by Jeanni Ritchie
The City of Pineville hosted their 2nd annual BBQ Cookoff last month and crowned Pat Arcement the Grand Champion!
Cooks set up on a Friday evening and had to come prepared to barbecue a “mystery meat” which turned out to be steak! They then got to work on their ribs, chicken, and brisket for the next day’s competition.
The next day, the Pineville Riverfront was covered with cook tents, a variety of vendor tables, inflatables, food trucks, tables and chairs, and the performance stage.
Visitors chatted with the cooks and sampled their barbecue while kids played and music wafted from the stage. I met first-time competition cook Jim Hickman at his tent. Jim has cooked for his family and friends for years but said competition cooking was a whole different beast!
He was enjoying the atmosphere and taking mental notes. This was his dress rehearsal so the other cooks better watch out next year as he takes center stage with his barbecue!
I had to leave before judging so I missed the meal but they were serving chicken, ribs, brisket, baked potatoes, potato salad, dirty rice, and baked beans to all that evening. What a spread!
I was headed to my car when Steve McCloud, aka The Flip Flop Man, started singing Rose-Colored Glasses. I gotta tell you, that stopped me in my tracks. The 1983 John Conlee song was a favorite of the cowboy I dated in high school. He always said it reminded him of me. Rightfully so, snarky middle-aged me thought. It definitely took rose-colored glasses to love you back then!
But how often do you get to relive 17? It might’ve been October 12, 2024 but between the man on the stage, the warm weather, and the memories I was transported to Summer 1987 for three solid minutes. It was magical.
Jimmy Larrieu and his popular band Papa’s Axe took the stage later that evening as the judges announced the winners.
Arcement was not just the Grand Champion but took home the first place trophies for Ribs and Brisket. Corey Johnson took home first place in Chicken as well as winning the prize for Best-Dressed Tent.
It was a fun day for all and one that I look forward to for years to come!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
