Community
19 Stittsville News - JULY 14, 2011
Amberwood BBQ at Fourth of July event The Fourth of July celebration at the Rockcliffe Park residence of the United States ambassador is always one of the most sought after happenings on the Ottawa area’s annual social calendar. And it was no different this year, as U.S. ambassador David Jacobson and his wife Julie entertained 4,000 guests at this year’s event which had a backyard barbecue theme. And right there in the thick of things was none other than Stittsville’s own Amberwood BBQ. This was the first time that Amberwood BBQ was at the 4th of July party at the U.S. ambassador’s residence. Amberwood BBQ was one of six teams that took part in what Ed Tang of Amberwood BBQ describes as “the most friendly, social and relaxing contest I’ve been involved in.” For Amberwood BBQ and the contest
competitors, it was more than just a one day stand. Amberwood BBQ first set up at the U.S. ambassador’s residence on July 2nd, just a day after cooking up a storm at the Canada Day celebrations right here in Stittsville. During the three days that Amberwood BBQ and the other competitors were on the grounds, ambassador Jacobson talked to them several times, curious about their setup. The American embassy even took official group and individual photos with them to mark the occasion. Amberwood BBQ, like the other teams in this “friendly” competition, had at least one person on site at the ambassador’s residence all the time. That’s because in a BBQ contest, competitors are cooking for long periods of time. While recipes are kept a secret, the cooking is done “low and slow,” using wood or charcoal, at something like 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about six hours. This brings out the smoke flavours. There is
What’s up at Stittsville Legion! BARB VANT’SLOT Special to the News
The 55 Plus Club is planning a one-day trip to Prince Edward County on Wednesday, Aug. 10. This will include the Bay of Quinte wine region. The trip will include transportation, lunch and two winery tastings, all for $130 per person. For more information, please call Shirley Pretty at 613-836-2760. The next Karaoke and steak night will be held on Friday, July 22 at the Legion Hall, with everyone in the community welcome to attend. The Honours and Awards Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Legion Hall on Saturday, June 18 hosted by the Legion Band involved a delicious dinner and beautiful music as well as the honours and awards presentations. The Band would like to thank Todd Brown of Brown’s Your Independent Grocer, Richard Ladas of Farm Boy and Joe Nicastro of Nicastro Fine Foods for their support of the event. The Stittsville Legion is hosting lunch every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with everyone welcome to attend. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, sauerkraut and bratwurst. On Canada Day, July 1st, a Legion Colour Party was involved in the opening ceremony at Stittsville’s Canada Day celebrations. Legion members forming the Colour Party were John Leroux, Bev Currie, Ron Currie and elwin Young. Thanks go to Vivian Haley who produced a wonderful “Chicken A La King” brunch at the Legion Hall on Sunday, July 3. It was a most enjoyable treat. Bingo is played at the Legion hall every Wednesday starting at 6:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. The Stittsville Legion’s Golf Scramble has been booked for Thursday, Aug. 18. It promises to be a lot of fun. A sign up sheet is posted at the Legion Hall. Joe Boyhan from Port St. Lucie in Florida, Diana Smiley from Stittsville and the Scottish gang of John, Faymie and Kathleen have all visited the Stittsville Legion
lately and had a friendly time. These were friends of member Josie McCarthy. It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of one of our dearest members. Veronica has been an active member of the Stittsville Legion for over 35 years. Our sympathy goes to Frank Windsor, her life partner and best friend, and her entire family. John and Mairi Egan, who are new to the Stittsville community, dropped into the Legion for a visit. Peggy Manion had the ladies’ high score at the euchre party at the Legion Hall on Tuesday, June 14. Sally Beaton was the runner-up for the ladies. David Foubert had the men’s high score with Randy Clouthier placing second. Alma Bond had the low score while Robbie Robichaud had the hidden score. Shirley Pretty had the most lone hands. Garnet Vaughn and Robbie Robichaud won the door prizes. Peggy Manion had the ladies’ high score at the euchre party at the Legion Hall on Tuesday, June 21, with Myrna Robertson placing second. Garnet Vaughn had the men’s high score with Dick Ross as the runner-up. Mike O’Connell had the most lone hands while Myrna Robertson had the hidden score. Shirley Pretty had the low score. Door prizes were won by Alma Bond and Dwaine McGillvery. Val Decinso had the ladies’ high score at the euchre party at the Legion Hall on Tuesday, June 28, with Dorothy Jessiman placing second. Mike O’Connell had the men’s high score with Dave Argue as the runnerup. David Faubert had the hidden score while Shirley Spour had the most lone hands. Millie Mayer had the low score. The door prizes were won by Millie Mayer and Dave Argue. Dot Gifford had the ladies’ high score at the euchre party at the Legion Hall on Tuesday, July 5. Alice Saunders placed second for the ladies. Garnet Vaughn had the men’s high score, with Dick Ross as the runnerup. Alma Bond had the low score while Shirley Spour had the hidden score.
no boiling or steaming of ribs here. Pulled pork takes 12 hours of cooking while beef brisket takes over 14 hours. Amberwood BBQ got invited to the 4th of July event after one of the other competitors had to drop out at the last minute. Ed Tang of Amberwood BBQ had put out inquiries about participating when he first heard about the barbecue theme earlier this year but it was only a week before the event that he received his invitation to participate. There were over 4,000 guests at the 4th of July party, all of whom were served smoked pork ribs, pulled pork and smoked chicken. This is the largest 4th of July party outside of the United States. The BBQ contest at the event consisted of three Canadian teams versus three American teams, all of whom cooked the same three meats which were judged by a group of 12 judges. This participation in the 4th of July party at the U.S. ambassador’s residence is only the latest of what is turning out to be a sensational year for Amberwood BBQ. At the Gloucester Fair at the end of May, Amberwood BBQ won the grand championship in the “Smoked to the Bone” competition there which involved 13 professional and 13 amateur teams, with $10,000 in prize money up for grabs. Sanctioned by the Canadian Southern BBQ Association, the two man Amberwood BBQ team of Ed Tang and Ray
Barkhouse collected $3,350 in prize money - $2,000 for the grand championship, $1,000 for placing first in the pork shoulder category, and $250 for being third in the chicken category. Amberwood BBQ was also fourth in brisket. This was the fourth time that Amberwood BBQ has participated in this competition. Amberwood BBQ was started five years ago and caters Southern BBQ year round in the Ottawa area and beyond. Amberwood BBQ has been at the Canada Day celebrations in Stittsville as well as at the Relay For Life event in Stittsville. It all began when Ed Tang of Stittsville, who admits to loving food and cooking, looked out one day at his little smoker in his backyard and he got the idea to do Southern BBQ’ing as a business. “A light bulb went off ” is how Ed describes that moment. Weekends in the summertime are particularly busy for Amberwood BBQ but it does do BBQ catering year round. Much of Amberwood BBQ’s business comes from word of mouth – quite literally since once people have it in their mouth and taste it, they are hooked on it – that’s how good the real Southern BBQ done by Amberwood BBQ is. Amberwood BBQ can handle by itself barbecues for people numbering in the hundreds. Its biggest cook so far has been for 550 people but it has the capacity to serve even more people, depending on the menu.
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