Category / On The Road

20
Jul

Hogs for the Cause 2015

In March, we traveled to New Orleans to compete in the Hogs for the Cause contest. This multi-layered event raises funds for families whose children have brain cancer. Operating at a grass roots level, families can apply for these grants directly. The purpose of Hogs For The Cause is to provide aid and relief of those variable expenses and economic burdens families face while their child is being treated for pediatric brain cancer. While the money devoted to pediatric cancer research is dwindling, there is an even bigger void in the variable expenses associated with cancer treatment. It is our goal to fill this void. As a result of the support and success Hogs For The Cause has garnered in past years, Hogs currently operates as a premier funding source for pediatric brain cancer outreach services in the United States..

In order to compete, each team raises money prior to arriving, donates to a silent auction, and vends during the actual event, with all funds going to the cause. We auctioned a Whole Hog Extravaganza for 100 as our primary fundraiser.

HogsForTheCause-01_Cochon

Our first stop (and the site of multiple visits) was the outstanding Cochon Butcher.

HogsForTheCause-02_LePigMac

Chris, Phillip, and Mike and the Le Pig Mac. Two whole pork patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun! Outstanding.

HogsForTheCause-03_CafeDuMonde

Beignet stop.

Café du Monde bright and early Friday morning…

HogsForTheCause-04_JacksonSq

…followed by a stroll around Jackson Square, prior to heading to the park for set-up.

HogsForTheCause-06_Crawfish

It was also my birthday, and conveniently the start of crawfish season. So this was Friday night’s dinner.

HogsForTheCause-07_Signs

These are mostly local New Orleans teams who don’t run the barbecue circuit. This reminds me very much of old-school Memphis in May, where people are just cooking great barbecue and not a specific flavor profile.

HogsForTheCause-08_DurocPig

The contest is pork-centric in nature, with shoulder, ribs, whole hog, and porkpourri categories. We cooked a beautiful Compart Duroc hog. Gorgeous marbling.

HogsForTheCause-09_Cooker

Lots of inventive cookers.

HogsForTheCause-10_Games

And clever games. This is frozen pork butt bowling.

HogsForTheCause-11_ForSale

Vending to the public is a huge part of the fundraising at this event and there was a variety of food for sale.

HogsForTheCause-12_Popcorn

Kettle corn with maple bacon cumbles on top.

HogsForTheCause-13_Hogsagna

The Porkpourri event was new to us. Becky made “Hogsagna Soup,” a lasagna soup with fresh pork sausage we made ourselves, several different types of cheese, pork broth, and other seasonings and spices.

HogsForTheCause-14_Conyers

The opportunity to catch up with friends is the best part of a contest. This is Mike and Howard Conyers, NASA scientist and old-school whole hog cooker. Howard is from South Carolina and he lives and works in New Orleans.

HogsForTheCause-15_Ubons

And of course the Ubons family, who has been involved with Hogs for a Cause for several years.

HogsForTheCause-16_Rose

We were situated directly across from Donald Link’s team and we enjoyed some fellowship with Ryan Prewitt and Steven Stryjewski while drinking lots of rosé.

Grant recipient families were in attendance and meeting those families whose lives are directly enriched by this organization is humbling and heartwarming. Other charitable barbecue organizations could learn a great deal from this group. Their next event will be in Charleston in October. And then again in New Orleans on April 1-2, 2016.

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8
Jul

Guest Judging on Food Network's Chopped Grill Masters series

Chopped_03Back in April, I traveled to New York City to be a guest judge on the second season of CHOPPED Grillmasters.

Chopped_02I was paired with veteran judges Scott Conant and Chris Santos. Coming in as the new girl on a very established show with two guys who are very comfortable and experienced can be a challenge. I cannot, however, say enough nice things about working with the two of them. So smart and articulate, with incredible culinary knowledge, they were so welcoming, and very interested in the barbecue knowledge and perspective I shared. The photo above was taken on the first day of filming. I can’t wait to see how the show is edited.

Chopped_01This special series is the second time they’ve filmed an outdoor Grill Masters series, specifically focusing on food cooked live fire. I ended up knowing two of the contestants each day, and fellow barbecue friends will recognize a number of familiar faces. This is a five-episode series, airing on five consecutive Tuesdays. The winner from the first four episodes will compete in the finale. I’m judging the first episode and then another one that airs in early August.

Chopped_04Of course, I can’t give divulge any details, but suffice it to say that everyone on the show did an admirable job under a great deal of pressure.

Chopped_05Hope you’ll set your DVRs and plan to watch the fun! Tuesday, July 14th at 10 pm ET. Food Network. CHOPPED. Please tune in!

 

 

 Follow our adventures in real time on Instagram and Twitter.
See lots of entertaining and barbecue ideas on our Pinterest boards.
And we post fun things on Facebook, too!