March 11, 2010 Hello BBQ Gang! Welcome to the unpredictable Illinois BBQ Society's Weekly(ish) eNewsletter. Thanks to your double-opt-in subscription; you're now receiving regular to semi-regular emails from ILBBQS. Perhaps even a random delivery or two to keep you on your toes. You might want to alert your spam nanny so that valuable information and critical news release information are not unduly delayed. Now to the good stuff. Here's what's going on the world of the Illinois BBQ Society... ~ **UPDATE** 5th Annual Milk Days Cook-Off ~ Team Applications for The Royal are Now Available ~ News from Friends at the Great Lakes Barbecue Association... ~ Upcoming Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ Upcoming MBN Contests... ~ Upcoming Classes... For additional information on these stories, and more, be sure to visit the Illinois BBQ Society online at http://www.ILBBQS.com . x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: Psst...have you heard about BBQFace.com ? The Illinois BBQ Society has upgraded their Facebook Fan Page! Surf over to http://www.BBQFace.com and become a fan today! Be sure to suggest the page to all your Facebook Friends! x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x **UPDATE** 5th Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition The Fifth Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition (Backyard) is on Saturday, May 29, 2010. Early registration ($25 per team goes to $40 after April 1, 2010) expires at the end of March. Contact Doug Hawthorne, at foodman52@aol.com for a registration form or call the Milk Days Office at 815-943-4614. You can also visit their website for more information at http://www.MilkDays.com . ************************************************************** Team Applications for The Royal are Now Available Quick note that if you have dreams of cooking at the world's largest barbeque competition...if you want to test your skills against 500 other teams from around the world...if you want to travel to the Midwest-Mecca of 'Que to see how your team will do, then this news is for you. The American Royal has released applications for The Open contest to be held October 2nd & 3rd, 2010. Surf over to their website to either submit an online application, or to print out a paper copy, at http://www.ARBBQ.com . ************************************************************** News from Friends at the Great Lakes Barbecue Association... The Great Lakes Barbecue Association's 3rd Annual Winter Thaw and Practice Cook will be held on April 23rd and 24th at the Eagle Park Fairgrounds in Eagle, Michigan.  It is opened to all comers and entry fees are $50 for two days and four meats or $35 for Saturday only and two meats.  This is a non-sanctioned event, but Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) procedures and judging rules will apply in order to give the cooks an opportunity to participate in an "actual" event and  to brush off the snow and prep for the season ahead.  As Theresa Munroe, a veteran cook and charter member of the GLBBQA says, "I've always told people that if you're thinking about getting into barbecue competition, this is definitely a great way to get your feet wet for little expense, a lot of fun, and good camaraderie." The fairground gates open on Friday afternoon and the festivities start Friday evening with a potluck dinner.  Cooks will start cooking pork and brisket Friday night and chicken and ribs early Saturday morning.  Judging of food begins on Saturday with chicken at noon, ribs at 12:30 p.m., pork at 1:00 p.m., and brisket at 1:30 p.m.  For more information on participating in the practice cook, judging, or just attending to see what it's all about, please go to http://www.glbbqa.com/ or Jerry Wasson at jlwasson@comcast.net or Theresa Munroe at tmandb17@comcast.net . The Great Lakes Barbecue Association is a non-profit organization formed in 2007 to promote barbecue, grilling, and all forms of outdoor cooking, not only in Michigan but throughout the entire Great Lakes region.  It's the organization's desire to utilize their love of barbecue and outdoor cooking to benefit selected charities and other worthwhile causes.  It's the GLBBQA's goal to sponsor cooking seminars and other events where members, their families, business partners, and the public can get together to exchange ideas and information, share tips and recipes, and promote the true meaning of barbecue camaraderie and friendship. ************************************************************** Do you know of some barbeque event, contest, class, or function going on in Illinois, or the surrounding areas? Let us know! bbq@ilbbqs.com ************************************************************** Upcoming 2010 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ May 29th - Harvard, Illinois ~ 5th Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition ~ Contact: Doug Hawthorne ~ Phone: 815-943-4614 ~ Email: foodman52@aol.com ~ June 5th - 6th ~ St. Jacob, Illinois ~ On Your Mark! Get Set! BBQ! ~ Contact: Dawn, 213 N. Douglas, St. Jacob, IL 62281 ~ Phone: 618-644-5666 ~ Fax: 618-644-9431 ~ E-mail: stjacob@hometel.com ~ June 12th ~ LeRoy, Illinois ~ 6th Annual Smokin' in the Park ~ Contact: Hap & Becky Zook ~ Phone: 309-397-1815 ~ Email: bjzook@verizon.net ~ August 7th - Alma, Illinois ~ 4th Annual Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off @ Orchard View Winery ~ Contact: Jim Rhino ~ Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ Email: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ September 18th - Glen Ellyn Backyard Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Tom Koprowski, Glen Ellyn, Illinois - Phone: 630-890-0465 - Email: koprowski1@sbcglobal.net ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** Upcoming 2010 KCBS Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ April 23 & 24 ~ Hazelwood, Missouri ~ 2010 Kick-Off Cookoff Classic ~ Greg Wilkinson, 2680 Narraganset, Florissant, MO 63033 ~ Phone: 314-955-1104 ~ E-Mail: gawilk@swbell.net ~ May 14 & 15 ~ Steeleville, Illinois ~ The Randolph County Pig Party ~ Contact: Curt Jeffers or Jason Vallett, 402 E. Broadway, Steeleville, IL 62288 ~ Phone: 618-965-9615 or 618-965-3414 ~ Fax: 618-965-3177 ~ Email: Curt @ curtislo@egyptian.net or Jason @ jason@gregvallettautosales.com ~ May 29 & 30 - Red, White & Bar-B-Q - Contact: Jim Addington, 337 E. Traube Street, Westmont, IL 60559 - Phone: 630-443-2013 Fax: 630.443-2017 - E-mail: jaddington@ambankqc.com ~ June 4 & 5 - Taylorville Main Street Barbeque Blues and Cruise - Contact: Paul Mizeur, 108 W Market / PO Box 350, Taylorville, IL 62568 - Phone: 217-287-1876 Fax: 217-287-1876 - Email: paul.mizeur@usbank.com ~ July 2 & 3 - The Best Dam BBQ Cookoff Benton-West City, IL - Contact: Charles Cockrum , 211 N Main St., Benton, IL 62812 - Phone: 618-927-6157 - Email: bestdambbq@gmail.com ~ July 9 & 10 - 20th Annual Illinois State Championship & Butt to Butt Pork Invitational - Contact: Connie Smith, 301 E. Sunrise Drive, Shannon, IL 61078 - Phone: 816-864-2542 ~ Fax: 815-864-2825 - E-mail: connieroethesmith@yahoo.com ~ September 10 & 11 - Smoke on the River Quincy, IL - Contact: Mel Dillman, 523 South 8th St, Quincy, IL 62301 - Phone: 217-228-1208 - Fax: 217-228-1976 - Email: mdillman5905@sbcglobal.net ~ September 10 & 11 - Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship Mt. Carmel, IL - Contact: Colette Grigsby, 9403 Sand Barrens Lane, St. Francisville, IL 62460 - Phone: 618-262-4339 -Fax: 618-262-4339 - Email: gcysmith@shawneelink.net ~ September 24 & 25 - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: becky@17thstreetbarbecue.com ~ October 8 & 9 - Super City Blues & Ques - Contact: Priscilla Abell, 106 W. 5th Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 - Phone: 618-524-1696 Fax: 618-524-2582 - Email: metropolisparks@verizon.net ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** Upcoming 2010 Memphis BBQ Network Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ September 24th to 25th - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: catering17@egyptian.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** Upcoming Certified BBQ Judge's and Certified Table Captain's Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ April 1st ~ Belleville, Illinois (Near St. Louis) ~ Instructor: Mike Lake ~ Contact Information: Dennis Keck, Phone: 618-277-4444, keckjewelers@gmail.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** Upcoming 2010 BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ Rend Lake, Illinois ~ 07/02/10 to 07/03/10 ~ ***SOLD OUT!*** ~ "In the Heat of Battle" Competition BBQ Boot Camp @ The Best Dam BBQ Cookoff ~ Instructor: Jim 'Rhino' Reincke ~ Contact Information: Jim Rhino ~ Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ Email: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ Online: http://www.TheBBQBootCamp.com ~ Kansas City, Missouri ~ 10/02/10 to 10/03/10 ~ ***ONLY FOUR SPOTS REMAIN!*** ~ "In the Heat of Battle" Competition BBQ Boot Camp @ The American Royal BBQ Contest ~ Instructor: Jim 'Rhino' Reincke ~ Contact Information: Jim Rhino ~ Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ Email: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ Online: http://www.TheBBQBootCamp.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** These stories, and more, can be found online at http://www.ILBBQS.com . Most of the stories online have active links for ease of finding more information...be sure to visit the website for your full ILBBQS experience! If you have a BBQ related news item you would like to share with the group, be sure to send it in! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino