Asbury UMC to host BBQ, chili cookoff

Asbury United Methodist Church is holding a barbecue and chili cookoff June 22 as a fundraiser for a new ministry aiding people with memory loss and their caregivers.

The church is inviting the public to both participate as chefs in the cookoff and to attend the event, said Amy Gonzalez, Asbury’s communications coordinator.

Teams entering the competition must cook smoked barbecue (pork, beef, chicken or wild game) and homemade barbecue sauce and pay a $100 entry fee. Teams can have no more than four members.

Four judges will evaluate the barbecue on presentation, taste and tenderness and give out a $250 prize for the best barbecue. There also will be a People’s Choice award that includes a $150 prize.

Teams in the chili competition pay a $25 entry fee and can use whatever chili recipe they want. Chili teams can have no more than two members. A $100 prize will be given to the People’s Choice winner.

In the past, Asbury has had barbecue competitions in the spring and chili competitions in the fall, Gonzalez said. “We wanted to combine it and make it a big, fun, blowout event at night,” she said.

Organizers plan to have food trucks for dessert, including Big Spoon Creamery and Kona Ice, plus a water slide for kids, cornhole for adults and live music by a blues band called The Elev8tors, Gonzalez said. The outdoor event is 5-8 p.m.

Tickets to the cookoff cost $8 for adults and $5 for kids ages 4-10. Children 3 and younger get in free. Each ticket is good for two tasting cups, one for barbecue and one for chili. Attendees can use those to get a sample from each team in the cookoff, Gonzalez said.

Teams also will be able to sell full plates with sides for an additional cost. A Coca-Cola truck will sell drinks, and people can order smoked bone-in Boston butts (8 to 10 pounds) in advance for $38.

Proceeds will be used to support a new FirstLight Respite Ministry that will provide sitters for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia or other memory loss.

To sign up a team of chefs or order a Boston butt, go to asburyonline.org/bbq.