Bayou BBQ Bash kicks off Thursday; competition Saturday

The third annual Bayou BBQ Bash will kick off Thursday with “Meet the Cooks” at the Hampton Inn followed by festivities under the U.S. 90 bridge Friday and Saturday on the corner of Second and Greenwood streets, according to a Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau news release.
The contest will be an International Barbeque Cookers Association Sanctioned State Championship Competition with categories for pork spare ribs, brisket and chicken. Competitors must cook all three food categories to be qualified for the grand champion prize. The event is organized by the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce.
Event founder Don Tellman said he expects close to 50 entrants to compete in the bash compared to the 43 entrants in 2013. Tellman’s son is coming in from Seattle to compete in the event. Competitors from around the Houston area have also entered the competition. About 100 people have signed up to judge the contest, Tellman said.
The competition includes a Corporate Cooking Team Throw Down Challenge for bragging rights for the Best Corporate Company Cooking Team in St. Mary Parish, and a BBQ Sauce Competition, the release said. Teams are not allowed to cook with gas cookers. Competitors can begin cooking after their meats have been inspected. Cooks will start turning in their meats at noon on Saturday, and an awards ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m., the release stated.
The event will also have barbeque competitions for children, called “Kids Qs,” for the following age groups, ages 13 to 15 years old will cook chicken legs; and 12 years old and younger will cook pork chops. Food categories will be provided for the kids competing, and they will turn in one of their meats to be judged. Entry fee is $10 and each age group is limited to the first 15 entries. For additional information and rules visit www.stmarychamber.com or www.cajuncoast.com/bbqbash to download an entry form.
On Thursday, the Chamber of Commerce will host a Business After Hours event, “Meet the Cooks,” from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Morgan City to kick off the bash. Food and refreshments will be served at the event, the release stated.
On Friday, Déjà Vu will play live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Arts and crafts booths will be set up from 4 to 10 p.m. Food and beer booths will be available from 5:30 to 10 p.m. along with a mandatory cooks meeting at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday, arts and crafts booths will be set up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A “Kids Zone” will be available from noon to 5 p.m. A Quilters Guild Booth will be set up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live music will begin at 9 a.m. Seabrook will perform from 9 to 11 a.m. Don Rich will close out the event performing from noon to 4 p.m. Food, soft drinks and beer will be sold from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tellman said the bash is made possible by contributions from many different people and organizations. “It’s a family day. It’s much like it was in the park on the fifth,” Tellman said.
For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or entry forms contact 985-384-3830, visit www.stmarychamber.com, or www.cajuncoast.com/bbqbash.