It’s setting up time for the Queen Mary’s West Coast BBQ Classic. The aroma of delicious barbeque will be wafting through the air tomorrow as the Queen Mary hosts the 4th Annual West Coast BBQ Classic. Long Beach’s iconic ship is one of the top venues on the barbeque circuit and this year promises to be the best yet. The event is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, the top organization dedicated to all things barbeque, as well as the California BBQ Association, who will be awarding the title of West Coast BBQ Champion. Many of the major teams on the circuit will be competing, including Slap Yo Daddy BBQ, Wild Willy’s, OC Double Barrel Smokers, Jet Coatings Monkey Style (winners at last year’s WCBC) and Big Poppa Smokers, one of the top teams on the national circuit.
Several teams are already cooking for tomorrow. Chris Ades and his Outta Gas BBQ Team were grilling up thin-slices beef short ribs, while Renea at the Woodshed was busy preparing chicken for tomorrow’s contest. Dave Futter, with TTT BBQ was there from Long Beach’s Yucatan Restaurant trimming pork butts for smoking said, “It’s a big party!”. Neil Strawder, of BigMista’s BBQ Team, was getting his smoker ready for smoking pork and brisket, which many teams are going to start smoking before midnight.
Meanwhile, Mike Lindley, pitmaster of Smokin’ Mo’s BBQ, Grand Champions of the recent Santa Anita Winner’s Circle BBQ Championship, said “We’ve been traveling across the country a little bit. Florida, New Hampshire and Virginia. We’ve got a really big comp here in Long Beach. We’ve really got to show up, because we can only do five comps on the West Coast this year. Every point’s going to count, so we’re really looking to come out and do a good job”.
The event is not just about watching people cook. Many of the teams will be offering tastings as well. Guests may purchase a packet of tasting coupons for $2 per coupon. All types of BBQ will be sampled, including chicken, pulled pork, ribs and brisket. For guests who want something unusual, some teams will have sausage, pig candy (candied smoked bacon with a nice kick) and moinkballs, a barbeque circuit specialty. With so many good teams, it is recommended that guests pace themselves in order to try tastes from as many different teams as possible. Each has their own style, so there will be a big variety to chose from. But whether it is Memphis style, Texas style, Kansas City style, North Carolina style or any of the other regional variations, it is all good barbeque.
General admission tickets for the West Coast BBQ Classic at the Queen Mary begin at $15 online for adults and $5 for children ages 4-11. VIP tickets start at $30 online and include 10 BBQ tasting tickets. All event tickets include access to the Queen Mary ship. Event parking is $13. For more information, to purchase tickets and to get involved in the 4th Annual West Coast BBQ Classic visit http://queenmary.com/events/west-coast-bbq-classic/
The 4th Annual West Coast BBQ Classic
Queen Mary Events Park
1126 Queens Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
PH: (800) 437-2934
