Hey guys what's up?
This is my first time posting to the comp forum, so I just want to say hi and introduce my self a bit. I'm 36 and have been bbqing/grilling since I was 15 years old. I've always been experimental, making my own rubs, sauces and all that. TVWBB is an awesome resource and since joining I have really kicked my bbq game up a couple notches. That being said I have never wanted to try comp bbq, really having my food judge by a bunch of judges never really appealed to me. But after years of nudging by friends and family I have finally decided to give it a shot. My first comp is in a couple of weeks and it is a rib only competition. I figured it's a good way of getting my feet wet and seeing if It's something I really enjoy.
Anyhow, since signing up my competitive juices have taken over, I have started reading and researching comp bbq online because I know it's a different beast than just your ordinary chillin with your family in the back yard type of thing. I'm looking to find that "one bite" kick in the pants. My typical style of bbq has a mostly spicy profile with some sweet. I would say something like 80% spicy 20% sweet. Everywhere I read I hear that sweet is the way to go. And i've been tweaking my rubs and sauces to put more sweetness into it but keep the heat. But always my end result has been overly sweet with little or no heat at all and really not that "one bite" wow factor.
So my question is this. What flavor profile are judges looking for? Is it that sweet or heat or both?
If it's both can you provide some tips or tricks in obtaining both? Should I add more spice to the rub? Or the sauce? or Both?
Or since this is my first competition, should I abandon any changes to what I've been doing for years, turn in my spicy BBQ and let the cards fall where they may? Or is that just committing comp suicide?
Thanks for your time and thanks in advance for any advice.
This is my first time posting to the comp forum, so I just want to say hi and introduce my self a bit. I'm 36 and have been bbqing/grilling since I was 15 years old. I've always been experimental, making my own rubs, sauces and all that. TVWBB is an awesome resource and since joining I have really kicked my bbq game up a couple notches. That being said I have never wanted to try comp bbq, really having my food judge by a bunch of judges never really appealed to me. But after years of nudging by friends and family I have finally decided to give it a shot. My first comp is in a couple of weeks and it is a rib only competition. I figured it's a good way of getting my feet wet and seeing if It's something I really enjoy.
Anyhow, since signing up my competitive juices have taken over, I have started reading and researching comp bbq online because I know it's a different beast than just your ordinary chillin with your family in the back yard type of thing. I'm looking to find that "one bite" kick in the pants. My typical style of bbq has a mostly spicy profile with some sweet. I would say something like 80% spicy 20% sweet. Everywhere I read I hear that sweet is the way to go. And i've been tweaking my rubs and sauces to put more sweetness into it but keep the heat. But always my end result has been overly sweet with little or no heat at all and really not that "one bite" wow factor.
So my question is this. What flavor profile are judges looking for? Is it that sweet or heat or both?
If it's both can you provide some tips or tricks in obtaining both? Should I add more spice to the rub? Or the sauce? or Both?
Or since this is my first competition, should I abandon any changes to what I've been doing for years, turn in my spicy BBQ and let the cards fall where they may? Or is that just committing comp suicide?
Thanks for your time and thanks in advance for any advice.
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