Today we went to "Smokin on the Rio", with our boating friends Sharon & Casey. It was held at the rodeo grounds in Mercedes.
This event is a Bar-B-Qing competition. When we arrived there was so much smoke hanging in the air, that I thought I would choke. But, thanks to the Texas breezes it soon cleared off, then we could breath and see.
Now how this worked is, that teams come from all over with there Bar-B-Q equipment. They set up and start Bar-B-Qing Chicken, Pork, Beef, types of Sausage etc. When done they turn their finished product in to the judges for assessment. Of course they do make extra that they offer to everyone that is wandering through, to sample. There were other foods to sample as well. We tried, beans, an onion blossom, beef brisket , chicken, ice cream and a Salsa dip that was so hot my mouth burned for an hour. We also saw booths with smashed potatoes, macaroni, fajitas, etc. etc. etc. There certainly was plenty to sample.
Now these Bar-B-Qers not only bring their Bar-B-Qs which are very elaborate. All built onto trailers for travelling from one compitition to another. They also bring travel trailers to stay in and extensive staging to put up around their site. This particular team on the right was called "Up in Smoke". 
Then this set up on the left and below, that we had lots of fun with, was set up on the site of "Da Smoke Boys". 
These guys sure put a lot of effort into their site. It was neat.
There was even a Manitoba Bar-B-Q team entered. Flying a big Canadian flag. So, how do these teams win this competition? Well, any time you want. You can go into the judges pavilion, sit down and relax. They will start handing you small samples of all of the food that the teams have turned in. Of course all of these samples are only identified by numbers and you get to rate them and that's how the teams get their scores. So it's the patrons that are the judges, and the judges keep changing throughout the day. That's a great way to do it. A real blind taste test.
So we carried on viewing and tasting as we went. It was flavourful and interesting.
The beans were flavourful. 
And the Chicken was interesting. 
And you really have to give a competitor credit for a sense of humour.
SO, THAT WAS "SMOKIN ON THE RIO".
