Q Coming to Town
Barbecue Battle Heats Up
June 25, 2007 - 1:43pm
Amy Hybels, WTOP Radio
WASHINGTON - The National Capital Barbecue Battle pits some serious competitors against each other -- they're vying for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes and the title of National Barbecue Champion.This year's event features 39 teams from across the country who take the art of barbecue very seriously.
Lionel Cunningham, of Clearwater, Fla., says his "Big Daddy Butt Rub" is better than barbecue sauce. While it's Cunningham's first year competing in D.C., don't count him out just yet.
His pulled pork sandwich just won big 2 weeks ago in Fort Scott, Kan.
If the long line of customers waiting to get a taste of his barbecue is any indication, Cunningham's dry rub is well worth the wait.
Three-time World Champion Myron Mixon of "Jack's Old South" remains confident his mix of rubs and smoking woods will land him in the winner's circle this year.
Meanwhile three brothers from Burtonsville, Md. hope their unique entry, beef ribeye with the dry rub on it with mint wrapped in bacon, will appeal to the judge's palette.
The competition wraps up Sunday evening, when one team will be named National Barbecue Champion.
WTOP Radio is a proud sponsor of this year's event. All proceeds will go to the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs and Double Dutch D.C.
I'm attending an thinktank event downtown later this week and hoping to get a chance to sample some Q. Tyler Cowen says we don't have any real barbecue around here, so this is my easiest way to sample what the out of towners are able to do. The prospect makes me hungry.