4th Annual Estel’s BBQ Rib Cook-Off Is A Screaming Success For Diners & Charity

Six grill masters, 7 judges, 120 tickets sold, two charities, everyone’s favorite beachside breakfast spot, a full band and a plateful of delicious ribs.  Screaming success is the only way to describe it.  I mean…look at this pic someone snapped of me helping Kelly McGuire auction off some of his stuff for charity.

No I didn’t win…I was just having a great time!

Screaming Success

(Photo by Helen Mott)

Let me first show you what was going on when I first walked in.  All of the grillers were in action.

Kevin (who has participated in ALL of the cook-offs) has a new smoker/BBQ that’s pretty snazzy.

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He’s also got the body of a god.  Kevin is from Orange Walk but has been in San Pedro for years.  He now has his own restaurant – Kevin’s Kitchen – just south of town.

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Confidence.  I like it!

We’ve got Rick from Kansas City.  Perhaps you’ve heard of their BBQ?

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We’ve got home town favorite Charles!  Who works the BBQ at Estel’s every single weekend.  His food is FANTASTIC.

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We’ve got Jim…the one most likely to appear on TV with Guy Fieri.  He just looks like a pit master and he’s got personality to spare.

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There were two newcomers in the mix.  Randy and Ali.  Ali from California.

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No matter who was grilling, the ribs were looking divine…

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and it was a gorgeous day.

IMG_7413 IMG_7429 IMG_7433 IMG_7434Chef Chris with his new ridiculously cute puppy Lola.

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Coconut Leo taking it easy.

IMG_7427And Kendall from Ecologic Divers and Sailing Charters.

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Kelly McGuire auctioned off some merchandise for the Scholarship awarding charity – The Sunshine Foundation.

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And this lovely lady later won the 50/50 raffle.  Congratulations.  Left to Right:  Barrington, the MC;  Eve, one of the charity organizers and the winner!

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The judges were served first and I was there to stick a camera in their faces while they were eating messy ribs.

Chris, the chef at Blue Water Grill.

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Dorian, the Editor of Ambergris Today.  Thumbs up!

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Kelly McGuire…well I doctored up his picture just a little bit.  Not fair to show someone with rib in his teeth!

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Chef Jeff from Rojo Beach Bar knows how to make sure his photo isn’t taken like that.   Hold up a dirty rag?

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All seven judges were all business.  Hard at work.

So I went to find my color coded ribs.  And was so quick to dive in…that I forgot to take a picture!

How embarrassing.  But know that the colors went like this:  Yellow (SPICY!) = Jim, Orange = Rick, Purple (reminiscent of a Tootsie Roll – in a good way) = Kevin, Green = Charles, Blue = Ali and Red = Randy.

Here is how I ended up voting.  I would have put the beans (made by Estel’s) as #1…but I wrote them in instead.  Yum.

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And then, after lots more music, the announcement was made.  The guys lined up and…

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AND THE WINNERS!    Judges’ Choices:  1. Ali (Blue) 2. Charles (Green) and 3. Rick (Orange) and Kevin (Purple) Tie

Peoples’ Choices:  1. Rick (Orange) 2.  Charles (Green) and 3.  Jim (Yellow)

Congratulations everyone.  What a super fun day and $10bzd of each ticket went to the Sunshine Foundation.

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For lots more FANTASTIC pics, check out Dorian’s article in Ambergris Today.  And for posts about some of the earlier cook-offs, check out the blog posts below.

LONG LIVE BBQ!

 

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