Mmm, Mmm Grill

Where there’s smoke there’s flavor, especially when the nation’s best barbeque teams compete for “king of the Q” bragging rights at the World Pork Expo, which runs June 8-10 in Des Moines, Iowa.  Pitmasters are fired up for the Pork Checkoff’’s 19th annual Great Pork BarbeQlossal™ on June 10.

Close to 100 teams are expected to compete.  They will highlight grilling and barbeque techniques in at least one of the four cooking categories:  whole hog, loin/loin end, shoulder and ribs.   To earn grand champion honors, contestants must cook a shoulder, loin/loin end, ribs and an entire hog with a dressed weight of 45 pounds or more cooked while in one piece or in two halves.

Past grand champions have come from Florida, Texas, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.  The 2006 BarbeQlossal is sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society, the largest barbeque society.

“The BarbeQlossal contest shows pork’s versatility,” said National Pork Board President Danita Rodibaugh, Indiana.  “The contest ties in well with the Pork Checkoff-funded barbeque promotions that can be seen in consumer information, retail and food-service promotions.

Close to 100 contestants are expected to compete in the Checkoff’s  BarbeQlossal™ June 10 at World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.