FBA Cooking School

If you've always wanted to attend a bbq cooking school, but couldn't justify spending the money here's the one you've been waiting for.  The Florida Barbeque Association (FBA) Fun Cook is hosting a "No Holds Barred" Cooking School in Clermont, FL. The FBA Fun Cook is scheduled for 9/3 - 9/5 at the Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort.

If you don't want to do the cooking school, I still recommend attending the Fun Cook. Linda and I attended this event a couple of times when we lived nearer Orlando. It's a nice way to get to know your fellow competitors and share bbq war stories and fish tales.

Swamp Boys BBQ

Here's a picture of the Swamp Boys cook site at the Lakeland Pig Festival. For those that don't already know, Rob Bagby aka Rub and his Swamp Boys BBQ Team are the reigning Florida Barbecue Association Team of the Year.

First BBQ Contest of 2009 Season

The Florida Barbecue Association is sanctioning the Central Florida BBQ Festival January 9-10, 2009 in Sebring, FL. I might take a drive over on Saturday afternoon and snap a few pictures. With the Swamp Boys winning FBA TOTY and Homebbq.com winning the recent FBA Triple Crown Championship in Perry, FL, the Sebring event is shaping up nicely and should be extremely competitive

Linda and I were there several years ago. For Florida, it was cold enough that we had to keep the propane heater on and the sides of the King Canopy tent up the entire weekend.

If you are going to compete in cold weather and don't have an RV or trailer to cook out of, the King Canopy is a good choice. It's best if you have several people to help you put it up and take it down. Two people can manage it o.k. if needed. Linda and I competed with the King Canopy for a year and a half with little trouble. But, it's a bear to take down when it's raining. At the Lakeland Pig Fest we stood in 6 inches of water while packing up. If it's not below 45 degrees, a Caravan or EZ-up works just as well. And they are much, much easier to take down.

FBA Triple Crown BBQ Competition

I received a flyer in the mail today announcing the Southern Pines Blues & BBQ Festival on December 12 - 13. The list of entertainers looks promising and includes Larry McCray, Johnnie Marshall, and Damon Fowler. A $10 ticket price provides admission for the entire weekend.

The winner of the FBA Triple Crown competition will receive a Willie Nelson autographed guitar and $2,000. The weekend event is sponsored in part by Old Whiskey River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and the Perry-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce.