A Bigger And Even Better Smackdown Is Now Planned!….Clear Your Calendar Folks!

[WayneT]

Is that a prototype or did you buy the first one produced off the back of a pickup truck from one of my relatives? They also sell fresh meat products.

[Uncle Bob]

Looking like a steam roller coming!

That's what we want the competition to think.....................................

[realdocBBQ]

Ok, so can you give us some... guidelines? Like... what exactly is judging going to be based upon?

Are we looking strictly at end product pics and apparent meat quality, juiciness, etc.? Or is this going to be based on the entire meal - main dishes, side dishes, presentation, etc.? Do pics and documentation of the entire process factor into the judging?


I just want to know how to design my cook and meal. I've already invited several friends over to partake, but I need to plan out my documentation and sides, etc. I will probably try to cook most all of it in my pellet cooker to win extra points with the judges for using it as a complete cooking solution, if possible.

[randy.56]

So If I send $20 to each judge???

[Panhead John]

I heard talk of C-Notes carrying the most weight.

[Bogy]

Rules! We don't need no stinkin' rules. I don't even believe in organized religion. (If that last one doesn't make sense to you, just ask!)

[Panhead John]

Ok folks, here’s an exact quote from one of the judges on what they’re looking for……


"Best hunk of meat presented fresh off the smoker is the big winner."

”Honorable Mention or Who's Who's Among BBQ'ers will be given to the best side dish master.”

[DavidNorcross]

I just hope that our good friends on the stick burner team do not get their feelings hurt…..

[ofelles]

jfmorris
I'm thinking it is that "C" disease but it's real name is cold feet, not the other one!
😜 Feel better soon!

[RichieB]

Sorry to hear that. I hope symptoms are mild and a quick recovery.

[DaveD]

Best wishes Jim. Hope your recovery is swift and complete.

[RichieB]

I'm a bit ignorant here regarding pellet poopers (who came up with that term)? Don't you load pellets, set the temperature, put said food in, set a timer and go take a nap till timer goes off? What am I missing?

[glitchy]

RichieB It’s set the temp alarm on the Fireboard then sip bourbon and play video games until it goes off. Then eat just as good as food with 1/100th of the effort.

[realdocBBQ]

Nope, I mess with mine a good bit. Moving around, wrapping and/or unwrapping, spritzing, checking temps, etc. What do you do with a stick burner? Load a log every 30 minutes? Doesn't sound so much different to me, honestly.

[DaveD]

Nobody cooks to time on any cooker. When there's enough meat to do it, put in a T probe like usual, read the T etc. Just don't have to do anything to have extremely consistent temps and, in a vertical smoker, almost no gradient.

[Huskee]

I'm doing beef ribs Friday 9/2 and I plan to use both my stickburner for the first half then the pellet for the second half so I can visit with my guests. I guess I don't qualify .. or do I qualify twice??

[Panhead John]

Heck yeah you qualify! Jump in Huskee….

[Clawbear57]

Yeah welcome to the grou.......p.

[Jfrosty27]

Going to be a rib weekend for me. Beef on Friday, STL spares on Monday. On the Recteq Easy Bake Oven of course…..

[Huskee]

A fellow Friday beefer!

[Sdell]

Pork Butt is thawing now. Team Stick burner for the win!

[58limited]

Bought the last prime brisket at HEB today - 12 lb grass fed and grass finished. Will raid the freezer for some other meaty goodies to cook with it. I have lots of Click wagyu, heirloom pork, and some game meat. Decisions, decisions...

[ILMsmoke]

I'm surprised you got a prime grade out of grass fed and finished. I'd like to see a picture just for personal interest as I manage a our meat processing facility at work...

[58limited]

ILMsmoke Looking at the brisket closer it looks like it was mislabeled. The back of the vacuum bag says USDA Prime from Aspen Ridge Natural Angus Beef. This is what I'm going by for the prime grading, plus it looks like prime to me. What I wasn't paying as much attention to are the two stickers on the front. I saw "GrassFed" on both the price sticker and another sticker the store put on the brisket. With my reading glasses now on both say "Choice Grass Fed" I think I paid for choice grass fed

[58limited]

and got a prime Natural Angus brisket. Still a nice piece of meat and I saved about $0.60/lb (or more) from the mislabeling. I have friends who run grass fed beef operations, never seen prime but have seen choice from them.

[Potkettleblack]

Have some nice ribs that are gonna go on the Twig Burner... seriously, the pellets are just small artificial sticks. ;-)

[Panhead John]

If you really think that, then you’re barking up the wrong tree Mr.!

[WayneT]

Wood I ever think that?

[glitchy]

You fellers are wall to walnuts.

[ILMsmoke]

My stick burner is well not but halfway built. I"ve got a Pk I can burn wood down to coals or a pellet grill. I'm game for the stick burner team if me burning my wood into coals will count.

[Panhead John]

After conferring with the Smackdown Olympic Judging Committee and then having read section 3 paragraph 2 of the Official Participation Rulebook, it has been determined that the preferred method of participation in this instance would be the pellet grill. Otherwise you would not be eligible for the cheap ass trophy. 🥸

[58limited]

Preview: I got everything dry brining for a Saturday cook.

Prime Angus brisket, 13.7 lbs with 3 lbs trim loss.



Top: Click Akuashi chuckie, picked it because the vacuum seal became compromised. Luckily only had to trim about 3 oz. of freezer burn. Bottom right is a 2.3 lb Berkshire pork New York roast then to the left is a three bone slab of beef short ribs.



Beef ribs and chuckie salted and ready for the fridge



Pork roast, salted

[Clawbear57]

58limited you sure you've enough sticks, raw meat don't count?

[58limited]

Clawbear57 You're not into brisket tartar?

[smokenoob]

🍿🍿 🍿 🥩🍺

[Clawbear57]

58limited which team?

[58limited]

Clawbear57 Team Stick Burner. I'll be using my Oklahoma Joe Longhorn offset.

[DaveD]

I'll be smokin' up one of these here two racks of Prime chuck ribs on Saturday...



And in other news, will be doing my inaugural low & slow on my new SnS Kettle with a rack o'spares tomorrow afternoon. Not part of the smackdown, but still

[Bogy]

I think PJ needs a smackdown, he's gettin' a little uppity!

[DaveD]

Geeeeez. And here I was thinking you'd be supportive of my new foray, particularly after lobbying so hard for that rig. I'm devastated.

[WayneT]

There will be a brief Smackdown 'time out' during the launch of Artemis I, currently scheduled for 2:17 pm on 9/3.