Mud, flood watch put damper on barbecue contest

Photo by Stan Carroll // Buy this photo

Kerry Synder of Memphis tries to blend in with her surroundings on Friday at the tent of Sow Luau, her cooking team in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Each pig head represents the honored country for the past 17 years,

When the Smoked Out team arrived at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the mud was 8 to 10 inches deep.

And the stagnant water smelled awful, said Todd Stafford, a Millington firefighter and team cook.

Photo by Stan Carroll

Kerry Synder of Memphis tries to blend in with her surroundings on Friday at the tent of Sow Luau, her cooking team in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Each pig head represents the honored country for the past 17 years,

Photo by Stan Carroll

Trish O'Connor of West Memphis and Charles Brooks of Clinton, Md., judge the presentation of the entries in the seafood category on Friday.

"I think they're going to have to do something about it next year -- maybe even move the event," he said.

The team covered the mud with 15 bags of sand and took action to mask the smell, he said, running his fingers through his buzzed, red hair.

While Stafford said he thought his team was past the worst, a flash flood watch for today signaled a possible wet end to the heated competition.

If the predicted precipitation arrives, it would come two weeks after downpours drenched the first, big Memphis in May event, the Beale Street Music Festival.

As he sat in the team booth Friday, Stafford watched as sunburned barbecue fans stepped around rain puddles and mud holes.

"The weather has made it about the toughest year I've had here since I've been involved," said Diane Hampton, executive vice president of Memphis in May.

While he hopes to compete again next year, Stafford, a son of cooks, said he thinks the contest should relocate because of drainage problems at Tom Lee Park.

Despite the rain earlier in the week, Friday's heat drove event-goers to find shade under tarps and the sparse sprinkling of trees beside the river. Teams could almost cook their hogs on the sidewalk, some said.

Several first-time visitors said the event didn't measure up to their expectations because of the lack of samples, seating and shade.

Although local health codes prevent cooks from passing out free samples, the Kingsford People's Choice Awards provided barbecue connoisseurs with five samples for $4.

"I wish we could taste all the food," said Trevis Jordon, 26, who drove up from Texas expecting free samples park-wide. "It's disappointing that you smell all the food, but can't taste it all. I'd rather pay more to get in and be able to sample everything."

Ona New, 57, from Louisiana, said she was also disappointed, although the weather was less humid than "back home."

"We came a long way. And this," she said, waving her hand in the direction of the invitation-only booths, "is what we came for."

A couple of aspiring barbecue cooks from Canada also showed up, surfing the crowd of experienced chefs for tips and tricks.

"You can't get good barbecue in Toronto -- not like here," said Justin Doyle, 40, of Edmunton, Alberta. "You might see us back here as a barbecue team."

This year marks Stafford's 13th time to attend the contest, but the first as a cook and the first time his team has competed.

"My father used to be a cook, and my uncle and his brother, for years," he said, as the smell of cooking pork wafted through the air. "This isn't my first rodeo."

Stafford said he will continue the tradition, eventually passing the torch to his young son.

-- Ryan Poe: 529-2623

Barbecue Fest

What: The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest concludes today at Tom Lee Park.

Hours: Gates are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission: Tickets may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 525-1515. Tickets also will be sold at the north and south gates at Tom Lee Park. Single-day tickets are $7 online and $8 at the gate. Children 6 and younger are free.

Judging and Entertainment:

6 p.m.: Comedy Tennessee

6:30 p.m.: Awards Ceremony

8 p.m.: Bobby "Blue" Bland

© 2009 Go Memphis. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.