Commissioner’s Cup BBQ Cook-off Winners Announced
March 27, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – March 27, 2012 – The cookers at the SC State FarmersMarket were “fired up” on Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24 for theinaugural Smokin’ at the Market Commissioner’s Cup Barbecue Cook-off andFestival where teams from five states vied for the title of GrandChampion.
“Anything But” was the order of evening on Friday. Cooking teamsparticipating in the competition on Saturday had the opportunity toprepare and serve “anything but” barbecue on the eve of Saturday’sCommissioner’s Cup. To the visiting tasters, everything in the “AnythingBut” category was delicious, but shrimp and grits beat out the othernon-barbecue entries like chili, BBQ wings, cheeseburger soup, andchicken cakes (a variation of crab cakes). The big “Anything But” winnerwas No Pig Left Behind, a team of cooks from Goose Creek, S.C.
On Saturday, competitors cooked up some of the best barbecue around.Hugh Weathers, Commissioner of Agriculture, presented the awards.Winners in the “Butts” competition were First Place – PalmettoSmokehouse of Okatie, S.C., Second Place – Ultimate Tailgate BBQ ofAiken, S.C., and Third Place – Pickin’ Porkers of Clemmons, N.C.
In the “Ribs” category, winners were First Place – Pot Belly Cookers ofSummerville, S.C., Second Place – Nards Barkyard BBQ of Piedmont, S.C.,and Third Place – Some-R-Swine of Summerville, S.C.
Reserve Champion was Palmetto Smokehouse and the South Carolina StateGrand Champion winner of the Commissioner’s Cup was Ultimate TailgatersBBQ.
Commissioner Weathers said, “This is a great way to celebrate Spring andthe beginning of the harvest season. If you joined us for theCommissioner’s Cup, we invite you to come back for the peak produceseason and enjoy all the fresh flavors of a South Carolina summer.”
The crowd of barbecue lovers pigged out on all types of barbecue,listened to their favorite music compliments of DJ Mark Burns, andenjoyed visiting with the cookers. Specialty food producers lined themiddle of the farmers shed serving samples and selling their uniqueCertified SC products. Kids brought their canned goods for Harvest Hopeso that they could join in the food and festivities free.
Sponsored by Piggly Wiggly, Smithfield, Pepsi of the Carolinas,U.S. Foods, Angel Insurance & Financial Services, Columbia Meats,and The Trophy and Gift Shop, the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup washailed a rousing success.
Commissioner Weathers said, “If you think this event was great, staytuned to 2013. Nothing’s fresher. Nothing’s finer. And, really,nothing’s swiner than enjoying barbecue at the South CarolinaCommissioner’s Cup.”
The State Farmers Market is located at 3483 Charleston Highway, West Columbia, 29172. For more information, visit www.agriculture.sc.gov or follow the State Farmers Market on
Facebook and Twitter @scfarmersmarket.
