BBQ Blaze Off Blogger:
We are excited to be speaking today to BID WIZ Players BBQ TEAM. Can you tell us a little bit about your team?
BID WIZ Players BBQ TEAM:
We are a small BBQ Team from the Kansas City Area. What makes us special is that we all have a passion for BBQ. I guess most big team dont even see us as a threat, but we have been known to take them down. Team members include Captian Richard King ,Tommy Hardin, Renee Tammons Hardin.

BBQ Blaze Off Blogger:
What’s YOUR favorite type of barbeque?
BID WIZ Players BBQ TEAM:
We like bbq that is bit of everything sweet tangy, with touch of heat on the end.
BBQ Blaze Off Blogger:
If you were to select an eighties pop-star as your team mascot, which one would it be, and why?
BID WIZ Players BBQ TEAM:
BabyFace. Because we are still a baby team in the BBQ world ,but we will be up in your face on calls.
BBQ Blaze Off Blogger:
Why did you choose to be a competitor in the Blue Springs BBQ Blaze-Off?
BID WIZ Players BBQ TEAM:
The Blue Springs BBQ Blaze off to me is one of the best cook-off’s I have been in. We love the staff that puts together the contest. The location is wonderful along with the atmosphere. We have done well at this cook off. We look forward the Blaze Off each and every year.
BBQ Blaze Off Blogger:
Thank you for your time today. We look forward to seeing you and tasting your wonderful BBQ at the Blaze Off.

Zumba has swept the nation as one of the most successful dance fitness programs in the world. Creator Alberto “Beto” Perez “accidentally” created the program when he forgot his usual aerobic exercise music and substituted with the salsa and merengue he listened to on his own. Needless to say, his class loved it and a new fitness program was born.

The Zumba concept focuses on letting the music move you rather than focusing on counting the reps you do to music. Since the program took off from its beginnings, many well-known producers have created music especially for the program, so you get a contemporary workout to music you will enjoy and create an enjoyable experience.

No matter you age, shape or size, you can enjoy a Zoomba workout and reap the benefits. More than 12 million people in 125 countries all over the world take Zumba classes every week in more than 100,000 locations. However, you do not need to go very far to get in on all the fun. Join us at the BBQ Blaze Off for a sample of this dancersize craze sweeping the nation!

The three winners of the Taste of the Carolinas contest were announced by the Democratic National Convention. The winners are:
Dan Huntley from Pig Pucker Barbecue in Charlotte in the mustard category
Tom Montgomery and Sabra Kelly from Twelve Bones Smokehouse in Asheville for their tomato based barbecue sauce
Mark Cieslikowski from Barbecue Pit of Lake in Lake Wylie for the tomato-based group.
The winning sauces can be bought at local stores and money will be raised for the next convention 7th Street Public on Saturday

Huntley stated “It is a great honor in barbecudom having my sauce selected by the DNC.” Montgomery is excited they won and hopes all will like their sauce at the next convention. Cieslikowski stated the creation of their sauce came from several years of trying various vinegar sauces.

Judges of the barbecue sauce contest included Sherry and Brian Teigue from the Barbecue Society, Jon Fortes, chef executive of the Mimosa Grill, and Kathleen Purvis, a food writer. Also among the judges was Mayor Anthony Foxx and committee director Dan Murrey.

A marinade is a liquid based preparation for a meat barbecue. Many claim the flavor of the liquid marinade permeates the meat more thoroughly. One definite advantage lies in the fact that a marinade tenderizes the meat before Grilling, so you can choose a cheaper cut of meat for your barbecue. Good meats for marinade are the London Broil or Flank Steak. Chicken and fish are good for a marinade when grilling. When using a marinade, plan on less preparation time because too much time in the marinade will break these meats down and make them mushy.

A dry rub doesn’t permeate the meat as readily as a marinade, so added preparation time is advised; it should sit in a plastic bag after rubbing for a time before Grilling. Many prefer to barbecue with a dry rub because it has a crunchy flavorful crust you can’t get with a marinade. Pork and Beef Brisket are good dry rub Grilling options, but so are poultry and tender cuts of steak.

Whether you are going to use a marinade or dry rub will influence what cut of meat you choose, your preparation time, and how you plan the rest of your meal. Once you have made those choices, enjoy your summer barbecue.

The ideal way to catch the eye of someone is with new food products on the grill they have not seen before. Yes, pork is always a favorite, but African inspired foods such as lamb and eggplant will mean people coming over to check out your food. Just having something different will mean people remember you next year.

Remember, at a BBQ competition, there are hundreds of participants, and most of the ones with pork grilling recipes are going to be overlooked, unless they do a truly sensational job. If you really want to get noticed, you will need to have new food products, maybe something that is African inspired. It is always hard to win on your first attempt, but with some practice, and unique flavors, you can get your name out there, and show the world your grilling expertise.

This article has been reposted with many thanks to and permission from Kilimanjaro Foods.

BACA: Bikers Against Child Abuse

Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze Off is proud to present the charity for this year: Bikers Against Child Abuse. BACA is a non-profit organization that exists to provide aid, comfort, safety, and support for children that have been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused.
BACA are “breaking the chains of abuse” with its mission of “intent to create a safer environment for abused children.” Through different levels of intervention and involvement in court proceedings, BACA members intend to “empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live”.
According to BACA, the organization started as one idea from a man who felt a lifetime of love and support from his biker family. This story began with helping just one wounded, 8 year old child. This child was so frightened of his perpetrators that he felt too scared to leave his own residence. This child was brought into a biker circle, and within weeks, was seen all over town riding his bike and playing with other children. The idea to rally the biker community in defense and in support of children was actualized in 1995 when the first ride was held to visit wounded children and bring them into the biker family. What was started as an idea was actualized by the dedicated and heartfelt love of bikers across the country.
BACA is funded by donations from the public and through exchange of items for donations such as hats, tee shirts, blankets, mugs, pins, etc. Some donations come from corporations, other charitable organizations such as Rotary Clubs, Lions, Shriners, celebrities, businesses, and now, Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze Off Competition.
It has long been the philosophy for BACA to use monies in the communities from which they are raised. The funds received from Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze Off will be used for things such as child visit mementos such as patches, vests, and pins, a security item such as a stuffed animal or blanket. BACA also finances a therapy assistance fund to support children’s therapy when they are left without resources. The therapy assistance fund is also used to help finance activities that will help empower the child to feel more secure in their environment. Examples are karate lessons, cheerleader camp etc. No one in BACA is ever compensated for their efforts in BACA. 100% of all monies donated to BACA goes to support the mission.

The best way to experience grilling success at a barbeque competition is to be distinctive. You should always be working on improving your grill technique when it comes to traditional barbeque items, but you might want to consider some unusual or non traditional food products to make an impression. Certainly, pork products are king when it comes to barbeque, but items such as catfish, lamb and even vegetarian products can be put on the grill, as well. You may not win the competition your first year by grilling dishes containing these ingredients, but you will make a positive and lasting impression if you prepare the food well.

By grilling unique food items at your first barbeque competition, you can stand out from the rest of the pack. There are numerous barbeque artists capable of producing delicious smoked pork items, but only the absolute best get positive attention at competitions. This is why you should consider grilling unusual food items if you are new to competitions like the Blue Sprngs Blaze Off. They can offer unique flavors, plus they can put you on the barbeque map.

See ya at the grill!