|
|
Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | As I write this I am one tired hombre. Before my upcoming nap I wanted to take a minute and give a recap about our little gathering on Friday night for those interested. I apologise in advance if the thank yous become redundant or if I forget anyone.
I was as nervous as a muskie on a quick strike rig for the few days leading up to Friday as the rotisserie that is my mind was smoldering with thoughts of rainstorms, mechanical failures, too much food, not enough food, and the little man inside me who on occasion urges me to act in an irresponsible manner in social settings.
Though my sleep was affected we arrived at Smokey's at 5:30 Friday morning, and though I'm sure Shawn, confident in his equipment and abilities, found some humor in my agitated state, the rig was soon heating up nicely, and we were slathering and rubbing eight pork butts weighing in just shy of 72 lbs. They were racked up and rotating in the comfy snugness of the smoking box by 7:00. We organized and killed time until early afternoon.
42 lbs. of chicken was then marinated in Italian dressing. Around 4:00 Shawn applied the rub and they too entered the chamber.
People began filtering in by late afternoon and I would estimate we served between 50 and 60 hungry anglers and anglerettes. Congratulations to the men who brought their wives, because a party without any women at all is just creepy. Food was served and was steadily consumed from about 6:30 until 9:00. Perhaps the finest testament to Shawn's skills as a BBQer was how soon after the pork and chicken hit the nescos, the boisterous bellowing roar of 50 muskie fishermen BS'ers was quickly replaced by the muffled sounds of chewing and swallowing, punctuated by the occasional satisfied groan. Netman's smoked salmon also helped to quiet them down.
I need to thank John Laimon for allowing us to locate this shindig on his property. His dock boys were very helpful when we needed something during the day, and it was fun to see these skinny teens wolfing down the grub when it was done. John is a gentleman plain and simple.
The biggest thanks need to go to my buddy Shawn. We've been friends for more than 30 years, and have been cooking one thing or another together for a good portion of that. I had not seen him in his BBQ element before Friday, and he outdid himself. The pork in particular was about the best I've ever eaten, and I've eaten it at some pretty famous places around the country. He also worked his tail off while I did what I do best, talk to people. I had a plan and he put it into practice. If the food was a muskie, it was a legitimate 50 pounder. An incredibly successful effort.
Thanks to MuskieFirst for letting me run with this in the forums. Some were probably sick of my ramblings about this party, but it couldn't have been put together the same way without the site. We brought together some people who had never met, some who knew each other well, and I hope some who have wanted to get involved, but up to this point had not. Cool site. Cool people.
Thanks to Mike Killey (sp?) of Great Northern BBQ on Silvernail Rd. in Pewaukee. He sold me the raw food at a reasonable price, pulled the rig from storage and tuned it so it would work perfectly, and provided technical consulting. Try his restaurant, you'll like it.
Thanks to everyone who attended and offered appreciation by really digging in when the doors of the rig opened and the smokey goodness was ready to be plated.
Thanks to Bob Dourlain for coming from Illinois and being the first guest to arrive. That's when I truly started to believe. Thanks to Ellie Michel for being our cutest and youngest guest at less than one year.
Thanks to those who pitched in during the clean up, especially Netman and Sanks, who helped Shawn and I a lot as things wound down. They helped us secure the rig when I was almost too tired to stand up. It's apparent Bruce would like a rig like that in his house.
My sister Kathy and her husband Pat really helped out with the clean up, too. My sister Colleen and her husband Jim also came with their support and their son, Jimmy, who we sent back to Illinois with about four pounds of leftovers.
Thanks to my Wife for being my Wife. No offense to anybody, but she's the coolest woman in the world. She brought our daughter and Shawn's girls and they had a great time. I bugged the heck out of her all week I'm sure.
Thanks to Shep and the brothers Lazer for letting Shawn flail away with them on Saturday in the morning, and thanks to John and David for dragging him around in the afternoon. He got to see a muskie, just couldn't get it to bite.
I fished on Saturday with none other than the long and lean one, Joel Michel. He's my man. In our boat was a writer from the Racine Journal Times. I'm glad he was along as I missed our intended shoving off time of 4:30 by just a little under six hours. The lack of sleep caught up to me, but Joel was gracious enough to let this old man get some rest and still be willing to take me fishing. With night approaching Joel trolled up and hooked four fish in about thirty minutes. Very impressive, even if three were skinny snake northerns. The last was a pretty little 33" muskie making us four for five in the times we've fished together. I was glad I could net one for him after the three he's netted for me. Not the big babe we've got in mind, but we're young. Well, at least he is.
And finally, a pat on my own back for my almost exemplary behaviour. I was a little lax on the picture taking, had to do a lot of talking don't you know, so thanks to Campfire for those he posted. I'll post a few below.
It was fun. Let's do it again sometime.
Kevin Dunn
Watch for our new CD, "Slather and Rub". |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Here's some pics. Not the greatest, unfortunately, but the idea is there.
Kevin
(EarlyMorningPitMaster.jpg)
(LipsmackingGoodness.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 EarlyMorningPitMaster.jpg (72KB - 113 downloads)
TheBeast.jpg (99KB - 118 downloads)
PreRubbedPork.jpg (81KB - 119 downloads)
HappyMeat.jpg (94KB - 118 downloads)
LoadingHerUp.jpg (77KB - 98 downloads)
HeatSource.jpg (57KB - 108 downloads)
HumgryArrivals.jpg (97KB - 108 downloads)
LipsmackingGoodness.jpg (81KB - 108 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | Man, I'm gettin' hungry!! Looks like a great time. Wish I'd been there to enjoy! Great job everyone!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 367
Location: Chicago | I am glad it was a success!! I was with you in spirit. We will get together soon.
Ryan |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Hopeful,
I was, unfortunately, consumed by the job. Wish I could have attended, but there was the issue of a Walleye Pro from Steven's Point winning $100,000.00 and the necessity to get that story for the 'other side' of OutdoorsFIRST.. The Fedora was rakish, and the press pass, snazzy. Still, I'd have much rather wet a line with everyone down there, that's for sure.
Attachments
----------------
DSC_0213.JPG (67KB - 103 downloads)
DSC_0196.JPG (58KB - 105 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 336
Location: Wheeling, IL. | Kevin
Thanks for all your hard work. You and Shawn did a great job. Glad I could come and help eat all that food! Only wish I landed the fish I hooked. Oh well, next time.
Bob |
|
| |
|
Posts: 155
| Dude you rule...thank you..thank you..thank you.... |
|
| |
|
| I want to put in my thanks to Shep and John and David for their companionship and for letting me in their boats on Sat. (I should know whether the boat was John's or David's but I don't, so I will thank them both for letting me in the boat) I also want to thank the Lazer brothers (Eric & Casey) for their muskie advice and companionship on Sat..
I am sure Shep is glad that he still has both his ears. I don't think I got too close to taking either one of them off but I suspect that I was scaring the hell out of him due to my casting form. My bait casting skills are somewhat suspect (or scary). This is most likely due to the fact that my only bait casting experience is one week at Andy Meyers and one other thunderstorm shortened day on Pewaukee last year. I side arm fine (in my own mind, but probably not in the mind of someone with experience) but my over the head cast needs some major work. I will practice when I don't have someone 3 feet to the left and the right of me. That may be safer. I bet Kevin never mentioned my skill level when he was asking if I could get into a boat with someone!
Smoking meats on Friday was my opening day. It is not work, it is pleasure. The rig was put away last October. For the last three months I have been thinking of BBQ when awake and dreaming of it when asleep. Muskie fishing and competition BBQ seem to have alot of similarities. There are many experienced, dedicated, competitive people involved that love what they are doing. They have their opinions and they feel very strongly about their positions. In the end though the participants are drawn to the sport because it is something they love. The great majority of them are more than willing to provide advice and help to the people coming into the sport.
I had a great time on Friday and Saturday and I enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone. Many people helped with the BBQing and the clean up. Many more asked to help and were willing to help but I wasn't able to give them anything to do since I was trying to figure out what I needed to do next or the explanation of what needed to be done would have taken longer than the job itself. The offers to help were much appreciated even if I couldn't give you a job.
Like Kevin, I (gladly) suffered some major sleep deprivation. I think I slept 3 hours Thursday night and three hours on Friday night. I however made it to my boat on time. Muskiehopeful must have been hoping he could catch Muskies in his bed. I thought I would have a better chance on the lake.
In the event you have an interest in seeing a BBQ competition, My BBQ team (called, Q U Smoking Krewe) will be competing in the following contests:
Austin MN on May 18 -19, (although right now it looks like we may not be able to make it)
Elk Grove, IL on June 15-16,
Shannon IL on July 13-14,
Waterloo IA on July 20-21
Princeton, WI on Aug 24-25
Sparta WI on Sept 7-8
Racine, WI on Sept 21-22 and
Menomonee Falls, WI on Sept 28-29
If you ever want to see how these things are done, you should stop by the competitions. Most of the contests also have band and other entertainment. the one in Racine is at the zoo so it would be real kid friendly. If you want to learn about how to make good BBQ then Friday night is the best time to walk around the smokers to see what the competitors are doing. Many of the Cooks will have the time on Friday night to talk to you and let you look at their setups. Unless there is vending though, there will normally not be any BBQ available on Friday night. It will either be in in the smoker or it is still being marinated.
Sat. morning is crunch time. Turn in time for the meats normally start at Noon with chicken, then ribs at 12:30, pork at 1:00 and brisket at 1:30. If you are at an event on Sat. most cooks are to busy to talk between 11:30 and 1:30. It is kinda neat to watch the teams putting everything together during this time period though. Some teams (we usually do) will put out samples for people to try right after turn in time. Normally, there will also be at least one professional BBQ team vending so you can almost always buy BBQ. If you want to eat the best Q again, my team will be vending at Princeton WI on August 24-25. (I hope that comment doesn't get me kicked off the Board!)
Kevin said in his post "It was fun. Let's do it again sometime." I am all for that. The two issues that would need to be addressed would be whether the rig is available on opening eve and if John is willing to put up with us again. The rig would normally be available during that time of year and I think John would be in favor of doing it again so long as I am able to promise he will get some more burnt pork fat.
Take Care.
Shawn Reilly |
|
| |
|
Posts: 327
| Was bummed out to miss this event but I heard y'all had fun and awesome food , if it ever happens again I will do my best to be there !! Shawn , where's the competition in Elk Grove , IL. ??? I'd be interested to check it out !!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 336
Location: Wheeling, IL. | Shawn
Great job with the food. you made it look effortless!
Let me know the times in Elk Grove. I have a weeding to go to on teh 16th but may be around on the 15th.
Bob Dourlain |
|
| |
|
| The Elk Grove Ribfest will be held next to the Elk Grove High School. It may be in the Elk Grove Rotary park. I am not sure if that is the name of the place but from looking at the website I think there is a Rotary park in Elk Grove. If you know where the High School is, you should be able to find it.
Teams will be showing up on Friday morning. Almost all the teams will be there by 1:00 pm. The pork and brisket is injected, slathered and rubbed in the afternoon. It will normally go into the smoker between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm (depends on who you ask). As soon as the teams camp is all set up, there would normally be a couple of cocktails or beers passed around. If you have never seen a BBQ competition, you have an interest and you are close by, it would be worth your while to just stop by during late Friday afternoon, Friday evening or Sat. morning. You could probably cruise through the grounds in about an hour and get a good idea of what is all involved. Teams may have a huge expensive smokers or they may have little Weber bullets. The expensive smokers don't win much more than the low cost alternatives. The awards are normally handed out between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Sat. More oftern than not the awards are set for 4:00 or 5:00 pm since it takes awhile to tabulate the scores. On the day of the contest, you can find out when the awards would occur.
This competition appears to be a strict BBQ competition. I do not think there is any entertainment involved (except watching a bunch of guys and some gals cook large pieces of meat). My team did not go to this event last year so I don't know too much about it.
The turn in times wll start at noon and then occur every half hour until 1:30. One thing to be aware of is that you will not get to see what is being turned in unless you can see a team as it put its entry into the clamshell. This is done so it is a true blind judging.
If I find out more information about this contest, I will post it. I got hooked on my "hobby gone awry" when I went up to Minnesota in May. I had never seen a competition before. Four years later I schedule my Spring, Summer and Fall around the BBQ competitions. (Does that sound familar to any of you?)
Shawn |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Look at that. Like me, it seems my friends are long winded at the keyboard.
Good job, Spawn sack. It was a blast.
Kevin
Watch for Shawn's new CD, "Slather and Rub". Available in BBQ joints everywhere.
|
|
| |
|
| I thought Kevin would have some sort of comeback to "Like Kevin, I (gladly) suffered some major sleep deprivation. I think I slept 3 hours Thursday night and three hours on Friday night. I however made it to my boat on time. Muskiehopeful must have been hoping he could catch Muskies in his bed. I thought I would have a better chance on the lake." Maybe he is still sleeping and didn't catch it. Shawn |
|
| |
