CENTER POINT, IA (August 20, 2022) - SMOKIN UP MAIN STREET in Center Point, IA is one of my favorite backyard BBQ contests to attend each year. I've judged and competed here in the past, and it's very close to home. I came out Friday evening to hang out with the BBQ teams. Always a fun time.
Steve Carfrae (LTS BBQ) was set up at his usual spot on the street corner. I noticed members of the BAMBQ BBQ team were all sitting under his canopy having a lively conversation. Steve Slezak and Bryan Meyer (BAMBQ Head Cook) usually vend and compete here, but they had to bow out of the event due to Bryan having a bad condition of broken ribs.
I suggested to the group they should rename LTS BBQ to "Broken Rib BBQ." They liked it! Anyway, Bryan was in PAIN and his wife, Audrey, was very concerned. She warned him not to do anything physical so he can heal. Bryan, of course, accepted her demands. The dude was in pain, yet still showed up to help out Carfrae with some of his knowledge.
Steve Carfrae (LTS BBQ) was set up at his usual spot on the street corner. I noticed members of the BAMBQ BBQ team were all sitting under his canopy having a lively conversation. Steve Slezak and Bryan Meyer (BAMBQ Head Cook) usually vend and compete here, but they had to bow out of the event due to Bryan having a bad condition of broken ribs.
I suggested to the group they should rename LTS BBQ to "Broken Rib BBQ." They liked it! Anyway, Bryan was in PAIN and his wife, Audrey, was very concerned. She warned him not to do anything physical so he can heal. Bryan, of course, accepted her demands. The dude was in pain, yet still showed up to help out Carfrae with some of his knowledge.
Bryan Meyer (BAMBQ) showing LTS BBQ a few of his techniques on making award winning BBQ.
Carfrae forgot to bring brisket injection, so the team nextdoor (225 Mafia BBQ) gave him some of their injection powder to use. Very cool, Rande and Danny Galle! I remember last year when I competed, Smokin' Monkey loaned me a table to use for my GMG Trek Prime portable pellet grill. Everyone looks out for each other.
 225 Mafia BBQ |  SMOKIN' MONKEY |
I walked around talking to teams, and just hanging out having interesting discussions. I talked with a new team competing for the first time Meader's BBQ. These guys are pretty cool and very excited about cooking BBQ. We had a great conversation about competing and judging.
Meader's BBQ - a new team from the Center Point, IA area.
So many stories are born at BBQ contests. Here is one story for you. When a BBQ competition team called FAKE CHOW asks a BBQ judge (me) to bring them potato salad in exchange for a box of awesome BBQ meats, what do I get back? NO CHOW!
That's right. FAKE CHOW BBQ team mates Matty and Dusty said to me late Friday night, "Let's barter, man. Hey, bring us some of that famous potato salad of yours and we'll put together a nice big box of meats for ya." It sounded legit. I am in. BBQ meats for me!
I took their bait and faithfully on Saturday morning (August 20th at 11:45 am) I hand delivered to them a big helping of my potato salad (a half size aluminum pan to be exact). The day moved on and I judged for a couple of hours and took photos at awards time. Everyone was starting to pack up their competition gear and still nothing. Nada. It truly is FAKE CHOW.
That's right. FAKE CHOW BBQ team mates Matty and Dusty said to me late Friday night, "Let's barter, man. Hey, bring us some of that famous potato salad of yours and we'll put together a nice big box of meats for ya." It sounded legit. I am in. BBQ meats for me!
I took their bait and faithfully on Saturday morning (August 20th at 11:45 am) I hand delivered to them a big helping of my potato salad (a half size aluminum pan to be exact). The day moved on and I judged for a couple of hours and took photos at awards time. Everyone was starting to pack up their competition gear and still nothing. Nada. It truly is FAKE CHOW.
Although it is possible my LITTLE baggie of beef brisket (I only take home brisket left-overs from judging) just might contain a slice of their brisket You never know. Dusty did surprise me with a bottle of his Darty Drizzle Finishing Sauce to try out. Guess I will try it out on my FAKE CHOW.
 Could there be a FAKE CHOW BBQ brisket slice in here? |  Darty Drizzle Finishing Sauce |
C'mon fellas, Where's my barter box of BBQ? Seriously, though. You guys worked hard at vending and simply forgot. I don't need the box. Hope you enjoyed the potato salad. :-)
Moving on to the awards. Congrats to 2 CASE BBQ for their Grand Champion win. Reserve Grand went to SMOKIN' MONKEY. 3rd overall went to SMOKIN' SUCKERS. FAKE CHOW BBQ nailed 4th place. Now I know what happened to my barter box. FAKE CHOW used the meat that I was supposed to get in their BBQ turn-in boxes. Well, I guess you can blame the BBQ judges for this win. :-) 5th overall went to SMOKIN CRITTERS.
Moving on to the awards. Congrats to 2 CASE BBQ for their Grand Champion win. Reserve Grand went to SMOKIN' MONKEY. 3rd overall went to SMOKIN' SUCKERS. FAKE CHOW BBQ nailed 4th place. Now I know what happened to my barter box. FAKE CHOW used the meat that I was supposed to get in their BBQ turn-in boxes. Well, I guess you can blame the BBQ judges for this win. :-) 5th overall went to SMOKIN CRITTERS.
FAKE CHOW BBQ'S MOTTO: "If your shit sucks, blame the judges."
Joe Osbrink models the back of FAKE CHOW BBQ's T-Shirt
TOP FIVE OVERALL WINNERS
GRAND CHAMPION - 2 CASE BBQ
 RESERVE GRAND - SMOKIN' MONKEY BAR-B-Q |  SMOKIN' SUCKERS |
 4TH OVERALL - FAKE CHOW BBQ |  5TH OVERALL - SMOKIN' CRITTERS |
TOP 3 CHICKEN
1ST CHICKEN - 2 CASE BBQ
 2ND CHICKEN - FAKE CHOW BBQ |  3RD CHICKEN - SMOKIN' MONKEY |
TOP 3 RIBS
1ST RIBS - SMOKIN' SUCKERS
 2ND RIBS - FAKE CHOW BBQ |  3RD RIBS - SMOKIN' CRITTERS |
TOP 3 PORK
1ST PORK - 2 CASE BBQ
 2ND PORK - SMOKIN' MONKEY |  3RD PORK - SMOKIN' SUCKERS |
TOP 3 BRISKET
1ST BRISKET - SMOKIN' MONKEY
 2ND BRISKET - FAKE CHOW BBQ |  3RD BRISKET - SMOKIN' CRITTERS |
Our judge table had a 180 in Brisket (all six judges gave the highest score of 999 each). When SMOKIN' MONKEY was announced as the first place winner, a few of us judges congratulated them on their fine brisket. We all expressed how it was so delicious, especially that burnt end. Amazing!
Lyn Burks (KCBS BBQ Judge) gave me a cool clipboard to use for my judging score card. Very cool. Thanks, Lyn!
Lyn Burks (KCBS BBQ Judge) gave me a cool clipboard to use for my judging score card. Very cool. Thanks, Lyn!
 My new clipboard for score sheets |  KCBS Certified BBQ Judges |
SMOKIN UP MAIN STREET remains one of the coolest backyard BBQ contests around, and boy did I consume some awesome food today. I will be back again - either to compete or judge.
Nice job on your 10th year of running this contest, Francis Dutton. Thank you Ruby Vokaty for hosting the show all these years at Rubies Bar in Center Point, IA
Nice job on your 10th year of running this contest, Francis Dutton. Thank you Ruby Vokaty for hosting the show all these years at Rubies Bar in Center Point, IA
- BBQ CRITIC
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