Ramond Manos checks the meat during last years Grill’ n Daze event. This years event will kickoff, Sunday, July 15, at the Southwick Recreation Center. The annual competition is sponsored by the Southwick Rotary Club. (File photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Jeff Comee checks the progress on a roast pig during last years Grill’ n Daze and Chili Cookoff sponsored by the Southwick Rotary Club. This years event will kickoff Sunday, July 15, at the Southwick Recreation Center on Powder Mill Road starting at noon. (File photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Bring your taste buds – and perhaps some wetnaps – to Southwick this Sunday for the fifth annual Southwick Rotary Grill’n Daze.
Held at the Recreation Center beginning at noon July 15, Grill’n Daze is a BBQ competition worthy of the discerning tastes of Guy Fieri and Bobby Flay. The BBQ categories include beef, poultry and pork, and this year there is a chili competition. An award will also be given to the best decorated booth.
Rotarian Robert Fox is a barbeque fan. The competition was his idea, born in his own backyard, and has grown over the years. While Fox said he is “a backyard barbeque-er like everyone else,” he is becoming more of an expert.
“My son-in-law and I built a barbeque ourselves and this year he is entering the competition,” said Fox.
Don’t worry competitors, Fox’s son-in-law will not have a leg-up (or a rack, or even a wing) in the competition because it is a blind tasting.
“The judges do not know who made the food,” said Fox.
A chili expert from Connecticut helped the group organize the chili competition this year. “Celebrity” judges include state Sen. Michael Knapik, state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga and Rep. Donald Humason.
To hone his own taste buds, Fox and some friends took a few detours on a recent motorcycle run across the country to hit some of the best BBQ joints in the nation, according to television’s grilling experts.
“We went to Memphis, St. Louis, Nashville – we tried it all,” said Fox, who favors a St. Louis style dry rub on his ribs. “We learned a lot.”
Competitors will offer the best BBQ for judging and could win cash and trophies. The beef, pork and poultry categories each come with a $300 first place purse, a $200 second place prize and $100 for the third place winner. The grand prize for chili is $150, with prizes of $100 and $50 for second and third place, respectively. A cash prize will also be awarded to the best decorated booth/display.
Fox said there are some perennial favorite teams, including the Cow Pucks and Smokey Os, both of Westfield, and the Kelly Magni Family of Southwick.
“One person who has won a few times – Bam Bam’s out of Connecticut – is not going to be there this year, which I think will make some of the competitors happy,” said Fox.
Admission for the event is free to the public. Fox said competitors will be offering samples of their potentially award-winning fare and will accept donations.
According to competition guidelines, any entry is acceptable that can be defined as grilled or barbecued such as meat, chicken, vegetables, or chili. Grilling can be considered a broiler, char grille, gas grille, griddle, hibachi, a pit of coals, roaster (slow cooker), or a spit.
“We’ll have people with hibachi’s smokers – you could have a pot of chili on a Bunsen burner and that would work,” Fox joked.
The competition heats up at noon with judging taking place later in the day. Judging starts with chili at 2 p.m., poultry at 3 p.m., pork at 4 p.m. and beef at 5 p.m. Holyoke-based blues rock band Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze will perform live throughout the event.
