Barbecue champion to compete|Smoke on the Water draws some of best pig-cookers in state
Published 8:45 pm Thursday, October 1, 2009
By By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Joe Peterson, the reigning North Carolina barbecue champion from Roanoke Rapids, is among the pig-cookers signed up for the 12th-annual Smoke on the Water set for Oct. 23-24 in the downtown/waterfront area of Washington.
As of Wednesday, David Burke the fourth-place finisher in the 2009 state barbecue championship had signed up to compete in Smoke on the Water. Judging for the local barbecue contest begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 24. Many of the pig-cookers will compete in the contests showmanship competition the evening of Oct. 23.
Smoke on the Water is seeking other pig-cookers to compete in its barbecue contest, which has a top prize of $1,200.
Peterson claimed his title this year as part of the 25th anniversary of the North Carolina Barbecue Championship. The Smoke on the Water competition will be judged by three judges certified by the N.C. Pork Council. Whole pigs are judged on criteria such as skin crispiness, brownness, taste and moistness. The pigs are judged at the sites where they are cooked.
This year, the championship was decided by a tie-breaker. Peterson and Larry Sweet of Newport finished with the same culinary score. Peterson won the title because he had the highest on-site score.
Applications for the barbecue contest, chili cook-off and vendors interested in setting up shop at the festival are available by calling the Washington Visitor Center at 252-948-9415 or by sending an e-mail to visitus@originalwashington.com.
This years Smoke on the Water is being held in memory of Gary Tomasulo, former Smoke on the Water coordinator and president of the Historic Washington Downtown Merchants Association. Tomasulo died on Labor Day.
Smoke on the Water is associated with the Down East Rods &Classics Car Show and the 45th-annual Beaufort County Arts Council Fine Arts Show. Two new events have been added to the Smoke on the Water schedule this year, a pumpkin-carving contest and a Halloween pet parade.
The Beaufort County Traditional Music Association will provide musical entertainment Oct. 24. Other events set for Oct. 24 include a story-telling session to entertain children, the chili contest and the presentation of awards and prizes associated with the barbecue and chili contests.
More details about Smoke on the Water contests and events will be included in future articles about the festival.