BARBECUE IGNITES LOVE FOR THE RODEO
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo begins only after the smoke has cleared because it starts with fire — hundreds of fires.
The 2023 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, the smoky kickoff to Rodeo Houston, will be held Feb. 23-25, pitting 250 teams in Texas’ ultimate barbecue competition. The cook-off, which will name champions in multiple barbecue categories, is one of the most treasured rodeo traditions. And its awards are among the most coveted in national and international barbecue competitions.
Barbecue teams from throughout the country and eight international teams (Great Britain, Brazil, Mexico and Japan, and two each from Australia and Canada) have been honing their smoked meat chops all year in anticipation of one of barbecue world’s greatest prizes.
While the actual competition is at the center, the cookoff gives barbecue fans a chance to see, smell and taste. While the actual competition tents on the cook-off campus are private (only invited guests are admitted into these smoking and party realms), rodeogoers can rub elbows with cook-off teams and top pitmasters just by hanging out. General admission affords access to live music, the carnival and admission to the Rockin’ BarB-Que Saloon & Chuckwagon, serving a complimentary sliced barbecue brisket sandwich plate.
“It’s a whole experience that gets you excited for the actual rodeo,” said Ashley Smith, spokeswoman for the cook-off. “It’s fun to just be around the smells, getting the lay of the land, getting the first run of the carnival, and soaking in the ambiance.”
This year’s cook-off schedule is 5-11 p.m. Feb. 23; noon-11 p.m. Feb. 24; and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 25. Competition results will be announced at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Miller Lite Garden Stage.
Cook-off teams will be competing for prizes in three main meat categories (brisket, ribs, and chicken), Dutch oven desserts and an “open” category that allows teams to create a gourmet dish that shows culinary skills beyond barbecue. Additionally, the Junior Cook-off Contest, for children and teens ages 8 to 14, returns as an added attraction on Feb. 24. All competition categories are judged in private by barbecue aficionados hand selected by the cook-off committee. The Junior, Open and Dutch oven categories will be judged Feb. 24 (Junior awards will be announced at 11 a.m. that day); the meats on Feb. 25
(for Open, Dutch oven and all meats will be announced at 7 p.m. that day).
Last year, attendance for the three-day cook-off was 158,215. This year, as interest in barbecue continues to grip the country, attendance could go even higher. After all, where there’s smoke there’s fire.