Pitmasters, start your grills, smokers, griddles, and CI skillets because…
It’s time for the 2023 AmazingRibs.com Pitmaster Club Taco Smackdown!
As many of you know, the featured food for this friendly competition was determined by a fair and impartial poll found here. It was an exceptionally close race between seafood and tacos, but the latter came out on top in the end. Despite my best efforts to garner a total of 100 votes in the poll, alas, we only got 78. For those 22 people who prevented me from reaching my 100-vote goal (you know who you are!), you are hereby on notice and shouldn’t even bother entering this competition because I am one of the impartial judges. Moreover, if you voted for tacos, you’re on ecowper ‘s ‘list’, whatever that means. With those preliminary florae behind us, let’s get into the Smackdown weeds.
The competition will begin Monday, July 24 and run through Sunday July 30. I’m not dictating start and stop times but please post your cooks between those two dates. The interim time between this announcement and the start on Monday is appropriate for trash talking and intimidation tactics.
Make this a current cook, executed within the dates of the Smackdown. Honor system rules apply – please don’t post previous cooks.
Post your cooks under this topic.
Along with your pictures, please provide a brief, cogent description of your cook including any important details that you think would distinguish it from competitors’ cooks. E.g., organic, home-grown, locally sourced, home-made, etc. Describe ingredients and the complexity of preparation, both of which may not be apparent in a photo. I’m not expecting a literary bestseller, but being the wordsmith I am, any participant with a penchant or propensity to pepper their narrative purposefully and prolifically with polysyllabic words may increase the chances of raising an eyebrow. Alliteration may raise two eyebrows. Your pictures and descriptions will help the four (4) judges determine appropriate criteria to enable them to pick the top three competitors. I.e., there are no hard and fast criteria because I think that would be limiting and I want to see some extremely creative and passionate cooks. Be the taco!
Presentation counts! Do your best to display your tacos with the same flair and passion you prepare them. Don’t bother buying gilded taco holders with rosettes on them but creatively use plating, camera angles and lighting to show us your tacos at their best in as few pictures as possible. Again, I’m not looking for an Ansel Adams shot. Use the resources you have to the best effect possible.
Give your best effort with one cook only. Don’t wait to see what your competitors have posted then bring a redo. Earlier posts show confidence in your culinary skills and will be judged accordingly.
Judges will be moi, my wife Mari Jo and two of our best friends, who happen to have Mexican roots, so don’t try to BS us with cultural gobbledy-gook.
As stated in the Poll, there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for this Smackdown, and each will receive a tangible award in a form befitting the storied history of AR Smackdowns.
Best of luck to all contestants. Without further ado, let’s get this Smackdown started! Begin trash talking now and begin posting your cooks on Monday, July 24.
It’s time for the 2023 AmazingRibs.com Pitmaster Club Taco Smackdown!
As many of you know, the featured food for this friendly competition was determined by a fair and impartial poll found here. It was an exceptionally close race between seafood and tacos, but the latter came out on top in the end. Despite my best efforts to garner a total of 100 votes in the poll, alas, we only got 78. For those 22 people who prevented me from reaching my 100-vote goal (you know who you are!), you are hereby on notice and shouldn’t even bother entering this competition because I am one of the impartial judges. Moreover, if you voted for tacos, you’re on ecowper ‘s ‘list’, whatever that means. With those preliminary florae behind us, let’s get into the Smackdown weeds.
The competition will begin Monday, July 24 and run through Sunday July 30. I’m not dictating start and stop times but please post your cooks between those two dates. The interim time between this announcement and the start on Monday is appropriate for trash talking and intimidation tactics.
Make this a current cook, executed within the dates of the Smackdown. Honor system rules apply – please don’t post previous cooks.
Post your cooks under this topic.
Along with your pictures, please provide a brief, cogent description of your cook including any important details that you think would distinguish it from competitors’ cooks. E.g., organic, home-grown, locally sourced, home-made, etc. Describe ingredients and the complexity of preparation, both of which may not be apparent in a photo. I’m not expecting a literary bestseller, but being the wordsmith I am, any participant with a penchant or propensity to pepper their narrative purposefully and prolifically with polysyllabic words may increase the chances of raising an eyebrow. Alliteration may raise two eyebrows. Your pictures and descriptions will help the four (4) judges determine appropriate criteria to enable them to pick the top three competitors. I.e., there are no hard and fast criteria because I think that would be limiting and I want to see some extremely creative and passionate cooks. Be the taco!
Presentation counts! Do your best to display your tacos with the same flair and passion you prepare them. Don’t bother buying gilded taco holders with rosettes on them but creatively use plating, camera angles and lighting to show us your tacos at their best in as few pictures as possible. Again, I’m not looking for an Ansel Adams shot. Use the resources you have to the best effect possible.
Give your best effort with one cook only. Don’t wait to see what your competitors have posted then bring a redo. Earlier posts show confidence in your culinary skills and will be judged accordingly.
Judges will be moi, my wife Mari Jo and two of our best friends, who happen to have Mexican roots, so don’t try to BS us with cultural gobbledy-gook.
As stated in the Poll, there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for this Smackdown, and each will receive a tangible award in a form befitting the storied history of AR Smackdowns.
Best of luck to all contestants. Without further ado, let’s get this Smackdown started! Begin trash talking now and begin posting your cooks on Monday, July 24.
Sheesh, what some people will try to get away with. 
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