Sauce for Chicken

How'd your first contest go, weren't you in one for the first time, what'd you think?

My first suggestion to any new team, make sure you get a chance to judge a contest. Sitting in that tent and judging 6 other teams can really teach you a lot.

First year competing by myself, but been judging for about 5 years or so as well as competed with a number of teams.

I can't speak for your area, but buffalo style sauces in KCBS would probably score bad.

My opinion, while some judges might like spicey or really spicey, a lot of judges don't. If the sauces has too much kick, you'd probably get a reaction from the judge. You might get that one judge who LOVES the stuff and gives you a 9 and one who doesn't and gives you a 2.

You have to figure out a sauce that will add to the flavor, not hide it and to me as a judge, hot sauces hide. All that work on the chicken, and the hot sauce overpowers any other flavor.
Sweet and heat seems to work in the last few years, but sweet and hot will not.

Russ

I could not agree more with what Russ said on the subject. Trust me when I say that if an entry came in and burned my mouth when I ate it, it did not well on my scoring card. Not that I don't like some heat, but I have had some where it was difficult to taste the next entry.

The sweet and heat recommendation is a good one also.

John

Smoklahoma,
Our first contest is next week--Blue Ridge in Tryon, NC. I will let you know how it all works out.
The sauce that my wife is working on is not really hot or that spicy and does go well with our chicken. It is more accurately described as a BBQ sauce with the Buffalo flavor. Know what I'm saying---the Frank's Red-Hot flavor/taste.
RD,
see you guys in a few days.
Zeb

We are looking forward to it Zeb. We will be there either Thrusday night or first thing Friday morning.

Drive safely.

John

Zeb,

I HIGHLY recommend you hook up with Ribdog, Tom and Firehouse. If you've got questions about your first contest and want an opinion about a sauce before you use it in a contest, those guys are just the best.

You won't find a better group of guys and girl Barbara

They're experienced judges and like me, like to help new teams if they can. Although they won't tell all their secrets, they'll be happy to help.

Right guys?