So Hound Dog, what time of year is it really?

Slow smoking a snack for the Hound. (that's a turkey, not a chicken)

I know I’m just trying to fool myself, but a few years ago I decided that February 28th is the last day of winter and March 1st marks the arrival of Pre-Spring. Next I’ll have to fabricate some sort of holiday and create some mythological character to subvert its true meaning. Then, it will truly be worth celebrating!

But really, this is the day I wait for because it gives me hope and each passing day builds the anticipation that my favorite time of year is just around the corner – BBQ Season. I don’t mean “I’m going to be grilling out kind of season”, but rather barbecue in its truest form. Yea, big hunks of meat and fresh made sausages cooking low and slow over wood coals. Fire, wood, around 12 to 14 hours of cook time and there you have it. Woof!

However, even better than the BBQ itself is participating in the culture that surrounds it. Real BBQ is more than the food itself, but the ritual of cooking it, the adult beverages that accompany it, the bullshitting with friends that makes it worth while and the gratitude of guests who thank you for inviting them. That’s the BBQ I’m looking forward to.

As a prelude to the season, I am also counting down the time to my first BBQ judging event of the year in mid April. Lefty (my trusty BBQ sidekick, friend and judging companion) and I are KCBS Certified BBQ judges and usually participate in 8 to 10 contests each year. Since this glorious past-time is voluntary, we usually try to keep the majority of our travels here in the Midwest. Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri are our usual haunts. Our favorite, of course, is the first one of the year. No, not just because it’s first, but because we get to stop at Mecca on the way. More on that in future posts.

So, be warned, prepare for some “from the road” BBQ adventures of Lefty and Hound Dog in the coming months. We hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we do in documenting our journeys!