BBQ teams to Battle for Blade this weekend

The fourth annual Fort Griffin BBQ Cook-Off “Battle for the Blade & World Championship Dove Cook-Off” will take place in downtown Albany this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29, and at least two dozen teams are already entered in the International Barbeque Cookers Association sanctioned event.

Partly cloudy skies and highs in the low 80s are forecasted for Friday, with slightly cooler temperatures and a chance of isolated thunderstorms predicted for Saturday.

“We don’t expect any problem with the rain, since we will be downtown, and not in a flood prone area,” said organizer Justin Winters. “Teams can start setting up on Friday morning. A site map will be posted on our Facebook page, fortgriffinbbqcookoff.”

The cooks meeting is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28.

Winters reminded the cooks that the turn-in and judging time for dove was recently moved from Saturday to Friday to avoid conflicts with IBCA rules.

Steak has always been submitted for judging prior to the Cooks Kick-Off Party on Friday evenings, and now the dove entries will too, Winters said.

“Steak entries will be turned in on Friday at 8:00 p.m. followed by the dove turn-in at 9:00 p.m. on Friday night,” he said.

The cooks party will be held at the Icehouse restaurant, starting at 9:00 p.m. on Friday. Live music will be provided by Ross Shifflet, and temporary club memberships will be available for purchase.

Competition resumes on Saturday morning and concludes later that afternoon with the brisket judging at 3:00 p.m. followed by the award presentations.

The barbecue cook-off is hosted by members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by First National Bank of Albany and Lone Star Ag Credit.

Fire Up the Grill

Online registration will close at 12:00 midnight on Sept. 27 (tonight); however, teams can still join in the fun by contacting Winters to enter the cook-off.

Entry fees are $150 per team for the three-meats division of chicken halves, pork spare ribs, and brisket, with bonus divisions of steak, Bloody Mary, dove, and beans for $20 per category. 

Prize money will be paid to the top placing teams in each category. The grand prize winner will take home the three-foot long trophy knife handmade again this year by local blacksmith/inventor and craftsman at Serendipity Studio, Michael Whitmore.

Judges Needed

Smoke rising from mesquite embers and fresh meat grilling over multiple barbecue pits manned by skillful chefs should fill the entire town with tantalizing fragrances on both Friday and Saturday, and spectators who volunteer as judges will get to sample the various entries and help determine who will win the Battle for the Blade.

Steaks and dove will be judged on Friday, Sept. 28.

All of the other cate-gories will be judged on Saturday, Sept. 29.

“Just show up at the Aztec at least 10 minutes before the posted turn-in time, and you will judge some of the best meats and Bloody Marys in Texas,” said Winters. “You may judge every other hour, up to three categories in one day.”

The categories to be judged on Saturday include Bloody Marys at 10:00 a.m., beans at 11:00 a.m., chicken at 12:00 noon, pork spare ribs at 1:30 p.m., and brisket at 3:00 p.m.

Other Activities

Vendors can arrange to set up at the Bank Park by contacting Winters. 

Children are invited to go to the Bank Park and jump in the bounce house or dig for buried treasure in a sand pile. 

There is no admission charge to view the art exhibits at the Old Jail Art Center, open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or to visit the Flying A Car Museum, open Saturday afternoons. 

Local merchants offer many unique items to either just browse through, or to purchase and take home.

Restaurants and food trucks will welcome diners.

Sponsorships for the barbecue cook-off are still available in a variety of donation levels. 

To enter the cook-off, become a sponsor, volunteer at the event, or for more information, contact Winters at 325-668-8241.