Competition Canopies


 

John Frailey

TVWBB Fan
I recently did my first comp. A small backyard affair for the local church school. A couple of the contestants and exhibitors showed up with these elaborate canopies with floors, fully enclosed screening and serving "holes" in them. They were saying those setups were Health Dept requirements for serving food at these types of events. Now I have been to a lot of county and State fairs and never had seen such a thing. Any enlightenment from experienced comp people? Although an amateur I find the comp thing sort of fun but not to the point of an expensive canopy.
 
There seems to be a very distinct line between cooking for the competition (where only the judges eat your product) and vending to the public. The rules for comp cooking are usually not as strict as vending rules.

Just from my observations it seems to be related to money and the public's expectations that what they are buying is safe. Competition judges know what they are getting involved in and so are willing to take more of a chance. This is why I'm usually very leery of letting John Q Public sample my product. Even though I am absolutely positive that my product is safe, I just can't open myself up to liability.

Get a copy of and READ the event and sanctioning body's rules VERY, VERY carefully. If there's something you don't understand, then find somebody who has the Official say-so to give you an explanation. DO NOT rely on hearsay, local lore, tribal knowledge, guesswork, rolling dice, tea leaves, voodoo bones, tarot cards, crystal ball, (you get the point), or (the worst of all) what some other team told you.

Russ
 
I'm sure every county across the country is a little different but I can say without a doubt that our health department does not require a special type of canopy to sell food to the public. You do have to have a canopy so the food is covered, but a standard canopy is fine. They are more concerned about food temp, cleaning and such.
 
Here in No. Calif the health dept regs for vending vary from county to county. There are those who require fully screened and floored canopies with pass thru windows for serving as well as tripple wash stations and hot water hand washing stations. They also require that no food containers be on the floor. Others are much more liberal. Many also charge a day use vending fee. Highest I have seen is $130 in Oakland, Calif. The best for vendors is at Indian casinos because the gov health depts do not have juristiction. My team as well as many others have chosen not to do PC for these and other reasons.

Mark
 
Thanks guys. Your comments all make sense. The one comp I have done was a church fundraiser and required a Knights of Columbus member on the team, per the Health Dept, which probably put it in some special category. The people with the enclosed canopies were obviously doing it much more expansively and for profit. Thanks again. Always great to get curiosity resolved out here
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mk evenson:
Here in No. Calif the health dept regs for vending vary from county to county. There are those who require fully screened and floored canopies with pass thru windows for serving as well as tripple wash stations and hot water hand washing stations. They also require that no food containers be on the floor. Others are much more liberal. Many also charge a day use vending fee. Highest I have seen is $130 in Oakland, Calif. The best for vendors is at Indian casinos because the gov health depts do not have juristiction. My team as well as many others have chosen not to do PC for these and other reasons.

Mark </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mark, by PC I assume you mean "Public Comps" as opposed to private judges only comps.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by John Frailey:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mk evenson:
Here in No. Calif the health dept regs for vending vary from county to county. There are those who require fully screened and floored canopies with pass thru windows for serving as well as tripple wash stations and hot water hand washing stations. They also require that no food containers be on the floor. Others are much more liberal. Many also charge a day use vending fee. Highest I have seen is $130 in Oakland, Calif. The best for vendors is at Indian casinos because the gov health depts do not have juristiction. My team as well as many others have chosen not to do PC for these and other reasons.

Mark </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mark, by PC I assume you mean "Public Comps" as opposed to private judges only comps. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

He probably meant "people's choice". Because if you compete in that you are serving the public, therefore the health dept would be involved.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by John Frailey:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mk evenson:
Here in No. Calif the health dept regs for vending vary from county to county. There are those who require fully screened and floored canopies with pass thru windows for serving as well as tripple wash stations and hot water hand washing stations. They also require that no food containers be on the floor. Others are much more liberal. Many also charge a day use vending fee. Highest I have seen is $130 in Oakland, Calif. The best for vendors is at Indian casinos because the gov health depts do not have juristiction. My team as well as many others have chosen not to do PC for these and other reasons.

Mark </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mark, by PC I assume you mean "Public Comps" as opposed to private judges only comps. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, PC, is Peoples Choice, This is usually run after your last turn in. The public by tickets from the promoter and then they tastes your BBQ, usually sold in 2oz sample cups. The promoter and the team split the money taken by the sale of the tickets in some fashion ie. 50/50, or 25/75 etc. Since the team is now selling to the public, the health dept gets involved with requiring the teams to purchase a limited vendors permit and to run the opperation under that counties health permit guidlines.

Mark
 
In will county Illinois, you are able to cook outside but have to serve from and enclosed shelter. This is the way the healt department explaned it to our lodge when we do a pancake breakfast at the park. We built a small building that we take apart and move or store.
 
Here's one of mine, screened last year when I was cooking with Bang- A- Drum.

compBBQclearlake004.jpg


Here without screen but solid walls this year.
Oh, sorry, no walls up at that point.

Mark

morganhill2011017.jpg
 
Mark,
If you don't do PC, but still have to cook enough for the 6 judges to each get a primo taste, what happens to the leftovers? Just trying to get a clue on what comp is all about.Only did my one backyard BBQ church fundraiser.
 
John, I either cool it on ice and take home, or make samples for the hungry masses at the comp. Usually my team mates share what they cook with each other so we all get a nice taste for Sunday supper.
Mark
 
Mark, So I take that to mean you share with fellow competitors (hungry masses) and team mates and take the rest home? ( please pardon my ignorance. I am really trying to get a grip on all this)The hungry masses can't include "the public" right?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by John Frailey:
Mark, So I take that to mean you share with fellow competitors (hungry masses) and team mates and take the rest home? ( please pardon my ignorance. I am really trying to get a grip on all this)The hungry masses can't include "the public" right? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

According to all the health regulations I have ever read, selling or vending to the public requires specific permits and adherence to regs. Giving food away for free, although frowned on by some PCers, is another story. Many comps are held in conjunction with a second event that brings the public into contact with the teams, and their BBQ. Good will feeding IMHO is a generous way to promote BBQ.

Mark
 
Thanks Mark. that sort of puts my one experience into perspective. How American..give it away and nobody cares..make a buck and the regs are all over you. Thanks a ton for your input on this. Hope I cross paths with you someday. Peace.
 
I'm doing my first comp next weekend and have reviewed and re-reviewed the regs and around here (i.e. county regs) I can give away my leftovers no problem. I'm actually happy with this as I'm doing the comp for more promoting myself, supporting the comp (1st year comp non-KCBS, hopefully will be KCBS next year) and raising a little money for a nonprofit through donations. Don't have any screened regs and have the usual regs mentioned above (hand washing station, 3-stage washing, containers off the ground, etc) but just check with the local regs.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by John Frailey:
Thanks Mark. that sort of puts my one experience into perspective. How American..give it away and nobody cares..make a buck and the regs are all over you. Thanks a ton for your input on this. Hope I cross paths with you someday. Peace. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

John, why don't you throw your hat in the ring at Rancho Cordova; If you decide to and need help I will be there and would be glad to share any tips I might have for a KCBS comp.

http://www.cbbqa.org/wiki/inde...erican_BBQ_Throwdown

http://www.enutshells.net/prof...ncil/July4/index.htm
 

 

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