Sonny's Smokin BBQ Showdown
- Jan 29, 2017
- 2 min read
If there’s one thing I’ve learned living in Florida it’s that good BBQ brings people together! When I moved here 11 years ago, my first introduction to southern barbecue was at Sonny’s BBQ in Gainesville, FL. That’s why I was so excited when Sonny’s invited me to “Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown BBQ Invitational” held in Sanford, FL. on January 14, 2017.
It was my first BBQ competition and it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. The sun was shining, delicious smoke filled the air, and the competition grounds were packed with people ready for good food and a good time. Seriously, the live music was off the hook and it felt like one big family cookout for thousands local barbecue lovers. Sonny’s has truly made a name for itself as the competition brought pit masters from all over the country to compete for first prize of $20,000. I loved seeing the culture of competitive cooking. I was fortunate enough to me 3 different pitmasters and their teams. All of them had a different method of smoking the meat, but all their food was delicious and I’ve never met friendlier group of people.
* The Smoking Hills BBQ Team - Overland Park, KS https://www.facebook.com/The-Smoking-Hills-140675845945357/
These guys are former winners of the World Food Championships and their ribs are out of this world! They use barrel smokers to get the meat as tender as possible without falling off the bone. According to pit master Loren Hill and his brother Gary, the keys to a good BBQ are choosing the right meat, rubs/sauces and smoke; and cooking it to the proper tenderness.
* Sauced! BBQ Team - Charlotte, NC
Scott Adams smokes his meat in something he calls a backwoods smoker but looks more like a gun safe to me. Scott says it takes 6-7 hours to cook the meat properly. In competitions he ditches the tangy vinegar sauce they typical use in North Carolina and opts for a sweeter Kansas City style instead.
* The Worms - Houston TX
Opting for the typical offset (old fashion) pit, Joe and Monica Castillo teamed up with Robert Sandoval Jr. of Compañero cookers to form the type of high energy team you would expect to find in Texas. I had so much fun hanging out with these guys I could have spent the entire day with them. Their ability to party was only outmatched by their amazing BBQ!
All-in-all, this was the best food event I’ve been to in a long time. I genuinely had a blast and can’t wait for next year’s event. Of course you don’t have to wait for great food, you can always head over to your local Sonny’s BBQ any day of the week!
Love, Sem xoxo
Sponsored By: Sonny's BBQ
Photography By: Jonathan Dean
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