Tag Archives: BBQ

A teacher in Maryville sent me an email that touched my heart. She wrote: “My name is Taylor Emerson. I’m the lead teacher and center coordinator at Blount County Birth to Three, an early intervention program for children with and without … Continue reading →

Everyone knows “that guy.” It turns out that I might be “that guy.” I occasionally receive emails from Phil at Movoto. A month ago he sent me a link to a list of “9 Knoxville Stereotypes.” This week, he wrote to me … Continue reading →

The website for a barbeque contest in Maryland promised “live bands, a beer garden, vendors, a kids’ area, food, and lots and lots of BBQ.” Judging was scheduled for noon with winners to be announced at 3:00 p.m. My family … Continue reading →

The organizers of the Big BBQ Bash put my wife to work as a volunteer while I was judging the chicken, ribs, pork and brisket. She got to sample a few leftovers on the “grazing table.” I think the experience … Continue reading →

When the KCBS rep asked new judges to raise their hands, I did. Although it was my fourth time as a judge at the Big BBQ Bash, it was the first time the event was sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque … Continue reading →

Actor David Dwyer was very involved in the creation of the Big BBQ Bash in 2007. He was a member of the Leadership Blount class that started the annual event as their Legacy Project. My wife and I had the … Continue reading →

Between now and Saturday, I will re-read the regulations and judging procedures of the Kansas City Barbeque Society as part of my preparation for being a judge at the Big BBQ Bash in Maryville. This is the first year that … Continue reading →

Paul Simoneau, the Vice Chancellor for Administration of the Diocese of Knoxville, attended the Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk last month. At first, I thought he was just stopping by my booth to say hello. He actually had several specific … Continue reading →

Saturday could have been the day for the East Tennessee FOMO festival. FOMO stands for “fear of missing out.” It describes the feeling you get when you are reading social media posts from friends who are attending an event without you. I … Continue reading →

The July issue of the Kansas City BullSheet has a definite East Tennessee flavor to it. There are two articles about the Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival and one article about the Rocky Top Hummin’ & Strummin’ BBQ Cook-Off. One of … Continue reading →

All I wanted for dinner on my birthday was a salad with Bran Buds as croutons. After eating dinner at The Cheesecake Factory on Friday, I served as a Table Captain for the judges at the Big BBQ Bash in … Continue reading →

Most parents drag their kids to various events that they enjoy. It’s gratifying when the kids grow up and go to similar events of their own free will. For the second year in a row, my son went to the … Continue reading →

One of the things I learned in a Certified BBQ Judging Class on Saturday is that there are several websites and forums which allow competition cooks to submit photos of their turn-in boxes. Certified BBQ Judges can then rate the box, … Continue reading →

It’s not every day that I raise my right hand and swear an oath. Today I did just that, by repeating the following: I do solemnly swear to objectively and subjectively evaluate each Barbeque meat that is presented to my … Continue reading →