“People have been begging us for years to open the voting,” said Elizabeth Caulk, director of development for the nonprofit organization that operates a children’s residential facility off Trenholm Road.

Caulk said that in years past the festival served up plates of barbecue for the public to enjoy while judges decided who had the best barbecue.

“I really like it this way,” said Michelle Horton Brown, who cast her vote in favor of a certain barbecue “with a little heat to it.”

“To be part of the voting is wonderful,” said Brown, whose cousins once resided at Carolina Children’s Home. she says that’s why the entire family makes the annual food affair a regular event. “We’re all involved ... because we know how much of an impact the home can have.”

As the day went on, a kind of David versus Goliath competition took shape between two teams that had set up across from each other.

Last year’s winner and arguably the frontrunner, Choo Choo’s BBQ, was serving charred pork skins right from the grill and pulled pork in its signature vinegar-based sauce. a table set to one side overflowed with trophies from barbecue competitions from around the state.

“This is one of the hardest hobbies you can do,” said Choo Choo Justice, who’s been entering the event since 1989. Justice, who only answers to Choo Choo, said winning competitions can be difficult since different parts of the state prefer different styles.

“One place may have people who prefer a certain style of barbecue, or that’s the kind they grew up with — and no matter how good the barbecue is, if it’s not what they’re expecting, they’re probably not going to like it,” he said, laughing.

Across from Choo Choo, big Butts was hoping to fare better in this year’s cook-off than last year.

“I think we came in at the bottom of the pack,” said Dennie Somheil of Sumter of his first attempt to go for the gold, or, in this case, the porcine-topped trophy.

Somheil placed in the top five in smaller competitions around the state but was hoping a help from friends Lynn Felder, Harold Benenhaley and Whit Newman might bring him some luck.

“You do it because it’s for a good cause, of course, but you also do it for the bragging rights,” Somheil said. “If you get to walk, that’s a good thing.”

The walk, Somheil explained, is what the winner takes at the end of the day to accept the trophy. “Yeah, getting to take the walk would be a bonus.”

Whole hog competition

Contest heats up barbecue

Summer is nearly here, and with it comes the great American culinary tradition: barbecue!

BBQ is both a rite of summer and a rite of manhood (yes, BBQ is associated with male cooking, probably because any sane woman would not go near the combination fire, meat and beer). in some parts of the USA, BBQ is not just food, it’s a religion. the fastest way to start a fight is not to talk politics, but to argue about the virtues of wood vs. charcoal vs. gas. even the word itself is kind of controversial: is it barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-q, or BBQ? just don’t bring it up with a purist (or the one cooking your burger!)

There’s no argument, however, about the popularity of BBQ. the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (yes, it’s a real organization – actually it is just one of many dedicated to barbecuing) did a study called "The State of Barbecue Industry Report". the 2005 study[pdf] stated that 4 out of every 5 US households own a grill – in fact, 1 in 5 own more than one grill. and not surprisingly, "the primary griller (male) in the majority of households considers themselves to be average or above in terms of cooking skills".

A central object in the BBQ world is the grill (or the smoker, or the pit depending on who you ask). these BBQ grills come in all shapes and sizes, but we’re not here to talk about the grills you can pick up at your local home improvement store. We’re talking about cool and unusual ones; if you’re looking to feed your closest hundred or so friends at your next backyard party, this is the list for you!

So, without further ado, let’s check out our picks for the Top 10 coolest BBQ Grills.

Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (And Then Some!)

have 2 cook a webber bbq 2morrow I havent had had much experience with webbers. Need some help?

I want to clean my grill today and I don't want to drive to town to find a commercial cleaner. I always try to scrape off the residue each time I BBQ, but it never seems to come clean. my grill grates are porcelain. is it okay to use an oven cleaner?

What is the best way to clean my gas bbq grill?

i dont't have a smoker i only have a webber charcoal grill. i wan't to bbq a pork butt does anyone have any advise for me. what do i use for a rub? how long do i cook it? whats a good size for bbq? do i wrap it in aluminum foil?

how do i bbq a pork butt?