The first weekend of October will see meat lovers, foodies and pit masters unite for three internationally sanctioned competitions over two days at Taupō’s Great Lake Holiday Park.
Barbecue Mania 7 is promising New Zealand's best pit masters available to answer burning questions and provide tips and tricks while teams battle it out over coals and wood for the coveted BBQ Mania Championship belt.
Event organiser and promoter Mandy May, a member of barbecue competition team Out the Grate Barbecue has brought the competition, born in Hamilton, to Taupō with her husband, Morgan.
With three sanctioned competitions over the two days, including on Saturday the New Zealand Barbecue Alliance (NZBA) teams cooking low and slow American style barbecue, it will be a feast for those interested, she says.
“We've got chicken, pork ribs, pork butt, and brisket on the go, and then prize-giving at the end of the day, where we all find out who won what.”
Sunday will see more fun and creative style cooks as well, she says.
“We’ve got the Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) competition which is an American sanctioned one, and that is cooking with Pure South's beautiful steaks, and we have to cook a perfect steak. And then there's an optional creative cook as well, where we're using anything with Sacred Grounds coffee.”
Creativity is only limited by having to use Sacred Grounds coffee.
“And that isn't even limited to barbecue. It can be hot, cold, savoury, sweet.”
Sunday will feature a rib cook-off, also from America – the first to be held in the North Island.
“And it is just ribs and chicken wings. So, that should be good fun too.”
With 23 teams coming from Canterbury all the way up to the far North, May is expecting a good time and the aroma to be literally out the gate.
“You will see and smell us before you even hit Acacia Bay Road.”
Those attending should follow the parking signs, she says, with no parking in the campground itself.
“Bring the whole family. It's always a family affair with us. A lot of us are families, and the kids get involved. There are blokes, women, whole teams.”
May herself is a member of the barbecue competition team Out the Grate Barbecue and she and Morgan have just opened a new barbecue food truck on Miro Street selling their American style low and slow barbecue.
As well as their truck there will be a number of other barbecue or foodie related stalls onsite with wares available for purchase such as Barbecue B.O.I with rubs, sauces and barbecue related products, Rotorua’s Black Label Barbecue selling low’n’slow barbecued food and Doses coffee cart, as well as Taupō’s Ben's Bistro with New Orleans-style comfort food.
There'll be no cancellations or postponements, says May.
“I know that the weather's looking a little bit dodgy, but our motto in the barbecue community is barbecue is not a season. So, whether it's rain, hail, shine, wind, whatever, the show will go on.”
Barbecue Mania 7 at the holiday park at 406 Acacia Bay Road is free to the public.
It runs from 10am-4pm on Saturday October 4, and 9am-2pm on Sunday October 5.
