MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – If you’re in downtown or midtown Memphis this week, you may be hit with the sweet smell of barbecue in the air.
There’s not just one, but two barbecue cooking competitions happening in the Bluff City.
Wednesday was the kickoff for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Liberty Park and Thursday will be the kickoff for the first-ever SmokeSlam at Tom Lee Park in downtown Memphis.
Barbecue competition is back in Memphis for the month of May.
“I just hope the competition is ready because we’re about to change lives this weekend.” said Swinos pitmaster Josh Cooper.
And so is the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Liberty Park.
“The color is exactly what you want and look how those are just starting to get tender and bend,” said Hall Pass BBQ pitmaster Tom Cassidy. “In about an hour those are going to be fall off the bone perfect!”
More than 100 teams from 22 different states and five countries setting up and grilling for Day 1 of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
“Anybody can cook a rib,” said WillBeQue pitmaster Craig Wilkerson. “Anybody can cook a loin. Anybody can cook a shoulder, but it takes a special team to cook all three of them and come out done at the same time. It’s a great challenge and we’re cooking three whole hogs this weekend.”
The coveted prize of champion for shoulder, ribs and whole hog up for grabs this year, and a share of more than $150,000 in prize money.
“We’ve been around the block, and we’ve got a little bit of hardware to show for it right?,” said Sweet Swine O’ Mine pitmaster Mark Lambert.
Down by the river is a new competition.
“I am beyond excited!,” said SmokeSlam organizer Melzana Wilson.
The first-ever SmokeSlam at Tom Lee Park.
“We’re not competing ourselves, but we’re going to be serving this amazing food,” said Open Fire pitmaster and content creator Al Frugoni. “For the people to try our food is part of serving our culture, who we are and where we come from.”
More than 50 teams will compete for $250,000 worth of prize money in whole hog, pulled pork and ribs categories right on the Mississippi River.
“I think that’s what the spirit of this festival is, taking that love of barbecue,” said Wilson. “That love of family and barbecue and bringing it into welcoming our friends and family in Memphis as well as the people from out of town.”
No matter which competition you choose to go to, you’re in for a barbecue packed weekend.
Doors for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest open at Liberty Park open at 11:00 AM on Thursday.
Doors for SmokeSlam will open at 2:00 PM Thursday at Tom Lee Park.
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Source: Two BBQ competitions in Memphis this week, what you can expect from both
