Three Valley BBQs Compete in Jack Daniel's Competition

Three Valley-area barbecue teams have been selected to compete in the "prestigious" 21st Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue.Barbecue pros from Blake's BBQ in Gilbert, Otis and the Bird in Mesa and Rhythm 'n QUE in Phoenix will duke it out against sixty other teams from all over the...

By Heather Hoch

October 15, 2009

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Three Valley-area barbecue teams have been selected to compete in the "prestigious" 21st Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue.

Barbecue pros from Blake's BBQ in Gilbert, Otis and the Bird in Mesa and Rhythm 'n QUE in Phoenix will duke it out against sixty other teams from all over the world for the coveted Grand Champion title and the $30,000 prize that goes with it.

To get to the world championship, teams had to compete in a previous barbecue event, and from the large pool of entrants, be selected in a blind drawing, which seems more like luck that actual talent. From there, teams will be judged at the event in seven categories: ribs, pork shoulder, beef brisket, chicken, cook's choice, dessert and Jack Daniel's sauce.

The championship event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 24 at the Jack Daniel's Hollow in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The entrance fee is a voluntary donation, so if you find yourself in the ominously named Lynchburg (a town of less than 400 people), make sure to stop by.

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