I know I’m a bit behind on my listening… but I’m just now finishing up listening to an April 24, 2010 In the Hut podcast Episode (#16) where host Huck, Jr. interviewed Chad Ward from Whiskey Bent BBQ and DivaQ from DivaQ BBQ.  Very cool format, with a free flowing interview style and awesome information ranging from Tuffy Stone and his Q Barbeque Restaurant – Hampton, VA location, to various competitions and competitive experiences, to thoughts from Chad and DivaQ on a wide range of BBQ topics.

Chad Ward, of Whiskey Bent BBQ (second from left) – Lakeland, FL area Professional BBQ Cook Team.			The Diva – Danielle Dimovski of DivaQ BBQ.  Canada’s BBQ Gift to the Rest of the World!

Cool Concept Discussed: Opening Up Competitive BBQ to Gas Smokers and Grills

I really loved that both Chad and DivaQ had some very positive and encouraging things to say about opening up BBQ competitions to gas cookers so as to bring more people and more sponsors into the mix.   Chad was all about opening things up, and DivaQ – as only DivaQ can – put it this way:

If they think that they can make ribs that taste like mine on a gas grill than I make on charcoal and pellets, bring it on!  I’ll be happy to take their money!”  - DivaQ

Get a taste of the flavor DivaQ brings to the party by watching some of the great videos on her blog!

Click here: DivaQ TV Appearances

Here’s a great one of Whiskey Bent BBQ at this year’s Lakeland Pigfest

It sounded to me like both of these folks believe that it’s most important to tend to the care and feeding of Competition BBQ as an entity – to grow it in ways that stretch the boundaries of what some might deem non-traditional.

As a fairly new KCBS Competition Judge, I feel very strongly about learning as much from cook teams in terms of what they go through as I can – just to understand more about the process of preparing the food I’m judging.  I’ll tell you – the more I learn from folks like Chad, the guys over at Team Unknown BBQ, Myron Mixon, and others, the more I become impressed with all that they can accomplish.  I also become more and more certain that mastering their style of BBQ – especially since I myself live in a 2nd floor condo – ain’t gonna happen anytime soon.  However, I do have a gas grill – and I can work on that at a respectable level.  Not competition level, mind you – but the food I turn out is at least edible. (Somebody get me the Tums!)

I think more folks would be open to getting into at least some backyard level BBQ competitions if the format opened up to gas. Both Chad and DivaQ stated their belief that sponsorship money would definitely pick up… and that’s what this BBQ competition business is all about!

Other topics discussed were the logos each of these folks are sporting – with DivaQ pimping a new design and Whiskey Bent’s logo letting folks know a bit about what they do best (er… drink best?).   Some competition entry videos were also discussed, and I’ll see if I can find those to post.

Give the podcasts over at “In the Hut” a listen.  This is the most recent I saw, so a year or so out.  But the others there are very good. You can find their podcast archive here:  In the Hut Podcast Archive.