Wise to Be in Wise Again

The Inn at Wise, a stately three-story hotel built in 1910 that is on the National Register of Historic Places, is the perfect center for a barbecue cookoff. Judging in Wise, Virginia, was a great experience again as it was last year because Chillin’ and Grillin’ in the Glades is such a well-organized KCBS-sanctioned contest.

The Inn at Wise is the center for all barbecue activities in July.

Having been in Wise last year, I knew the contest and its arrangements. Music is a big part of the event with entertainers on both days, but judges have to miss performances in the middle of the day when judging occurs. In addition, because judging is “blind” and judging activities extend for several hours, judges miss seeing other street scenes, including the final steps by cooking teams as they prepare their entries.

Wolf's Revenge, a popular team that placed third in the pork category, hands out Scotch eggs (although judges aren't influenced by the kind welcome because judging is "blind"—which team prepares an entry is not known).

Old Virginia Smoke gives samples of burnt ends.

This year I was fortunate to see two special activities. When I arrived, Wolf’s Revenge, one of the top cooking teams, was outside the inn to give Scotch eggs—hard-boiled eggs wrapped in baked sausage—to judges as they entered. In addition, when I left the Inn at Wise after the contest had ended, Old Virginia Smoke, the team that finished third in the brisket category, was giving samples of burnt ends—the best of brisket—to passersby on the street.

Many top and prominent teams from the region were among the 27 teams (two fewer than last year) that competed. The winning team was Rocky Top Barbeque. Second place (reserve champion) was won by Muttley Crew BBQ of Apex, NC. At the table where I judged, two meats—chicken and ribs—were exceptionally superior.

Cooking teams set up on Main Street in downtown Wise.

Part of the pleasure of judging in Wise is how kindly the judges are treated by the contest organizers. Before the meat turn-ins began, a drawing for several gifts—trail passes, T-shirts, BBQ sauces, and other souvenirs—was held. Because my lucky ticket was picked, I won a bottle of local wine. Mountain Rose Vineyard, only six miles from downtown, has converted land mined for coal into a lush vineyard, and I got to take its best red wine home with me.

My prize for having a lucky ticket.

Because the contest organizers decided this year to reserve one-fourth of the judge seats for judges who had not been to Wise before (a smart decision to build interest and possibly create a larger pool of judge applicants for future years), I was initially “waitlisted” for this contest. However, as additional registrations of cooking teams were received, more judges were needed, including me.

Judges relax in the inn's conference room before the contest begins.

I feel fortunate to judge again in Wise. Because the contest is so well-organized and judges are treated so generously, I hope to return again.

Trophies are ready for the winning teams.

Barbecue with Blues in a Small South Carolina City

In Upstate South Carolina, Greenwood holds several events each year to attract locals and visitors to its Uptown area. The premier event is the three-day S.C. Festival of Discovery that combines barbecue (and other food), blues music, arts and crafts, history, and a dynamic street scene.

Judges await the start of their meeting in the Arts Center.

Now in its 19th year, the festival continues to impress and attract top barbecue cooking teams for a major regional cookoff. Because 93 had registered (although only 83 competed), 16 tables of judging officials — each table with six judges and a table captain — were organized. Even though a lot of judges are needed, registration usually ends on the day in January that it opens. Lindsay Burns, the organizer, recommended to the judges at their meeting that they apply immediately for the contest next year when registration begins because the contest is so popular.

Cooking teams set up along Main Street in Uptown Greenwood.

In addition to the standard meat categories — chicken, ribs, pork, and beef brisket — of a barbecue cookoff sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, the festival holds contests for hash, “anything goes,” and dessert. For this contest, hash is made with potatoes, onions, spices and other seasonings with beef or pork, or both. Entries in the “anything goes” category include at least two products (sausage, ham, beef franks) of Carolina Pride, the primary festival sponsor.

All judging activities were held in the Arts Center.

So many teams were inspired to compete because the sizable prize fund is usually large for a BBQ contest. The festival awarded more than $23,000 in prizes — $1,200 in the hash, anything goes, and dessert contests each — with the remainder presented to the successful barbecue teams. The top prize of $3,000 with a trophy for being grand champion was awarded to Smokin’ Gringo’s BBQ, which aced out Palmetto Pitmasters, the reserve champion, by less than one point.

The center stage featured entertainment on each day of the festival.

The festival also includes a people’s choice contest with the winning team being the one that receives the most votes. In addition, young people from ages six to 15 show off their grilling skills in a Kids Que contest that requires them to use ground beef and bacon in dishes that they prepare.

The Blues Doctors entertain on Friday night, one of their three gigs at the festival.

A popular component of the festival is the blues cruise, with regional performers as well as others from as far away as Indiana, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C. It included 21 ensembles (solos to quartets) performing on the main stage as well as at 12 locations, such as the Arts Center, where judging activities were held on Saturday.

I found Adam Gussow playing as part of The Blue Doctors — I had used his materials in a class that I taught.

One month before the cookoff, Greenwood hosts another major event known as the S.C. Festival of Flowers. The entire city that has slightly more than 22,000 residents dresses up for the occasion, several homes and gardens are open for tours, and more than 40 topiaries decorate the Uptown area. Fortunately for barbecue and blues fans, the topiaries are still on display during the second weekend in July, when the Festival of Discovery is held.

A topiary of a Jeep anchors one corner of an intersection.

I’ve made a note to apply as a judge as soon as registration begins next January. The Festival of Discovery is a delightful event to attend, and I hope to return.

Look closely to see the alligator topiary in the foreground on Main Street.