Lovers of barbecue are in for an unprecedented experience on December 8, 2012, when La Quinta Resort & Club will host the first King of the Smoker invitational barbecue championship. Featuring the world’s top pit-masters vying for $50,000 in prize money, the event represents the single most prestigious concentrated assemblage of past, present and future barbecue masters ever. Two dozen teams, many of them TV culinary stars, will participate in the historic event.
Open to the public, sponsored by Big Poppa Smokers and sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, the King of the Smoker invitational will feature hard-fought, old-school competition by legends of the smoker. The day will also be highlighted by demonstrations, food, music and classes, all centered around the irresistible savor of barbecue.
The battle to win King of the Smoker will be waged by 24 champion teams including such luminaries as Johnny Trigg, Chris Lilly, Tuffy Stone and Harry Soo. Widely known to viewers of TV pit and barbecue programs, the renowned teams are scheduled to challenge each other on the resort’s Main Lawn. They will launch their competition late Friday night, when the hours-long smoking process for entries begins.
Saturday admission for the event finals and festivities is priced at $15 per person. Ticket-holders will be permitted to enter at 1:30 p.m., to attend celebrity demonstrations and classes from 1:30 to 5 p.m., and to observe the naming of the champion team at 5 p.m. A $30 VIP ticket option features earlier morning admission on Saturday, along with breakfast and a guided tour of the competition team area. The afternoon’s classes and interactive demonstrations are scheduled to include:
-Barbecue Q&A with Chris Lilly
-Smoke on Wheels Marinade with Andy Groenman
-Plowboys BBQ with Todd Johns
-Pigskin BBQ/BPS Rubs with Scott Nelson
-California Competition BBQ with Matt Dalton
-Knife Skills Q&A at the Johnny Trigg booth
-Competition BBQ for the Back Yard with Harry Soo from team Slap Yo’ Daddy
Ticket-holders will be able to purchase barbecue-style food throughout Saturday, featuring barbecue/smoked selections prepared by award-winning barbecue pitmaster Neil “Bigmista” Strawder and acclaimed chef Stephan Franklin of Simply Marvelous Barbecue. Live music entertainment will be presented throughout the day.
La Quinta Resort & Club has introduced a limited-availability VIP package for this special culinary weekend. Priced from $279 per room, the package includes accommodations, two all-day Saturday admissions to the event, a country breakfast buffet and a tour of the competing team areas. First priority for admission to the King of the Smoker championship will be provided to guests on the package, to be followed by individual ticket purchasers.
To reserve a King of the Smoker overnight package at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST, visit LaQuintaResort.com and request code KSP, or call 800.774.1500. To purchase individual tickets to the King of the Smoker event, visit tix.com beginning November 8, 2012. For further competition details, visit the King of the Smoker website at kingofthesmoker.com, or direct inquiries to info@laquintaresort.com.
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