Smokin’ On Avenue Z

This past Saturday my girlfriend and I stepped off the B49 Bus and into the St. Mark schoolyard for this year’s Grillin’ On the Bay competition. We were disappointed that only two competitors chose to sell their smoked offerings. Fortunately, contestants Three Men and a Baby Back delivered some of the most authentic and sinfully tasty pulled pork we’ve had this side of the Mason Dixon line.

On top of the BBQ was a chili contest and craft fair. I was able to sample some hot sauce from Heartbreaking Dawn’s of the People’s Republic of Rosendale,  New York. The everyday sublimity of most hot sauces was overpowered by the pure fire of their 1498 Trinidad Scorpion Sauce, a name that serves as a creative caveat, a three worded warning if you will, that their hottest selections are not for the faint of heart. I walked away with a burning tongue and a couple of bottles of their more mild Classic Gold, made with tomatoes that temper the searing heat of its peppers, and their Mango Habanero, which went great with the bowl of yogurt it was mixed into for samples.

Showing some regional peculiarity, Ma's BBQ asked if I wanted mayo on mine

Local favorite Brenman's, out of Gerritsen Beach, unfortunately limited themselves to feeding the judges. I had hoped to buy some for my own belly.