The Plant City Pig Jam celebrated its 20th anniversary Friday and Saturday with live entertainment while dozens of amateur and professional barbecue enthusiasts competed to see which team would emerge victorious.
While visitors that attended the event, sponsored by Citizens Bank & Trust, left with full bellies and the aroma of smoked meat lingering on their clothes, some contestants left with trophies.
Mark Poppell, who has been competing in the event since its inception, won first place in the steak competition, shared his secret for mouth-watering steak. “The way we do our steak is we cook over hardwood lump charcoal using indirect heat, we’re really not grilling the steak, we’re smoking the steak, and we turn them every minute on the minute until it reaches the right internal temperature,” he said.
He seasons the meat with SPG- salt, pepper and garic. His key ingredient? “We use green hickory from the campus of University of Florida harvested during a tailgate party,” said Poppell.
While not everyone could walk away with a trophy, the Plant City Pig Jam was an opportunity for barbecue chefs to network with other businesses, interact with and serve the community and show off their cooking skills.
Overall Experienced winners were:
Grand Champion: Smokin’ Ain’t EZ BBQ
Reserve Grand Champion- Rum Runners
3rd Place- Tillman’s BBQ
EXPERIENCED CHICKEN
1st Place- Smokin’ Ain’t EZ BBQ
2nd Place- Matty B’s BBQ
3rd Place- Rum Runners
EXPERIENCED PORK
1st Place- Smokin’ Ain’t EZ BBQ
2nd Place-Rum Runners
3rd Place- K & E Little Smokers
EXPERIENCED RIBS
1st Place- Tillman’s BBQ
2nd Place- Sweet Smoke Q
3rd Place- Mad Dog BBQ
EXPERIENCED BRISKET
1st Place- Sweet Smoke Q
2nd Place- Mad Dog BBQ
3rd Place- Keepin It Smokin BBQ and Catering
Overall Backyard Team Winners were:
1st Place- Ramblin Fork BBQ
2nd Place- Pig Timers
3rd Place- Grease Monkey BBQ
BACKYARD CHICKEN
1st Place- Veteran Pork Pullers
2nd Place- Ramblin Fork BBQ
3rd Place- Belly Bustin Bistro
BACKYARD PORK
1st Place- Ramblin Fork BBQ
2nd Place- Belly Bustin Bistro
3rd Place- Willie’s Smokehouse
BACKYARD RIBS
1st Place- Ramblin Fork BBQ
2nd Place- Big Red BBQ
3rd Place- Nuts & Butts
BACKYARD BRISKET
1st Place-K-Dubs BBQ
2nd Place- Willie’s Smokehouse
3rd Place- Ramblin Fork BBQ
Ancillary Categories
SAUCE
1st Place- Smokin’ Ain’t EZ BBQ
2nd Place- Big Red BBQ
3rd Place- Evans Family Ranch
DESSERT
1st Place- Rum Runners
2nd Place- Fantasy Q
3rd Place- Matty B’s
MARGARITA
1st Place- Evans Family Ranch
2nd Place- Sweet Smoke Q
3rd Place- Fantasy Q
STEAK
1st Place- Poppell Insurance BBQ Team
2nd Place- Ramblin Fork BBQ
3rd Place- Smokin’ Ain’t Easy BBQ