Hatfield American Legion BBQ Cookoff!

Today was an event we have been looking forward to ever since hearing it was scheduled:  the Great Hatfield American Legion BBQ 4 a Cure Cookoff!  The event benefits the Hemophilia Foundation, and a wonderful time was had by all.

Held right across the street from our RV park, it attracted 22 professional barbeque restaurants and caterers from the region, who competed for "Best BBQ" before a panel of distinguished judges.  In addition, attendees like us were entitled to taste specialty bacon bites, prepared by each competitor according to their own personal recipes, and then vote on the "Peoples Choice" best bacon BBQ tidbit!  Each competitor set up their smokers and mobile kitchens under a cabana, with welcoming signs and unique flair:

Here's a view down one of the rows of BBQ contestants:

The aroma of smoking pork, chicken and beef wafted over the grounds.  We could barely contain our appetites as we waited for the 1:00 pm kickoff of the tasting competition.  Luckily, attendees were entitled to free soft pretzels, FRESH AND HOT RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN!  We also served ourselves small portions of pulled pork and other barbeque delights to tide our tummies over until the tasting.

While we waited, we were entertained by a horseshoe tournament --

-- and The Little Red Rooster Blues Band, an excellent blues band complete with harmonica:

Come 1:00, it was off to the tasting.  We were going to have to taste FIFTEEN different BBQ Bacon Delights.  To the extent it didn't harden our arteries, it was going to pile the pounds on, so we decided to share a single tasting.  A fateful decision, as will be revealed below.

We enjoyed the various BBQ'ers' signs.  Many were creative and inspiring, as, for example, this one that was also pretty descriptive of their offerings:

One contestant even brought along the pig from whom they borrowed the meat.  Below, Kathy poses with the fellow

(WARNING:  DO NOT VIEW THIS PHOTO IF YOU ARE AT ALL SQUEAMISH.)

Our tally sheet and tasting notes below tell the whole story (buuurrrrrpppp!) 

Since we decided to share a tasting, we had to agree on the "one best" BBQ recipe in order to cast our vote.  This proved difficult.  Kathy found it a toss-up between White Collar BBQ --

which served up an amazing something-encrusted bacon that could be dipped in a hot melange of chocolate and marshmallow!  (David called it a "bacon s'more.") --

-- and Bearded Pigs BBQ --

which offered us an amazing habanero-infused meatball wrapped in scrumptious smoked bacon.  Not too spicy at first, but a flavor explosion, and then, afterward, as it started to become a memory, a surprise eruption of habanero flavor!

As it turned out, David thought the Bearded Pigs' habanero bacon-wrapped meatball was the hands-down winner.

There ensued a verbal tug-of-war as we tried to decide which contestant to cast our vote for.  Bearded Pigs finally won our joint Grand Champion award when we decided to give our Reserve Grand Champion award to the White Collar bacon s'mores because their bacon, itself, was -- hands-down -- the best of the festival.

Having cast our vote, we ran back over to the competitor who won our hearts -- er, stomachs -- and ask for a souvenir photo of the chef and his sign.  Here, Kathy informs him of the great honor he has been bestowed by receiving our vote:

We left after the competition, but will be going back late this afternoon to see if Kathy won the 50-50 raffle.  Hopefully not in the pouring rain and thunderstorm.