Author – Grant
Based In - Houston, Texas
Today’s Photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/32017704@N03/sets/72157614489814081/
Today could have been perfect. All the ingredients were in place but the execution was appalling. Firstly, as it was the day before our 10k race, there was no need for any exercise and that’s always a nice feeling. Then comes the fact that the run is in Houston and, of course, we’re already here which means no driving, which also makes for a nice day. Next up, we had zero appointments or chores of any kind to do meaning we could literally do whatever we wanted. A quick glance out of the window revealed blue skies, glorious sunshine and 85 degree heat - perfect slow-cooked meat eating weather if you ask me. Well what do you know, The Wold Cha
mpionship Bar-Be-Que Contest is taking place in the parking lot of Reliant Stadium and The Houston Astrodome…that must be one big event. A little research revealed that it lasts three days and contains over 600 competitors…seems worth a visit, especially with a bargain basement entry fee of just $7 per person.
So we arrive and the smell of burning wood and charred meat smacked us in the face as we got within half a kilometre of the entry gate. I hope you agree, this all looks like the perfect storm right? Well try to imagine my absolute horror when it became clear that each of the competition contestants were only cooking for the judges and
their private parties (i.e. their mostly corporate sponsors). So despite being able to see, smell and hear some of the most perfect BBQ’d meats in the entire world, I couldn’t actually eat any. We even tried walking slowly past every one of the 600 huge cooking tents attempting to look dangerously emaciated but that just isn’t a look I’ve perfected quite yet. I can’t put my disappointment into words but it must be similar to being invited to the Playboy Mansion on the same night your genitals are at the dry cleaners. There is a big marquee they call the Chuck Wagon which gave out a free plate of food to paying visitors but unfortunately it was the BBQ equivalent of a Sloppy Joe, some tinned Bush’s beans and a pa
cket of Lays crisps. Seriously, for a day that looked so promising, the majority of prisoners ate better than us that day. There were quite a few regular concession stands where you can pay as you eat but, inexplicably, only one of them was a BBQ place. As the ribs weren’t ready for another five minutes, I went for an appetiser of five types of sausages on a stick. I know, I’m all class. But this turned out to be a great move as it allowed me to watch them open a bag of frozen ribs and shove them into a convection oven. Cancel the ribs thanks – I’d rather try the pizza on a stick from the stall next door. Oh the shame of it.
Who cares what happened for the rest of the day – today will always be burned into my memory as the day I went to the worlds biggest and best BBQ and ate complete crap.
It’s the 10k race tomorrow morning and, being so soon after Mardi Gras, I’m understandably worried…
Based In - Houston, Texas
Today’s Photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/32017704@N03/sets/72157614489814081/
Today could have been perfect. All the ingredients were in place but the execution was appalling. Firstly, as it was the day before our 10k race, there was no need for any exercise and that’s always a nice feeling. Then comes the fact that the run is in Houston and, of course, we’re already here which means no driving, which also makes for a nice day. Next up, we had zero appointments or chores of any kind to do meaning we could literally do whatever we wanted. A quick glance out of the window revealed blue skies, glorious sunshine and 85 degree heat - perfect slow-cooked meat eating weather if you ask me. Well what do you know, The Wold Cha
mpionship Bar-Be-Que Contest is taking place in the parking lot of Reliant Stadium and The Houston Astrodome…that must be one big event. A little research revealed that it lasts three days and contains over 600 competitors…seems worth a visit, especially with a bargain basement entry fee of just $7 per person.So we arrive and the smell of burning wood and charred meat smacked us in the face as we got within half a kilometre of the entry gate. I hope you agree, this all looks like the perfect storm right? Well try to imagine my absolute horror when it became clear that each of the competition contestants were only cooking for the judges and
their private parties (i.e. their mostly corporate sponsors). So despite being able to see, smell and hear some of the most perfect BBQ’d meats in the entire world, I couldn’t actually eat any. We even tried walking slowly past every one of the 600 huge cooking tents attempting to look dangerously emaciated but that just isn’t a look I’ve perfected quite yet. I can’t put my disappointment into words but it must be similar to being invited to the Playboy Mansion on the same night your genitals are at the dry cleaners. There is a big marquee they call the Chuck Wagon which gave out a free plate of food to paying visitors but unfortunately it was the BBQ equivalent of a Sloppy Joe, some tinned Bush’s beans and a pa
cket of Lays crisps. Seriously, for a day that looked so promising, the majority of prisoners ate better than us that day. There were quite a few regular concession stands where you can pay as you eat but, inexplicably, only one of them was a BBQ place. As the ribs weren’t ready for another five minutes, I went for an appetiser of five types of sausages on a stick. I know, I’m all class. But this turned out to be a great move as it allowed me to watch them open a bag of frozen ribs and shove them into a convection oven. Cancel the ribs thanks – I’d rather try the pizza on a stick from the stall next door. Oh the shame of it.Who cares what happened for the rest of the day – today will always be burned into my memory as the day I went to the worlds biggest and best BBQ and ate complete crap.
It’s the 10k race tomorrow morning and, being so soon after Mardi Gras, I’m understandably worried…
2 comments:
Hope that when you come back you will settle down just down the road in Stirling and take over the new restaurant which served Peter 2scallops for a starter. He is still moaning. How is Kate' headaches and Molly?
If you turn the temperature up, we'd be in Scotland in a shot.
Kate hasn't suffered any migraines since her recent visit to the dentist so we're hoping that's done the job. Molly, however, is thoroughly miserable and bored at her imposed confinement. We try to spend as much time in with her as possible but she hates not being able to run around and terrorise unsuspecting children.
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