Speaking Of Flashbacks. . .
Let's hop in the time machine and return to May 15, 2009.
The Memphis in May BBQ festival was a rousing success. According to the organizers this was a slightly down year concerning the number of teams entered in the event, but this did not stop large crowds from turning out and certainly did nothing to mute the fierce competition.
Last year's 2nd Place Ribs finalists, The Sassy Sows, had their game faces on when Beatrice and I arrived on Saturday morning and their ribs looked great, tasted even better, but unfortunately, they didn't place this year.
Hard luck, but sometimes it is luck to end up in the finals. Although, it cannot be ignored that they have placed in three of the last four years. But it was not to be for the girls this year. Irregardless, the ladies did a fine job and their hospitality and fun-loving demeanor are always 1st Class and 1st Place!!
Ubon's "Champion's Choice" BBQ Team elected to enter the shoulder category this year. We saw "Big Brain" Campbell on Friday night for a brief moment as he was tending to his shoulders and on Saturday, we didn't see the whole team until after the judging was over. Gary and his daughter Leslie, who incidentally is expecting a baby soon, were all there, hospitable as always and invited us to sample the pork shoulder.
Gary, by the way, was featured on Fox and Friends this past Friday morning as his team was preparing for the Big Apple BBQ something or other up there. Steve Doocy of Fox News, jackass extraordinaire, tried his best to trip Gary up with his sarcastic badgering, but Gary faced him down and it was all over after Doocy put a piece of the shoulder in his mouth. His face said it all.
Did I mention that Gary is a champion? I don't know where I get that idea from. . .
Being a professionally trained culinarian, I am quite fussy about the things I put in my mouth, well, food-wise anyway, and the shoulder Ubon's presented this year was absolutely phenomenal! Perfectly cooked, tender, well-formed "bark" on the exterior, moist and simply divine! I've cooked many a pork shoulder, but even with all my training, book learning and practical experience, I've never produced anything that comes within 10 miles of those shoulders. Well done Ubon's!!
Once the judging was over the crowds proceeded to the awards area, which was ankle deep in slimy mud, but that didn't stop the celebrating as the individual teams were crowned in the various categories.
Ubon's placed third in the shoulder category and I'm sure must have been disappointed after all the blood, sweat and beers, er, I mean tears, but a win is a win and next year is just around the corner.
The surprise hit of the event, at least for us, was the formation of a new cooking team from New York, succinctly called Jubon's. I'll ask that you go to Leslie's website for the full story of the beginnings of this new phenomenon.
Jubon's entered in the Patio Porkers ranks and walked away with a 4th place trophy! Great job Jubon's!
UPDATE: From the comment section of a previous post about Jubon's, Alexandra, whom I must assume is one of the Jubonettes, adds this:
the new york jubon's team is made up of: david rosen, adam rosen, brian jay and bob-o livingston!!!! we were just in memphis for the 2009 competition and won 4th place in patio porkers.
Names+faces = people! Paging Dr. Rosenrosen!
As for the Sassy Sows?
They lack nothing in the way of pride, friendliness and support for their fellow competitors. And I'm sure that they've already hatched a plan to capture next year's crown. Crafty little ladies they are!
And Beatrice? Well, she had a blast as this picture may attest.
Looking forward to next year's event Beatrice? I think you are!
