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BBQ Challenge awards winners on Saturday

  • Quality Grilling Team competes at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • One of the smokers that cooks up the barbecue at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • A competitor gets a rib ready for attendees of the 2018 Charles City BBQ Challenge. Press file photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Hot Rods, from Mason City, was one of the competitors at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • 2 Scubba's BBQ won top prize at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Folks enjoy themselves at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Mark Wicks reads winners at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • 2 Scubba's BBQ is all smiles after learning they won top prize at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • 2 Scubba's BBQ pose for the cameras after winning first place at the Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

They say practice makes perfect.

In barbecue competition that translates to first place if you’re 2 Scubbas BBQ.

Many folks from around the area attended the Fourth Annual Charles City BBQ Challenge on Saturday right next to the riverfront.

The top prize went to the aforementioned 2 Scubbas BBQ, which took home $750 and a first-place trophy. They were team No. 5 on the list of competitors. 2 Scubbas finished sixth at last year’s competition in Charles City. 

Asked what the secret was to good barbecue, Joe Mathahs of 2 Scubbas didn’t hesitate in his retort.

“Practice, practice, practice,” said Mathahs, who hails from Thompson, over in Winnebago County.

Around 15 competitors all braved the heat and wind that picked up later in the afternoon to try their best to impress the judges and meat lovers alike.

Second place was awarded to team No. 10, Mind if You Smoke, from Mason City. That group won $250. Third place was a tie, with team No. 1 from Osage, Wag’s Backwood BBQ, and Que’d Up, team No. 8, from Mason City, sharing the honor. Each team won $100.

The People’s Choice winner went to Hot Rod’s, team No. 3 from Mason City.

Each contestant had a different style and taste to their ribs, but Rusty Hadacek of 2 Scubbas perhaps summed it up best when describing his winning team’s barbecue.

“Improving,” said Hadacek, who lives in Britt.

2 Scubbas BBQ competed in last week’s Newton Fest where the team finished third overall (first in pulled pork, fourth in chicken and fifth in ribs). The duo said they would like to compete at a bigger competition in the near future, possibly one in Kansas City.

The recipe for success can change and evolve over time, according to Hadacek.

“You try different things. Some will work, some won’t,” said Hadacek.

Dave Williams of the Quality Grilling Team, right here in Charles City, described his team’s ribs.

“We like to have a little spice in ours — just a little bit of kick, not too sweet. A little sweet and a little heat,” said Williams.

Williams said his team has been competing in the barbecue competition in Charles City for the last eight or nine years, only missing one. He said they have won the competition once or twice.

Steve Schmidt of 2 Sauced to Pork, from Mason City, has won reserve grand champion at the Mitchell County Fair the past two years. He also produced a blue-winning brisket at that fair for first place.

Schmidt calls his meat a little middle of the road regarding seasoning.

“I’m more a savory, sweet type of cook. I want to taste the meat,” said Schmidt.

Schmidt experimented with this challenge as he tried a different spice and sauce just to see how that worked out. He then gauges what people say about them after they gnaw into the ribs.

Five certified judges picked the winners on a double-blind taste test, using Kansas City Barbeque Society rules. Those judges are trained to look at certain criteria, according to Charles City Community Development Director Mark Wicks.

Wicks said some teams were out in the parking lot starting to cook their meat as early as 6:30 in the morning. He was pleased how everything turned out for the challenge.

“Kudos to everybody that came out,” said Wicks. “They really enjoy it. They get to talk to each other. They learn new things.”

If anything, the challenge was a great opportunity to get outside, meet people and enjoy some good food.

“It’s a good waste of a day,” said Williams, of the Quality Grilling Team.

 

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