Ready, set, ‘cue

Virginia College hosts barbecue competition Saturday

The Chattanooga campus of Virginia College, 721 Eastgate Loop, will host a barbecue competition this weekend that doubles as a family festival with live music and and activities for children.

The barbecue contest is hosted in partnership with t he Chattanooga chapter of the American Culinary Federation, the national accrediting commission for culinary and pastry education programs at institutions such as Virginia College. Culinard, the culinary institute of Virginia College in Chattanooga, is the only ACF-accredited school in the East Tennessee area, and Culinard program director Andi Cagle is the current ACF president for the Chattanooga chapter.

“Not only is this a great opportunity for the community to get involved, but it provides wonderful realworld experience for our Virginia College Culinard students,” said Dominick DeLorenzo, campus president.

Competition is open to all, though registration must be completed by today, July 7. Call chef Nick Thiers, Virginia College culinary instructor, event co-chair and treasurer for the Chattanooga chapter of the ACF, at 423-618-6989 for registration and payment of the $100 entry fee (cash or check only).

Check- in takes place from 5 to 10 p. m. Friday, July 8, and competitors can begin smoking meat on-site as soon as that process is finished. Competitors will provide their own protein, smoker and equipment, as well as wood or heat source. Turn-in times for pork ribs, beef brisket and pulled pork will be Saturday, July 9, at noon, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively. The awards ceremony is at 5:30 p.m.

Once t he competitors have presented their proteins, a panel of four professional chefs and a celebrity judge with years of experience judging barbecue will evaluate them. Winners will receive a trophy and $ 400 prize. One competitor who has entered into all three categories will be selected as the grand champion and will receive a trophy and $500 prize.

The event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6: 30 p. m. Saturday. Admission is free.

ACF will be providing food for sale at the event, and proceeds will benefit the Zion Project, an international organization that works to stop the human trafficking of women, specifically in the Chattanooga area. The Zion Project also helps women who have fallen victim to these horrible crimes to rebuild their lives. Representatives from the Zion Project will be at the event to share i nformation about the organization.

To learn more, visit vc.edu/Chattanooga or call 423-890-2000.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAN HENRY Local chefs, including cooks from Culinard, the culinary institute of Virginia College, will see who has the best beef brisket, pork ribs and pulled pork at a barbecue competition Saturday, July 9.