Are you a Texan who wants to win BBQ contests?

I'm not a Texan. I have judged a few categories at the big San Antonio Cook-off and I probably teach more classes in Texas than anyone else. I don't do a lot of KCBS style contests but the few I've cooked in this year, I've been very competitive see http://www.BBQHog.com . I have cooked next to and learned a great deal from legendary Texas Pitmasters at elite invitation only national KCBS events. There in is where Texan's need to pull in the reigns of Texas pride just long enough to admit that maybe the can learn from those KCBS cooks. Many of the tops KCBS cooks are Texans and many of them prefer KCBS to the home grown minor leagues.

Yes there are a few differences. The only garnish in the box is Texas Lettuce (foil). Sauce must be cooked on and a spritz bottle is not allowed. Chicken is always two half birds. I'm 100% for all of that. It's a meat contest and adding garnish and sauce at the end distracts from the meat which is what it's all about.

KCBS is the NASCAR of BBQ. It does many thing well. KCBS and it's clones (PNWBA and similar) give you a score sheet at the end of the event with all six judges scores for Appearance, Texture (Tenderness) and Taste. In Texas each judge only gives one score and it's not shared with competitors.

KCBS also has a very strong educational tradition. http://www.KCBS.us has a list of BBQ class. The top teams teach and they teach well enough that the students beat the masters on occasion. I'm not aware of any such tradition in Texas.

One of the things that turned around my Brisket in 2003 was taking a class from James and Lola Rice of Hico Texas. It was at the factory of a famous Houston pit builder. It was a KCBS class. I'll let you in on a little secret about KCBS master classes, the students include many Texans who are open to learning.

If you are a Texan who wants to learn here are your options. I will recommend my class www.BBQInstitute.com . It's not a competition class but my students do well at major contests in Texas. Get on the websites of major NATIONAL Texas cooking teams and see when and if the have a class coming up. It may only be once a year, expect it to involve travel, be expensive and sell out early. Look at KCBS TOY (Team Of Year) scores from the previous year and do the same thing for top teams not based in Texas. Judge a Contest in Texas and get a different viewpoint.

Good Luck,

Konrad "Teddy Bear" Haskins