PSA: I think the Memphis in May judges got it wrong last week

Last week at Memphis in May, I watched a brisket from a first-time competitor get marked down for being 'too moist', but that's exactly what made it perfect to me. The judges called it 'wet' and said it lacked bark, but the flavor was deep and the tenderness was spot on. Has anyone else felt the scoring at big events is too focused on a narrow idea of what good BBQ should be?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jamie1mo ago

Feel your pain, man. Saw a similar thing happen at a local rib cook-off last year. A guy had these amazing, fall-off-the-bone ribs, but they docked him points for not having a "clean bite." Sometimes it feels like they're judging a textbook instead of the food on the plate. That brisket sounds like it was exactly what I look for.

nancy8171mo ago

Yeah, the "textbook instead of the food" thing hits the nail on the head. Makes you wonder if they even like good barbecue, or just the rule book.

dianahayes1mo ago

Exactly. It's like they forget the whole point is to eat it. If the rule book makes the food worse, maybe the rules are the problem.