Decatur To Host State's Regional BBQ Sauce Off

In its quest to find the state’s best barbecue sauce, the Alabama Tourism Department is hosting a statewide “Sauce-Off” where community leaders will sample thirty-four sauces during four regional competitions. Decatur will host a regional competition on May 11, 2013 at the Decatur/Morgan County Farmer’s Market. 

The regional competitions began May 4^th in Montgomery at the Southern Makers Festival and in Mobile at the Market on the Square. On May 11^th, competitions will be held at the Decatur/Morgan County Farmers Market and in Tuscaloosa at the Tuscaloosa River Market. 

The Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau (DMCCVB), as part of their National Tourism Week activities, will host the “Sauce Off” set for 10 a.m. Local judges for the regional competition in Decatur include WAFF 48 news reporter Bobby Shuttleworth, DMCCVB President/CEO Melinda Dunn, and Evan Carden, publications manager for Decatur Life magazine. Winners from each of the four regional competitions will advance to the “BBQ Sauce-Off” championship set for May 18^th in Birmingham.

According to the Alabama Tourism Department’s Brian Jones, thirty-four sauces were gathered from restaurants and grocery stores across the state to be sampled by judges in blind taste tests. Sauces in the contest include: Bailey’s, Baumhower’s, Berdeaux’s, BBQ Shack, Big Bob Gibson, Bishop’s, Bob Sykes, Bryant, Carlile’s, Costas, Crusty Butts & Bones, Dale’s BBQ, Demetri’s, Dreamland, Fat Boy’s, Full Moon, Golden Rule, Jim ‘N Nick’s, Johnny’s BBQ, LawLers, Mike & Ed’s, Mike Elliott’s, Moon Hollow, Noodie’s, Ollie’s, Perfect Bite BBQ, Phil’s, Rob’s, Saban Sauce, Saw’s, Saucy Q, Slaphappy BBQ, Thomas Rib Shack and Viper.

The search for Alabama’s best commercial barbecue sauce is part of the ongoing Year of Alabama Food campaign. Only bottled barbecue sauces available in retail outlets such as stores and restaurants are eligible. All sauces also must be made in Alabama or bottled for an Alabama-based company, and they have to include the word barbecue or variation thereof in the name or description on the bottle. For more information, visit www.yearofalabamafood.com or Facebook.com/AlabamaFood.

For more information on the May 11^th regional competition in Decatur, call DMCCVB President/CEO Melinda Dunn at 256.350.2028