Caribbean BBQ Association Meeting held July 26th
Open Grill Night!
What a great response from the attending members we had for Tuesday's BBQ meeting
June 26th at Bamboobei. We had 35 members in attendance and everyone brought some good eats. I don't think I've seen more sausage in one spot in a long time and it's safe to say that this grilling group really likes the sausages.
We had links from Brazil, hot links big, fat, hot & jucy from New Orleans and marinated in onions and beer for two days, red onions and hot links served on buns and corn tortillas or just eaten off a pincho stick. Everyone had the chance to step up and grill the goods and in some cases we did the grilling for them. There was grilled chicken and burgers, pork tenderloins, churrasco, beef shoulder grilled to perfection and a beautiful cheese cake, sauces and spices and tasty treats from many orgins.
The grilling got started at 7 and was supposed to calm down around 8 but it was just heating up and kept going strong till 9 and the meeting was called to order. Our BBQ Ambassador, Robert Matta, had the carbon covered and introduced a really cool new product for grilling. It's a round block of compressed wood chips that lights with a single match and no smelly lighter fluid. In seconds it's burning red hot and puts out a steady 350 degrees of heat for an hour and a half.
The group was ready for action and as the first piece of business decided to develop a CBBQA Directory that lists all memebrs that want to be listed and gives contact information like e-mail and phones and tells what company or firm the members represent. We have a diverse group of people and companies represented and could use the directory to patronize members companies when we're looking for goods and services to do business with a CBBQA member.
We appointed several board officers on a temporary 90 day basis until we appoint our first board to help with some of the regular duties of operationg an association. Diane Forsyth was appointed as Treasurer and Joyce Rivera as secretary. We all extend our CBBQA thanks to these BBQ Amabssadors for stepping in and helping out.
We decided to get a Grill and Smoker comittee started so we can build or buy a unit to teach with, use for our meetings, and use to cater BBQ to raise money for the association.
Thanks to Chef Julio Sanchez for volunteering to head up that group.
Free CBBQA iron on logos were offered to anyone in the group that may want a logo to put on a favorite shirt, apron, chef jacket or whatever. Just send us an e-mail to
info@caribbeanbbq.com and we will have one for you at the next meeting.
The CBBQA has also voted and selected Bambooei it's official Headquarters. This is a real nice place, ocean view, wood decks and we can grill out for every meeting and hone our skills. So make a note the we will hold our monthly meetings the last Tuesday of the month always at 7 PM, same time, same place.
We wanted everyone to have a chance to strut their stuff and agreed to appoint 4 New Party Masters for each meeting. This time the Party Masters will be Chef Juilo Sanchez, Susie Ralves, Claudio Reck, and Tammy Guitterrez. The Party Masters will select the food theme for the next meeting, make out the proposed menu and notify the BBQ Association two weeks ahead of the next scheduled meeting and reveal the mystery theme. We will let the members know what to bring. Over the course of the next year each member will get the opportunity to serve the group as a Party Master and we all get the grand prize, great food and good times with our CBBQA members.
BBQ member and Ambassador, Garry Howard, has established himself as the West Coast Reporter for the CBBQA. We want each member to contribute to our web page with any review of a good eating establishment, especially any BBQ joint, anywhere in the island. You dine there, its good, whip out the digital camera and get a few choice shots of the chef, your friendly stall, the food when it arrives at your table and give us your highly valued opnion. Send it to us at
info@caribebb.com and your now going to be issued a soon to be famous BBQ Ambassador reporter nick name, like the West Coast Reporter.
Thanks to John Peterson who has taken the position of heading the committee to set up our retail operations for selling tee-shirts, hats, BBQ Sauces and rubs under the name of The Caribbean BBQ Association. Proceeds will be used to buy our grill or smoker, and bring certified judge trainers to Puerto Rico and finance other interests of the association.
Raymond Esculera has graciously agreed to help us get our individual CBBQA ID cards laminated so members can wear them at meetings to help identify everyone more easily.
If we have any member who has experience with a non profit organization or if there is a lawyer amoung our members please contact me directly
bigmacjdbbq@yahoo.com
Our next meeting will be August 30th, 7 PM, at Bamboobei and I can't wait to see what the Party Masters ar cooking up for us, I wouldn't miss it for anything.
If you want to get involved with any committee just contact us. We have a place to apply your help and expertise. Know anyone who may be interested in sponsoring the CBBQA or one of our projects? Got a good idea about how we can bring revenue to our association?
Michael Compton
President / Caribbean BBQ Association
BigMAC
CBBQA Attends Wine Wild West BBQ Contest
Several CBBQA members served as judges at the first ever BBQ Contest on the western side of the island. The event was held on Saturday, July 16 at La Bodega de Mendez in
Añasco. Mike Compton coordinated judging for the event. Chris Morris, Hector Rivera and Garry Howard also served as judges. Teams competed in the categories of churrasco, chicken and ribs. Sweets and Cuisine catering from Ponce was crowned Grand Champion. The event was a lot of fun and we got to taste some great food and excellent wines. Mendez hopes to turn it into an annual event and we look forward to participating again next year. You can view more pictures from the event and the competitor's recipes here.
Sweets and Cuisine - Ponce
Grand Champions - Wine Wild West BBQ Contest
Contest Results
Steak
Chef Roberto Rivera - Capriccio Restaurant
Chef Damian Hernandez - Brazas Restaurant At Rincón Beach Resort
Chef Francisco J. Murphy - Sweets & Cuisine
Ribs
Chef Francisco J. Murphy - Sweets & Cuisine
Chef Solange Ortiz and Staff - Ponce Paramedical College
Mr. Luchy Falto - La Garita Cigar
Chicken
Chef Francisco J. Murphy - Sweets & Cuisine
Chef Solange Ortiz & Staff - Ponce Paramedical Collage
Mr. Rafa Torres - Party Rental
Sauces
Chef Damian Lorenzo - Brazas Restaurant
Chef Roberto Rivera - Capriccio Restaurant
Chef Efraín - Mayagüez Resort
