Are you hot stuff when it comes to barbecuing? If so, then show off your grill skills by entering our competition to find the Best Pub BBQer in Britain
Barbecues are big business in the UK and an important source of revenue for pubs. They give pub chefs the chance to create some fantastic dishes and extend their culinary creativity beyond their pub's kitchen.
The MA's food magazine, PubChef, is on the hunt for the country'sbest pub barbecuer with a place in the Best of Britain Championship BBQ team up for grabs. The team will represent Britain in the World BBQ Championships, which takes place in the US in October, in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
PubChef's competition aims to celebrate the creativity and passion being shown by chefs in pub gardens around the UK. It is looking for the best pub barbecue dish in three different categories: best meat barbecue dish; best seafood barbecue dish, and best vegetarian barbecue dish. Three chefs will be selected from each category to take part in a cook-off final. The cook-off, sponsored by Major International, Sutter Home and Britvic, will result in one overall winner being selected.
Judges will include Ben Bartlett, catering development manager at the Union Pub Company, who won the title Britain's Best BBQer 2003-2004, Brian Eastment, development chef from Major Inter-national and Viv Harvey, master butcher for the Meat & Livestock Commission.
Dishes entered must be innovative, full of flavour, cooked to perfection and provide a good gross profit. Chefs will also be judged on presentation of their dish.
PubChef editor Jo Bruce says: "There are some fantastic barbecues being run in pubs and this competition gives chefs a chance to show off their skills. The cook-off final is going to be a superb event and there is a place in the UK team at the World BBQ Championships up for grabs."
King of the coals wins trip to US
The overall winner of our Battle of the BBQs 2005 competition will scoop a place on the Best of Britain Championship BBQ Team, which will represent the UK in the Jack Daniel's World BBQ Championships in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Around 450 teams from around the world will compete in the competition.
Other members of the UK team areColin Capon and Mathew Shropshall, owner and chef of the Royal Oak in King's Bromley, Staffordshire.
Ben Bartlett, manager of the Best of Britain Championship BBQ Team, says: "The Jack Daniel's contest is like the Olympics for BBQ enthusiasts and will be the grilling experience of a lifetime."
The competition takes place from 21 to 22 October. Flights and accommodation will be provided and the winner will also receive three cases of Sutter Home wine and 10 cases of Britvic drinks.
All finalists will also each receive a goody bag from Major International and a case of Marston's Pedigree from Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewery.
Notes to entrants:
l There are three categories and entrants may enter more than one category.
l The categories are: best meat barbecue dish, best seafood barbecue dish, and best vegetarian barbecue dish. Marinating of an entered dish may be carried out prior to the event. For a free sample of one of Major International's mari-base marinades to use at the event, phone 0800 5877 333, or visit www.majorint.com for recipe ideas.
l Finalists will have an hour for barbecue set-up and preparation.
l Entrants will have 30 minutes' cooking time and the dish entered should be something that can be cooked within that period.
l Cook-off finalists will also be judged on presentation and may bring with them pre-prepared salads, sauces and side dishes to serve with their barbecue dish.
l The cook-off final will take place on Monday25 July.
l Finalists will be notified by phone by 12 July.
l Finalists may bring two supporters to thecook-off final.
l Any queries on how to enter, call 01293 610487.