It’s time again for my hometown BBQ contest – the 2010 Que N For Kids BBQ Festival in Costa Mesa on June 12, 2010. My team, Four Q BBQ, won the People’s Choice championship here two years ago, and we’re looking to take back the title with our very special People’s Choice menu.

This is the fourth edition of the best organized contest in Southern California. Why best? The public gets to sample the contestants’ barbecue and vote for their favorite in the People’s Choice contest. For competitors, the organizers lavish us with all the cook-friendly amenities we could ask for.

All proceeds go to Kristie’s Foundation, which supports families of terminally ill children. The $10 gate fee, and funds from selling the People’s Choice sample tickets go toward a very worthy cause.

This year, there’s a rib eating contest. I’m not sure how that works, but if you’re interested, check out the details on the event website. It’s a very family friendly event with lots of activities that the kids will enjoy – a butterfly release, a car show, and a carnival atmosphere with many vendors taking part.

For the foodies, I suggest getting there by 11am so you don’t miss out on the meat. Teams start turning in BBQ for the official judging at noon, and shortly thereafter, we sample our leftovers to the public. The last meat category is at 2pm. So while the event runs through 6pm, the best time to eat is from noon through 2pm. Once the meat’s gone, it’s gone. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Enter the Orange County Farigrounds on the northwest corner, off of Arlington Drive.

View Orange County Fairgrounds: Que N For Kids location in a larger map

Ever wanted to become a certified judge at a barbecue contest and taste some of the best que in the world? There are several opportunities in California this year, and the next class is in Sacramento. Sign up here.

Kansas City Barbecue Society Members $ 65.00 (members please bring your KCBS card for identification)
Non-KCBS Members $ 100 includes one year membership to the KCBS

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: Saint Ignatius Church 3235 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-2014
Contact: Scott Gomes
scottgomesbbq AT sbcglobal DOT net
(530)559-5274

My friend and fellow food blogger Eddie Lin of the extreme food blog Deep End Dining, has a brand new book out called Extreme Cuisine.

He’s appearing in Orange County this Saturday for a book signing in Santa Ana. Come on down and meet the man who ate his wife’s placenta (or is it his newborn daughter’s)?  No shit, placenta. Ask him yourself!

Date: Saturday, March 6, 2010
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: The Road Less Traveled 2204 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA

Fab’s Hot Dogs, the San Fernando Valley dog house, is moving to a bigger location down the street this spring (or summer). The sausage slingers, slammed since the exposure on Food TV’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, needed desperately to expand out of their tiny, nine seat hole in the wall.  The owners confirmed today that they signed a new lease in the Loehmann’s Plaza, down the street from their current Reseda location.

Seating will expand, parking will improve, and hopefully, so will the wait to get a couple of dogs. What makes this place special? For starters, this is L.A.’s only place to get a ripper, a deep fried dog famous in its native New Jersey. Want a grilled dog? Steamed dog? A bacon wrapped street dog? A pastrami dog? Also – tater tots.

Fabs Hot Dogs
Now:
6747 Tampa Ave.
Reseda, CA 91335
818-344-4336

Starting Spring or Summer 2010:
In the Loehmann’s Plaza Shopping Center
Tampa Avenue and Victory Boulevard
Reseda, CA