Polar Swine II - Feb 2007

This past weekend, February 16, 2007, Audrey and I hitched up the camper to drive to Eisenhauer State Park in Kansas.  The event was the second annual Polar Swine Cookoff.  You’ve heard of the famous Polar Bear clubs where folks jump in a frozen lake in the dead of winter.  The Polar Swine contest is a similar concept where BBQ cooks brave the elements to cook their best sausage, pork ribs, and brisket.

Ice and snow covered the ground.  We had six inches of snow a few days before the contest and another 2 inches the night before.  The stage was set for a chilly Polar Swine.  Though temperatures got up to the low 40’s briefly during mid day, the morning started off at a chilly 20 degrees.

This was not a KCBS contest so the rules were slightly different.  Presenation, taste and tenderness was based on everything you turned in.  Anything in the turn in box was considered part of the dish.  If you included lettace as a garnish, the lettace was eaten and judged as part of the dish.  You could put anything in the box like pasta, veggies, etc., but everything would be judged that was turned in.

The judging format was different as well.  Instead of the blind judging that we are all familiar with, each cook had to present their dish to the judges and answer any questions the judges may have.  This was an interesting challenge.  Most of us cooks have never had this experience.

It was a fun contest and an interesting experience.  We look forward to going back next year.  Tomorrow I’ll post pictures and the results.