Hog Happenings | BBQ Jew

Weekend Trifecta

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Porky LeSwine

Monday’s are never easy, but take solace that this coming weekend offers up a variety of barbecue-related festivities from the coast (well, almost) to the mountains (just barely) and all points in between (at least one). From west to east, this weekend’s hog happenings are:

-The 15th annual Firehouse Barbeque Cookoff, a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned cooking competition held in the town of Kings Mountain, a little ways west of Gastonia or a little longer ways west of Charlotte depending on how you look at it. Among the 50-plus teams competing: Nekked Pig BBQ Team, Carpet Capital BBQ, Hill Rat Barbecue, B.S. Pitmeisters, Chatham Artillery BBQ, and Sue E Pig.

-Midway across the state in Raleigh, the third annual ‘Cuegrass Festival occupies the streets outside The Pit. The event features barbecue, music (not just bluegrass) and local and regional draft beers. The $5 cost of admission benefits North Carolina farmers.

-Finally, down east the 27th annual Pigskin Pig-Out Party takes over Greenville. According to the event website, the event “features East Carolina football, baseball, softball, along with live music, entertainment, barbecue, kids’ games and its famous Pig Cookin’ Contest.” There is also a golf tournament, carnival and more.

No if only it were Friday…

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Competitions, Festivals | 1 Comment »

Goldsboro’s Pig in the Park This Weekend

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Porky LeSwine

April marks the beginning of the barbecue festival season, which runs through October. The first event of the season was in Newport last weekend, but you have a chance to make it to the 2nd one THIS weekend. Drive on over to Goldsboro for Pig in the Park. The event features live music and other fun on Friday night, and then the serious business of a cooking competition on Saturday. Plates are available for sale to the general public early afternoon on Saturday, and there will be more live music, vendors and other good times.

The festivities take place in downtown Goldsboro, an area that has a lot of history and an impressive collection of historic homes, storefronts and train depot (now under renovation). Goldsboro has put a lot of effort into revitalizing its downtown, so show ’em some love and pay them a visit. Plus, once you sample some Pig in the Park ‘cue you can have a 2nd meal at Wilbur’s or Grady’s or any number of other joints not too far away.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Competitions, Events, Festivals, Goldsboro, Wayne County | Leave a comment »

The Year in Re-‘Cue

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Porky LeSwine

It’s getting awfully close to barbecue competition and festival season, so I’ve updated the Events page with all the latest info. If you know of a BBQ-related festival or similar event that I am missing please let me know. See the full list at https://bbqjew.com/events/

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Com, Events, Festivals | Leave a comment »

Hillsborough Hog Day Has A New Month – May!

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Porky LeSwine

Breaking news out of historic Hillsborough, site of the annual Hillsborough Hog Day. One of the event’s organizers, Margaret Wood Cannell of the local Chamber of Commerce, wrote to share the following news:

“[W]e have changed the date of the 29th Annual Hillsborough Hog Day. We have historically held Hog Day on the third weekend in June, but the temperature on that day has risen an average of 7 degrees over the last 10 years. It’s just too danged hot. So, for the first time ever, we’re holding Hog Day on the third Saturday in May. The event will be held in River Park, right behind the Orange County Courthouse (exactly where it was last year) on Friday, May 20 from 6 to 9 pm and on Saturday, May 21 from 9 am to 6 pm.”

That is good news, IMHO, as I’ve sweat through far too many brutally hot Hog Days myself. When the temperature outside feels like the inside of a pig cooker it’s just plain too hot. Plus, I have always been surprised that one of the Elvis impersonators at Hog Day haven’t had a Presley-like heart attack on stage in the heat–sequined polyester jumpsuits are brutal, take my word for it.

On a related note, I’m behind on updating the BBQ festivals listing on this website but promise to do so fairly soon. Keep an eye on the Events tab at the top of the page…

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Festivals, Hillsborough, Orange County | Leave a comment »

Stew ‘n Q Til’ It’s Through

Posted on February 18, 2011 by The Rib Rabbi

I recently found out about this awesome Stew ‘n Q fundraiser this Saturday at Durham’s St. Luke’s Church. Then I found out I hadn’t found out recently enough.

Chef Pig I was too late–as they ask for preorders, which makes sense–sort of like the BBQ RSVP–but goes against the keep ’em comin’ ‘cue ethic. Then again, on scrolling the site with a hungry eye, you learn that they only “strongly urge” people to preorder to “guarantee” some stew and ‘cue. So…you’re telling me I have a chance?!

Anyway, I have a hunch you may be able to take part in this most holy of fundraisers if you head to St. Luke’s later in the day.

While this kind of Church-based barbecue event isn’t all that rare, taking a step back–what an idea! I’m no expert, but I’d guess that raising funds for charities by selling the divine swine must ensure a pleasant afterlife for all involved. And I’m pretty sure the same would hold true for participating congregants at the first synagogue to emulate it.*

Should the preorder buzzkill hold true, perhaps it’s best to smoke your sorrows at The Pig. This loving review in The Independent reminds me why I need to go back there pronto.

—

*There is neither Biblical or Talmudic proof to justify this claim, just hot air.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: barbecue, BBQ, BBQ Jew, Fundraiser, St. Luke's, Stew 'n Que | Leave a comment »

KCBS BBQ to LEX

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

Ever wanted to learn the art of barbecue judging? Well, right here and right now is your chance. And by right here and right now I mean Lexington, NC in February of 2011. The Kansas City Barbecue Society, the granddaddy of BBQ organizations, brings its respected judging class to Lexington on February 19 leading up to the inaugural BBQ Capital Cook-Off to be held in April. (A tip of the snout to Another_Q_Lover for bringing the class to my attention.)

Sign up for the judging class, or to enter the cooking competition (wood or charcoal only, hallelujah!), using the forms below. Oh, and I should warn you that your’s truly plans to be there for the class, and I am excited already.

Cook-off_-_Judge_Application_&_Class

Cook-off_-_Competition_Application_2010

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Classes, Contests, Davidson County, KCBS, Lexington | Leave a comment »

The Mallard Creek Barbeque

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

Want to be one of the lucky thousands who gets to eat barbecue while rubbing elbows with desperate politicians just days before the election? Head on down to Charlotte, where the 81st Mallard Creek Barbeque is scheduled for this Thursday starting at 10 a.m. The annual fundraiser is organized by Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church, as it has been since year one, and promises to serve up thousands of pounds of pig, slaw and Brunswick stew, along with a healthy dose of good cheer (as well as those pesky politicians). The event is the largest of its kind in North Carolina so be sure you leave yourself plenty of time to soak it in. Get directions to the Barbeque site here.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Charlotte, Events, Fundraiser, Mecklenburg County | 1 Comment »

27th Annual Barbecue Festival This Weekend

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

It’s that time of year again, time for hordes of hungry hog lovers to descend on little Lexington and devour thousands of pounds of barbecue. Yes, the Barbecue Festival takes over the streets of downtown Uptown Lexington on Saturday for the 27th time. The annual event often draws more than 100,000 people to Lexington, a town of just 20,000. The Festival culminates a month full of events, including the Tour de Pig bicycle race and the Hawg Shoot air rifle competition. For a complete schedule of Saturday’s happenings visit the entertainment section of the Festival website.

This year the Festival was once again named one of the southeast’s Top 20 Events for October, a distinction that would be more impressive if there were more than 19 events taking place in the region this month. Just kidding, The Barbecue Festival is a terrific event and worthy of its Top 20 status. I hope to see you somewhere along Main Street on Saturday. I’ll be the guy wearing the grease-stained BBQ Jew t-shirt…

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Davidson County, Festivals, Lexington, Lexington style | Leave a comment »

Like A Pig Needs a Bicycle?

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

“A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” So goes the famous feminist quote often incorrectly attributed to Gloria Steinem. While women may not need men, and fish may not need bicycles, pigs need both. At least that was the sense on the streets of Lexington on Saturday.

Women and men alike participated in the 19th annual Tour de Pig, a bicycle race that is affiliated with The Barbecue Festival. See full coverage of the Tour de Pig, including photos and video footage, in this Lexington Dispatch article. And stay tuned for The Barbecue Festival itself, which takes place on October 23rd.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Davidson County, Events, Lexington | 1 Comment »

Festival Trifecta This Weekend

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Porky LeSwine

Looking for something to do this weekend? Whether you head east or to the heart of the state, you’ll find yourself deliciously close to barbecue.

The Pork Jam 2010 BBQ Festival takes place about 45 minutes north of Greensboro in the little town of Pelham. The event is scheduled for Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm. Located at 4895 Old US 29 in Pelham, the event benefits the community by supporting the Pelham Volunteer Fire Department. There will be arts and crafts (over 50 vendors in ’08 and ’09), kids’ games/rides, face painting, hay rides, clowns (run for your lives, children!), door prizes, and live gospel, rock, country, beach, and bluegrass music. Oh yeah, and there will be fresh BBQ and stew served all day long and cooked by the volunteer firemen. Free admission and parking. For more info or to be a vendor (if it’s not too late), please email porkjam@bellsouth.net.

A little ways to the north and west, the 2nd annual Future Legends of BBQ festival takes place in Flat Rock on Saturday. The event features a youth cooking competition (meaning the youth do the cooking, not get cooked, I think), along with live bluegrass, face painting, appearances by barbecue celebrities like Mike Mills, and more. Admission is $5.

Meanwhile, down in Rocky Mount the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down, a part of the Down East Festival, celebrates its third year. The KCBS-sanctioned cooking competition runs from Friday through Saturday. Related events include cooking demonstrations, people’s choice judging, BBQ for sale (of course!), a beer garden, music and more. The event is free to the public. Visit the website for more info, including a complete event schedule. Also, see the Governor’s proclamation, in which Gov. Perdue proclaims October 8-9 “as the EASTERN CAROLINA BBQ THROW DOWN in North Carolina and urge[s] all citizens to commend its observance.” Better not disobey the Governor, even if her last name is synonymous with poultry rather than pigs.

Filed under: Hog Happenings | Tagged: Contests, Events, Flat Rock, Henderson County, Nash County, Rocky Mount | Leave a comment »

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