The first-ever Surfside BBQ and Blues Festival took place yesterday, Saturday 20th, at Surfside Drive where over a dozen BBQ teams took their meat off the pits at 9 a.m. in the morning following Friday nights celebrations as a result of the highly contested soup competition.
The Captain Morgan team took the first place trophy and prize of $250 who's winning entry was a clam chowder.
“Sherry, nutmeg and mace were the secret ingredients. Other than that it was a pretty basic recipe with clam base, cream, half & half. I loaded it with whole baby clams instead of minced clams, and when I made the roux I added a little arrowroot. I used this (he held up a barbecue brush) to drizzle sherry on top and garnished it with bacon bits and parsley.â€
Alan McNeill took second place with his "Swamp Soup", along with a trophy and $100 winnings. He claimed that it is a special version of an Italian Wedding Soup, where the meatballs are replaced with shrimp and the spinach with collards.
The third place trophy was awarded to the Kilted Kirby team for their much-liked Kilby Chilli.
Following Friday's soup competition, the meat of the action took place on Saturday, where all the teams who were entered the day prior, took part to compete for $2,000 in prize money.
Trophies and hotel stays were also awarded at the first Surfside Beach Barbecue and Blues Festival, which is hopefully going to make a return next year.
Thirteen teams started cooking barbecue on Friday night, and at 10 a.m. on Saturdaym, the meats were served to a small army of culinary arts students from Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
Reactions of competitors to having students judge their cooking instead of certified barbecue judges was "mostly favorable", said event organizer Rusty Jones of the Omar Shrine Club.
The BBQ was a success with the public, and the reaction from visitors was that they are looking forward to next years Surfside Beach Barbecue and Blues Festival which will hopefully become a yearly event.
Surfside Beach Barbecue and Blues Festival Competition Results
First Place – Rocking Pig, Henderson, N.C., $750, trophy and 2 nights at the Days Inn
Second – Omar Chefs sponsored by Sunco Pool, $500, trophy and 2 nights at the Days Inn
Third – Speedway BBQ, Surfside Beach, $300 and a trophy
Fourth – Kilted Kirby, $250
Fifth – Cornerstone Church, $200
6th – Captain Morgan
7th – Double D BBQ
8th – Swine Time
9th – Fatbacks Smokehouse
10th – Butts R Us
11th – Big Al’s Pig Pickin
12th – Road Kill Grillin
13th – WWMA Smokers
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