❏ Check your BBQ / ICS Cards are in wallet
85. ❏ 1 large ladle
86. ❏ 1 rolling storage box
87. ❏ Pack booth flair
88. ❏ Coleman 10 x 10 Slant-Leg Instant Shelter
89. ❏ Titan Elite Scissors
90. ❏ Tables
91. ❏ Pot holders
92. ❏ Spice Grinder
93. ❏ Liquid Soap
94. ❏ Rent SUV (if needed)
95. ❏ Extension cords – long ones
96. ❏ Benadryl in case of bug bites
97. ❏ Victory bottle of Champagne
98. ❏ Business cards – you never know who you might meet!
99. ❏ Set two backup emergency alarms to get up at 05:00 AM
100. ❏ Return rental SUV, if needed

Battle on – The Generalissimo

[jecucolo]

That is a great list! I use Google Drive. You can creat spreadsheet list and share with team. Even though my team has dwindled down to my retired brother! Thanks for sharing it!

[Jhirshon]

My pleasure!

[Jerod Broussard]

Wow, an actual 100 itemized list of why I don't compete.

Thanks for sharing!!

[JGo37]

TOILET PAPER. What are you, a ROOKIE? (don't ask how I know).

Thanks for sharing. And do go to the gas station the day before...

[Jhirshon]

Good point though the paper towels can - if absolutely needed - deal with that issue...

[Thom Emery]

http://howtobbqright.com/competitionbbq/competitionbbqsupplychecklist/

Malcom has a dandy one

[Nate]

Malcom is the man!

[tbob4]

For the last 30 years I have been saying "some day" to a competition. Some of my trepidation has been the prep. If I ever decide to expose my ego to such an endeavor this list as well as Thom Emery 's link will come in very handy. Thank you!

[Thom Emery]

There are more than a few Rib cook offs in NoCal
just do it ;0)

[gcdmd]

For those who haven't done so, you really need to check out @Jhirshon web site.

https://www.thefooddictator.com/

[Jhirshon]

I'm truly honored, sir - thank you so much for the endorsement, or really means a lot to me!!!

[Jhirshon]

My team took the gold at our event!!! Thank you, killer checklist!

[tbob4]

Congrats!

[gcdmd]

Felicidades. Good job.

[Huskee]

Did you get a pie thrown in your face? Congrats!

[Thom Emery]

Chili Witness Protection

[randy56]

Man with No face, Just did KCBS this week end, only a few things, I see missing is lights, spray sanitize cleaner, cam-bro, 3 way plug in, pig tail, phone charger, charcoal chimney, smoking wood chunks, cleaning rags, Turkey baster, Q-tips for cleaning turn in box, we use these string lights around pop up. if you use a chimney to start your fire, {I hope you are not using charcoal lighter fluid}. we use wax fire starters, much easier than paper. Speaking of paper, we now use paper to wrap brisket, when we put it in cam-bro, Did not win but 7th in brisket. 2nd in steak Friday nite option, 16 over all in BBQ. you will continue, to add to your list as you do more of them.
Congratulations on your Chili !

[Jhirshon]

You know about my lack of facial exposure - I'm impressed! Great additions, will add them to the list!

[Mudbeaver]

I did not see beer.....