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October 2010
People’s Choice Barbeque
Championship National BBQ competitors vying for cash and ‘People’s Choice’ title By SARAH BETH ARIEMMA Organizers for the annual Deep Roots Festival barbeque event are on fire in preparation of this year’s competition. The Deep Roots Festival 2010 BBQ Sneak Peak is set for Thursday, Oct. 21, giving local barbecue enthusiasts a chance for a taste of the competitor’s offerings. The Sneak Peek began as a way to get Deep Roots fans and locals desired more of the barbeque being smoked for the competition on Saturday. With all of the teams arriving in Milledgeville on Thursday to prepare for the big cook-off on Saturday, the interest in tasting the barbeque piqued. “People always wanted a chance to eat the barbeque before the big unveiling. We also wanted some type of a kick-off event to start the festival,” Holder said. The Sneak Peek will take place Oct. 21. Two seatings will be available at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The cost is $15 per person, and the price includes half a rack of ribs, two side dishes and a commemorative tee shirt. This is the fourth year of the sneak peek and the second year that the competition has paired with the Milledgeville Kiwanis. The ribs will be from three different teams, two of which have placed in the top 10 nationally. Boggy Pond Barbeque Brigade and the Smoke Shack placed in the top 10 nationally, while Southeastern Smokers is a previous 1st place champion in the Deep Roots competition. All three barbeque teams have “walked the stage in Memphis” at the Memphis In May tournament. BBQ connoisseurs from all over the southeast will take part in Saturday’s competition, and on Thursday, everyone will get a sampling of what this year’s lineup has to offer. Smoke Shack BBQ team has been ranked as 10th in the Nation and was the Grand Champion at the Deep Roots Festival in 2008. The second team, Boggy Pond BBQ Brigade, was the 2009 Grand Champion at the Fly South Fest and 2005 Grand Champ at the Deep Roots Festival. The last team that will be offering a ‘sneak peak’ is the Southeastern Smokers who had the 1st place shoulder at the Deep Roots Festival in 2008. Each plate will include two sides and a drink. The Sneak Peek will take place on North Jefferson Street in the City Hall parking lot. To-go orders are welcome. This is a fundraiser for the Civic Club, and tickets can be purchased from Kiwanis members or at the Mainstreet Office. “There are only 400 tickets available so get your tickets early,” Holder said, “Even if you don’t make the Sneak Peek, you do have one more opportunity to try the barbeque. People’s Choice on Saturday offers portions of pulled pork from five different teams. For $5, you can taste the pork and vote on your favorite.”
the skinny The Deep Roots BBQ Competition, a Memphis BBQ Network sanctioned cook-off, features some of the world's best BBQ teams, all vying for more than $13,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded at this year’s contest and the The ‘Ville People’s Choice BBQ Championship title. At this year’s Sneek Peak, taste four samples of pulled pork from the more than 17 Championship BBQ Teams and cast your vote! People's Choice starts promptly at 11:30 a.m., Tickets are not sold in advance. For more information call Milledgeville Mainstreet at (478) 414-4014.
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