Frequently Asked Questions
DEFINITION FOR BACKYARD COOK TEAM
A. Any member of the team who has not entered in and competed in more than three (3) sanctioned “Master Series” BBQ competitions in the past year and:
B. Any person who has been a member of a team who has not been awarded a Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion status in any sanctioned “Master Series” competition.
If any member of the team has entered in and competed in more than eight (8) sanctioned “Master Series” BBQ competitions in the past, they are ineligible to participate in the Backyard competition. Any person who was a member of a team who has competed in three (3) or less “Master Series” BBQ competitions within one (1) competition year may be considered a backyard cook and may declare or revert to such status. This includes the Chief Cook and/or Assistant Cooks. The only exclusion to this rule would be those judges cooking with a team to qualify for master judge status. Individuals who feel they have extenuating circumstances may appeal to the RMBBQA Board of Directors for reconsideration as a backyard cook. Those requests must be made in writing within 90 days of the competition in question.
The purpose is to ensure a level playing field in the cooking competition. The Cook Team cannot have been compensated as a Pro BBQ Restaurant or Caterer.
2020 Rules and Regulations
1) The decision and interpretations of the RMBBQA Rules and Regulations are at the discretion of the Organizer of the contest. Their decisions and interpretations are final to the extent consistent with the rules.
2) Each team shall consist of a chief cook and as many assistants as the chief cook deems necessary. A team shall not compete in more than one KCBS sanctioned contest under the same team name, on the same date. Chief cooks and/or assistant cooks may only cook for their designated team at the contest they are attending.
3) Each team will be assigned a cooking space. All of your items brought for the cook must not exceed the boundaries of the team’s assigned space. Teams shall not share assigned cooking space or cooking devices.
4) Contestants shall provide all needed equipment, supplies and electricity, except as arranged for in advance. Contestants must adhere to all electrical, fire and other codes. A fire extinguisher shall be near all cooking devices.
5) It is the team’s responsibility to ensure your assigned cook space is cleaned upon leaving the event. Leave it like you found it.
6) Fires will be of wood, wood pellets or charcoal. Gas and electric heat sources will not be permitted for cooking or holding. Propane or electric is permitted as fire starters, provided that the competition meat is not in/on the cooking device. Electrical accessories such as spits, augers, or forced draft are permitted. No open pits or holes are permitted. Fires shall not be built on the ground.
7) All competition meats shall be inspected by the Organizer or Approved Meat Inspector during the times established by the contest organizer but not prior to the day before judging. Once the competition meat has been inspected, it shall not leave the contest site. Cooking shall not begin until the competition meat has been inspected by the Official Meat Inspector. All competition meat shall start out raw. No pre-seasoned meat is allowed other than manufacturer enhanced or injected products, as shown on label EXCLUDING but not limited to: teriyaki, lemon pepper or butter injection. When the contest organizer supplied the meat, the contestant is not required to enter only that meat. Competition meat not meeting these qualifications shall be disqualified, not allowed to be turned in, and not judged, and receives no score.
8) Barbeque for the purpose of the RMBBQA Rules is cooking the two Meat categories. Parboiling, Sous-vide, and/or deep-frying competition meat is not allowed. If any of the banned processes are discovered before the team turns in, the team will receive zeroes. If discovered after turn-in, the team will receive (1) ones in all criteria for that entry.
9) Meat shall not be sculptured, branded or presented in a way to make it identifiable. Rosettes of meat slices are not allowed. Violations of this rule will be scored a one (1) on all criteria by all six judges.
10) Judging typically starts at noon on Saturday. The judging order and times will be set by the Organizer of each event. The times and order of turn-ins MUST be verbally expressed at the cooks meeting. An entry will be judged only at the time established by the contest organizer. The allowable turn-in time will be five (5) minutes before to five (5) minutes after the posted time with no tolerance. A late turn-in will not be accepted by a Rep and will receive a zero (0) in all criteria.
11) Garnish is optional. If used, it is limited to chopped, sliced, shredded or whole leaves of fresh green lettuce, curly green kale, curly parsley, flat leaf parsley and/or cilantro. PROHIBITED GARNISHES ARE lettuce cores, kale stems and other vegetation, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO endive, red tipped lettuce. “PROHIBITED” garnish shall receive a penalty score of one (1) on Appearance.
12) Sauce is optional. If used, it shall be applied directly to the meat and not be pooled or puddle in the container. No side sauce containers will be permitted in the turn-in container. Chunky sauce will be allowed. Chunks are to be no larger than a fine dice, approximately 1/8 inch cubed. Sauce violations shall receive a penalty score of one (1) on Appearance.
13) Entries will be submitted in an approved RMBBQA numbered container, provided by the RMBBQA. The number must be on top of the container at turn-in.
14) The container shall not be marked in any way so as to make the container unique or identifiable. Aluminum foil, toothpicks, skewers, foreign material, and/or stuffing are prohibited in the container. Marked entries or containers with the above listed material will receive a one (1) in all criteria from all judges and be disqualified.
15) Each contestant must submit at least six (6) portions of meat in an approved container. Chicken, pork and brisket may be submitted chopped, pulled, sliced, or diced as the cook sees fit, as long as there is enough for six (6) judges. Ribs shall be turned in bone-in. Judges may not cut, slice or shake apart to separate pieces. If there is not enough meat for each judge to sample, the shorted judge(s) will score a one (1) on all criteria.
16) The following cleanliness and safety rules will apply:
a. No use of any tobacco products while handling meat.
b. Cleanliness of the cook, assistant cook, cooking device(s)
and the team’s assigned cooking space is required.
c. Shirt and shoes are required to be worn.
d. Sanitizing of work area should be implemented with the
use of a bleach/water rinse (one cap/gallon of water).
Each contestant will provide a separate container for
washing, rinsing and sanitizing of utensils.
e. First aid is not required to be provided by the contest,
except at the election of the contest organizer.
f. Prior to cooking, meat must be maintained at 40*F or less.
g. After cooking, all meat:
Must be held at 140* F or above
17) There will be no refund of entry fees for any reason, except at the election of the contest organize.
18) No Pro team competing in a backyard event will
accumulate points for year-end awards.