Smoke, Wind and Fire barbecue competition set for this summer
By Trevor Busch on May 1, 2021.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald city editor Trevor Busch looks over the provided ingredients list for a homemade batch of Kansas City barbecue sauce.LETHBRIDGE HERALDtbusch@lethbridgeherald.com
Backyard bragging rights for the best local barbecue this summer will be a top prize with the launch of the Smoke, Wind and Fire barbecue competition.
The Lethbridge and District Exhibition, in partnership with the Lethbridge Lodging Association, announced the upcoming barbecue competition on Wednesday that is set to be held in Lethbridge on July 10-11.
“We are very happy to introduce Smoke, Wind and Fire, a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned barbecue competition here in southern Alberta,” said exhibition COO Mike Warkentin. “In fact, the only KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition in Canada this July.”
The Smoke, Wind and Fire barbecue announcement was only one part of the Southern Alberta Table program, which will include development of an Amazing Race-style agricultural odyssey, as well as featuring a fall harvest dinner with a celebrity chef.
Prior to the barbecue competition, there will be a judging clinic June 19-20. Sanctioned by the KCBS, the largest competitive barbecue organization in the world, this clinic will give local residents the chance to become certified judges for sanctioned barbecue events.
“Festivities will begin with the Smoke, Wind and Fire judging course on Saturday, June 19, where the public can certify themselves as official KCBS judges,” continued Warkentin. “Yes, that definitely means you will get to spend the weekend eating a lot of meat. As an official Smoke, Wind and Fire judge you’ll have the opportunity to interact with our celebrity judging panel, Devyn Bohn from Hickory Street BBQ in Stirling, Alberta, and the official pitmaster of the Lethbridge Farmer’s Market; Connie DeSousa, formerly of Top Chef Canada, and co-owner of CHARCUT in Calgary; and Chef John Jackson, the ‘cycling chef’, and also co-owner of CHARCUT.”
Smoke, Wind and Fire will be the only professional BBQ competition in Canada in July and a major stop on the BBQ Pro Circuit. Members of the public are invited to attend the
barbecue competition and learn more about grilling and barbecue skills by watching and
talking to the masters.
“The Smoke, Wind and Fire Master’s Series will challenge the best professional barbecue teams from across Canada on July 10-11. Competitors will go head to head in four categories including ribs, brisket, chicken and pork,” said Warkentin.
There will also be a local backyard BBQ competition, demonstrations, and other fun events.
“The Smoke, Wind and Fire Backyard Barbecue Competition is the opportunity to prove your skills as you compete against other amateurs in a one day, July 10 ribs and chicken competition for the ultimate backyard bragging rights. Combined, the Master’s Series and the backyard competition competitors will be showcasing their talents in hopes of pulling in a share of over $10,000 in prize money.”
A southern Alberta food adventure to remember, the VisitLethbridge.com Odyssey will
be an Amazing Race-style event, with teams traveling through southern Alberta,
competing in judged challenges celebrating historic and modern agricultural practices. The event will be hosted on Aug. 13-15.
Finally, a celebrity chef harvest dinner will be a multi-course feast celebrating the fall harvest and southern Alberta agriculture. Details about what’s on the menu and the celebrity chef creating this showcase of Southern Alberta Table will be available later this summer.
For more information about the events of Southern Alberta Table, visit exhibitionpark.ca.
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oh no! here will come the anti smoke regime…can we not just bake in conventional ovens and paint bbq stripes on the foods?