KCBS News FeedRockford, Ill. Prepares to Welcome the Region’s Best
August 2, 2012The time is nearly here for the top teams in Region Four to put their best Q forward at the Rockford Regional Final on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Troy Black, tour director for Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour, said while much of the atmosphere for the Regional events will remain the same as the local events, the magnitude of this competition is felt by everyone.
“I expect Rockford to be a difficult contest,” said QUAU head cook Mike Wozniak; and with good reason as the teams competing in Rockford had a narrow margin to squeeze through from the local events.
Danielle Dimovski of Diva Q, another team competing in the Region 4 Final, knows what’s at stake and has been preparing her best for the throw-down.
“My strongest category this year has been chicken,” said Dimovski. “We’ve been in the top 10 twice this season and I’m hoping we can pull it off again.”
While the highlight of the competition is certainly receiving a winning call, Dimovski is also looking forward to spending quality time with her teammates (they’ve got an 11 hour drive to the competition!) and catching up with old friends in the competition circuit. The love of camaraderie at these competitions seems to be a common theme as Wozniak echoed similar sentiments.
“We’ve got friends all over the country that we’ve met through BBQ” said Wozniak. “We usually go to dinner with a few teams when we arrive, or throw a big dinner before some of the top competitions.”
But when it gets down to it, the competing teams are nose to the grill, preparing savory sauces, rubs and glazes that make up each team’s hopeful secret ticket to Bentonville and the National Championship .
Included in the lineup for Rockford are several of 2011’s top Teams of the Year such as Munchin’ Hogs @ The Hilton, Truebud BBQ, Big T’z Q Cru and QUAU.
Wozniak and the QUAU team are excited to compete in Rockford. The team has stuck closer to home this season and is ready to wow the judges with a new flavor profile. After changing up the recipe late last season, QUAU has high hopes for their brisket turn in.
“Our main goal is to make it to the final in Bentonville. Anything above tenth place will just be icing on the cake” said Wozniak.
Troy Black offers a few words to all those getting ready for the big event.
“Prepare for the best entries you’ve ever experienced,” Black tells the judges.
To the competing teams, Black says, “You better bring your A-game, it’s going to be a close one!”
See you in Rockford!
