United Way presents BBQ and car show on August 8 in Penn Valley

United Way of Nevada County is holding its 9th annual BBQ & Car Show on August 8. Along with the local BBQ contest, a new Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned competition is included.

This exciting new attraction brings talented cooks from all over the western United States to Nevada County to compete for a California State Championship title as well as $5,000 in prize money. The event is now called “Grills ’n’ Grilles” and is August 8 at Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley. Public admission is free.

“Grills ‘n Grilles” includes BBQ tastings, a car show (which will include cars of the future), food and specialty vendors, beer and wine, and a children’s area complete with bounce houses. Live music is performed throughout the day by “CoolHeat,” led by Michael Gregory (lodelinemusicservices.com/CoolHeat).

In this competition BBQ teams battle it out as they compete for a California State Championship title and Team of the Year Points. You’ve seen these types of competitions on The Food Network, the Travel Channel, and TLC. But there is more to it than what you see on television: This is the real deal, the ultimate barbeque experience. Samples from BBQ teams will be made available by the United Way of Nevada County.

This year United Way will also is inaugurating the 1st Annual Derek Sorensen Memorial Disc Golf Tournament, organized by the Gold Country Disc Golf Association. This tournament is in the memory of Derek Sorensen, the son of Debbie Evans, a dedicated United Way supporter.

Disc Golf is an exciting cousin of traditional golf where players use a flying disc. To learn more about the sport or sign up to play, see the Gold Country Disc Golf Association website at goldcountrydga.com.

All the proceeds from “Grills & Grilles” go to the United Way of Nevada County Community Impact Fund, which helps the community with the most basic needs including food, emergency shelter and access to health care.

Special events are happening throughout the day:
• 9:30 am: Disc Golf memorial bench dedication and tournament will begin.
• 11 a.m: Event begins with the Car Show, live music and fun.
• 12 p.m.: BBQ tastings will be offered.
• 2:30 p.m.: Disc Golf putting contest.

For more information on entering a BBQ team, visit www.uwnc.org or call 274-8111.

More About Barbecue

This part of United Way’s annual BBQ event is being sanctioned by the nationally recognized Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS), and entries are judged on their standards and weighting factors for appearance, taste and tenderness. The competition is expected to have draw at least 20 professional BBQ teams.

Along with the KCBS competition, United Way’s 9th annual Backyard BBQ competition also is taking place. This is a local competition that gives the public a chance to vote on their favorite BBQ team. This year the public is voting on their favorite local BBQ, and the team with the most spirit also receives a trophy.

Spirit award winner Uptown Barber-Q-ers is coming out to defend their title as most spirited, Critic’s Choice and People’s Choice winners of 2014. Past People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice winners, The Rib Doctors also will be defending their title.

Rib Doctors

Rib Doctors Team Captain Kristian Hockinson answered a few questions and shared a recipe for his Beer Can Chicken.

What is your preferred method of grilling-special type of grill?

In competitions, I use a BBQ made out of a 55 gallon steel drum. I found that I needed more grill space and control of the heat, so I fabricated my own BBQ that can hold two cases of ribs.

What is your favorite item to barbecue, and why?

My favorite meat to grill is pork baby back ribs. Ribs are a fun finger food that works well for these competitions, because one rack can be cut up into 13 tastes. With the volume of people that come to this event I always run out of ribs.

Tell us a little bit about The Rib Doctors.

The first year our main sponsor was Monster Gym. They lent us the grill, shelter and donated some money. Thus we were Team Monster. We have several sponsors that are well known local businesses. Now there is no more Monster Gym, so we chose a different name: The Rib Doctors. We are the same guys, and cook the same ribs everyone comes back for.

What made you decide to compete in the United Way event, and how many years have you competed in BBQ Contest?

My friends and I were having one of our many summer cookouts when we discussed entering this competition four years ago. We decided we could be competitive and it would be fun, so we organized the team. United Way of Nevada County is an organization that supports needs in our community, and we support them.

Beer Can Chicken Recipe

Hockinson starts with the brine. This is where the flavor comes from and keeps the chicken moist.

• Whole chicken
• 1 cup of salt to 4 cups water
• Bring to boil, add some Worcestershire sauce and fruit juice. (He uses margarita mix or other citrus juice).
• Add crushed red pepper
• Boil 10 minutes, let cool

He soaks the cleaned chicken in the brine in a plastic container for 6-8 hours. Tip: metal will change the flavor, so he uses a plastic bag. Let the chicken air dry for an hour before cooking. This is key: the air reacts with the salted water and soaked meat, and it brings the chicken to room temperature for even cooking.

He uses a beer can where he has tasted half of the fluid to “make sure it will work.” Then he cuts the top off the can, and he sprays the can with cooling oil. It doesn’t matter what liquid is in the can, because it does not add flavor. The moisture is what is important: water even works. He closes the neck hole of the chicken with toothpicks. Then he places chicken, open end down, over the beer can into the cavity so it will sit up on the can on the grill.

He cooks the chicken over medium indirect heat until the temperature in the breast is 180 degrees.

– United Way of Nevada County