This is one of Memphis in May's most popular events. This event claims to be the largest pork barbecue-cooking contest on Earth. They call it the "Superbowl of Swine," and then perhaps over-egg the metaphors by continuing "The College of Pig Knowledge" and "The Grandaddy of Grills." It takes place on Tom Lee Park as part of the annual Memphis in May conglomeration of festivals. Vegetarians, you have been warned!.
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
5/14/2009 - 5/16/2009
When:14 - 16 May 2009 (annual)
Where:Tom Lee Park
Opening Hours:11am-12am; Sat 10am-11pm
Sometimes referred to as the "Super Bowl of Swine," the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is an internationally renowned event that takes place each May in Tom Lee Park. Thousands of contestants cook up pork, beef, poultry, and more in hopes of winning cash prizes as well as industry recognition. Although it is a cooking competition, there are a few activities designed to allow visitors to get a sampling of all the Barbecue Cooking Contest has to offer.
More than 97,000 people attended the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to see, smell and experience the legend of Memphis Barbecue. 1999 saw the introduction of Rib Row, an area that offers championship barbecue to the public.
They gather to compete with fellow grill-masters for the title of World Champion. This three-day competition is now in its 29th year. It attracts the best of the best. Teams gather from around the world to show off their skills in producing the perfect ribs, shoulder and whole hog. Other competition cooking categories include sauce, "anything but" (pork); in which teams cook beef, seafood, poultry and "exotic" meats. Many teams have competed in the Memphis in May Sanctioned Contest Network, winning contests throughout the year to gain entry to the Championship. And if that isn’t enough, there’s also world-class entertainment. Teams compete in skits in the outrageous Ms. Piggie competitions, where grown men and women strut their stuff in way-out costumes.
The tented booths extended for a full mile along the riverbank and each one carried a sign or banner with the name of its team: the Mighty Swiners, Pig-a-Licious, Count Bastie Porkestra, Dr Swinestein and the Porkaholics, Quentin Porkandbeano Presents Reservoir Hogs, Aporkalypse Now, and so on. Big sound systems blasted out classic rock, country and western, dirty Southern funk and hip-hop. It was a predominantly white crowd, all the cooking teams except the Pink Ladies were male, and the atmosphere was like a barbecue-themed Mardi Gras. Everyone seemed to have a beer in their hand, and many of them, male and female, were wearing foam-rubber pig snouts.
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the Granddaddy of Grilling...where on this given Saturday, it's anybody's game.
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