After all these years of torturing you with pretty photos from my barbecue contests, I sincerely hope you’ve had the chance to go to one in person and eat the great food that my contest peers cook.

If you haven’t been to one, tune in to BBQ Pitmasters, TLC’s brand new series that airs tonight at 10pm across all time zones.  It’ll give an insider’s view of  competition BBQ at some of the biggest contests in America.

My friends Harry Soo and Mark Tung of Slap Yo’ Daddy BBQ, featuring pit bitch Gary Notley star in this series. They’re the only team from west of Texas cast for the show, and will be challenging some of the behemoths of the contest BBQ world. Harry and Mark came out of nowhere two years ago, and have won one grand champion title after another. There’s no journalistic detachment on this one – I’ll be rooting for Slap Yo’ Daddy all the way!

As far as I know, my teammate Neil of BigMista’s BBQ is the second BBQ business to have a music video.

The first “video” came out two weeks prior. It’s a Saturday Night Live spoof that features Fred Armisen, who I know from my childhood. What is it with these friends of mine and their BBQ videos?

Many of you readers have followed along on my BBQ contest adventures over the years I’ve been competing or judging. Maybe you’ve been thinking about testing your own skills at a real contest, and haven’t the first idea what you’re supposed to turn in to the judges.

There’s still a few spaces left for California BBQ University next weekend, November 20-21, 2009  in Anaheim. The class will follow a contest timeline, meaning  prep starts on Friday night and the long hours of cooking will end in  perfectly cooked meat on Saturday afternoon.

This is not an intro to BBQ fundamentals class – it’s geared for the experienced backyarder who wants to learn what it takes to win in the high pressure world of competition cooking. Contests are won or lost in the many details of prepping, seasoning, cooking, and plating. All instructors are in the California BBQ Association’s hall of fame, and these masters will guide you through those many steps and shave years off your contest learning curve.

Cost: $150 for California BBQ Association members, or $186 for non-members (fee includes a membership). Spouses can join for an additional $50. Visit  CBBQA.COM for the details. Space is limited, and did I mention it’s next weekend? Get on it!

There’s restaurant quality barbecue and there’s competition grade barbecue. Most restaurant BBQ is pretty mediocre, and you wouldn’t even know it unless you’re lucky enough to know someone who wins contests.

In the greater Los Angeles area, several of my contest buddies have opened up businesses where you can taste their award winning BBQ.

My teammate Neil Strawder runs BigMista’s BBQ, a mobile catering company that sells at farmer’s markets all over greater Los Angeles. In less than a year, he’s surpassed old school stalwarts like Woody’s and Phillip’s and earned a reputation as the city’s best.

This month, two new restaurants have opened. In Huntington Beach, Chris Rocke of Rancho Rocke BBQ and Brian Zalewski of the Four Kings Q team have partnered up and run the kitchen in a sports bar called Octane Alley. What used to be a barely functional kitchen before their arrival now puts out serious brisket and pulled pork under their capable hands. While the bar atmosphere is better suited to casual dinners, lunch is served to those unafraid to eat by the glow of giant plasma screens and neon beer signs.

How good are Chris and Brian at contests? In the last one where my team cooked against Chris’, they spanked almost everyone else with their pulled pork.

2009 Que’n for Kids BBQ contest Costa Mesa, CA
2nd place pork

Octane Alley
5874 Edinger Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
714-840-2129

Just this week, Phil Carter has  opened 7 Kinds of Smoke in the City of Commerce. Like these other friends of mine, the Carter family has catered events for many years. Now they have a storefront where you can stop in for a meal for one, or take out enough for your company’s sales meeting.  Carter will focus on catering gigs during week’s end, but those of you working near Commerce can stop by for lunch during the week.  Dinner service is expected to start after some of the inevitable opening kinks are worked out.

At the same 2009 Que’n For Kids contest, Phil did exceedingly well in every category. Every team strives for consistent scores from the judges:
1st place chicken
7th place ribs
5th place pork
3rd place overall out of 33 teams

7 Kinds of Smoke Competition BBQ Team and Restaurant
4838 S. Eastern Avenue
Commerce, CA 90040
323-786-6519

Yes, you too can make great BBQ at home, and there’s a class coming up next month in Yorba Linda where you can learn those skills. But if you’re looking to scratch that BBQ itch without all the work, these just might be the best BBQ  joints you never knew about.