Tyler Heppell liked the one with the jalapeno and a pickle,
Heppell, the person behind Ugly Potato Day, was one of three judges at the third annual Meat In The Street barbecue contest and charitable fundraiser on Saturday, June 28, along with Angie Quaale, owner of 黑马磁力鈥檚 Well Seasoned Gourmet store, and 黑马磁力 RCMP officer Dennis Bell.
鈥淚 had to have five sliders. It was fantastic,鈥� Heppell said.
鈥淧robably one of the best jobs I've ever had.鈥�
There were five pit masters vying for top honours at the event, which was relocated to the Royal Canadian Legion Aldergrove branch after its previous home, the temporary Aldergrove plaza, was closed to community events due to impending development.
It was a blind tasting, Heppell said, with none of the judges knowing which pit master was responsible for what creation.
鈥淲e ranked them on a few criteria, appearance, does it look appetizing? The aroma, how does the meat smell? Tenderness, is it moist and easy to chew? And then flavour, how well seasoned and balanced was the taste? And then creativity, is there a unique twist or presentation?鈥�
Organizers Veronica Cave and Emma Stewart said it was the biggest field of competitors yet.
Cave liked the new location, on grass instead of gravel, with tons of parking.
鈥淎ctually this is a much better for us,鈥� Cave said.
鈥淭he food is going to be phenomenal,鈥� Stewart predicted.
Wayne Fettback, pitmaster for Mad Cow Barbecue, was new to the event, but not to competitive barbecuing.
鈥淚've been cooking barbecue for about 25 years now,鈥� Fettback said, standing next to several of his grand champion trophies that he brought 鈥渏ust to show people that I did know how to cook pork."鈥�
Defending Meat In The Street champion Dennis Quiring, from Double D Barbecue, was back.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to raise some money for the starfish backpack program,鈥� he said, as his team prepared their pulled pork recipe.
Another returning champion, in 2023, Kevin Legge from Big Dog Barbecue, did his barking dog impression for a visitor.
鈥淚鈥檓 kind of known just for my bark not my bite,鈥� Legge laughed.
Legge and Big Dog are now repeat winners after taking their second Meat In The Street contest while Quiring and Double D were the people's choice, topping a vote by event visitors.
