COTR BBQ going international; young cooks invited

As teams gather at the George Franks Field for the Alabama Championship Barbecue Cookoff Friday, organizers have a couple of new features to present to lovers of the tangy dish.

The four men and one woman heading up all aspects of the competition have the challenge of welcoming dozens of teams, making sure the set-ups are okay, arranging for judges, scheduling entertainment and otherwise planning what they hope will be a successful event for the teams and the fans of barbecue that attend.

The cookoff has been a fixture for Christmas on the River for decades, but this is the first year it is going international. A team from Breda, Netherlands, calling itself the Southern Dutch BBQ Team, is joining the Demopolis event. The team brings with it multiple awards it has won in competitions around Europe.

The chairmen also are ensuring the future of the cookoff by encouraging young cooks to take part. This year they are hosting a kids’ hamburger cookoff Saturday at 7 a.m. Local judges will rate each entry on creativity, taste and presentation.

For the fourth year the television team from “BamaQ” will be on hand, and the 30-minute segment on Demopolis’ cookoff again will be broadcast on “Destination America.”

The show “gives the city huge exposure,” said JB Warren, one of the organizers. Working with him are Dee Wright, Paul Willingham, Nick Parker and Corey McCormack.

Gates will open at the field Friday at 5 p.m. for people hungry for a taste of barbecue. The $5 fee entitles each person to a sandwich, water and chips hosted by Trinity Episcopal Church.

But about 15 other teams also will share their skills, said Warren. In the past they have given samples to thousands of people.

Justin Pounders will provide music to entertain the crowds expected to attend the event.

The serious business of judging the barbecue entries from 35-40 teams begins Saturday. The teams compete in the professional or backyard divisions. Professionals can enter any or all of the four divisions: chicken, pork, ribs and butt. Backyard teams compete in chicken and rib divisions.

Some 80 judges volunteer their expertise to determine the winners. They come from all over the country, paying their own way, and must be certified by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) to serve as official judges.