I have updated news for my Moody Ques teammates. This year we plan to do more practice cooks, so that we are better prepared to do well in the 2016 BBQ Fest competition. We have four events coming up in the next three months.
On Saturday, August 8, we will have a combination cookout and birthday party for our booth designer Brent at the warehouse of Holliday Flowers at 444 Monroe at 7 PM. That is in The Edge district, between Danny Thomas and Lauderdale. This is a fundraiser to raise money to enter three competitions coming up this fall, so we are asking everyone to chip in $20. We will have locally brewed Memphis Made beer, and head cook Frank and assistant cook Clay will be cooking the BBQ.
Thursday-Saturday, September 10-12, the team will be competing in the Al Chymia Shrine BBQ Cookoff at 5770 Shelby Oaks out east. This is a regional Memphis Barbecue Network event and a good chance for us to warm up (now that we have a smoker that can hold temp and an incendiary device that I am no longer allowed to mention) for the main event next May.
(I mentioned the BBQ device I’m no longer allowed to mention 
)
On Saturday, October 3, the MQs will compete in Best Memphis Burger Fest at Tiger Lane. Obviously we will not be cooking competition pork, but it will still be good food, good people, and good times. Team workhorse “Mr. Load-in” is a former judge at this event and will give the cooks tips as to what the judges will be looking for. Our friends Squeal Street BBQ (who I should mention did not win a trophy at BBQ Fest ’15 like we did) compete in this event as well.
On October 30 (event listing elsewhere says Thursday-Saturday, October 29-31; will have to check on that) we will be competing in ArtsMemphis’ event The Art of Q, to raise funds and awareness of the arts in the Memphis region. There will be cash prizes and trophies created by local artists. This is another Memphis Barbecue Network event.
Any questions, or if you are interested in joining the team for 2016, shoot an email to moodyques@gmail.com.