7 Tips to get the most out of your American Royal BBQ Experience
The American Royal World Series of Barbecue returns to Kansas City promising a weekend full of music, activities and of course, world class BBQ. This year marks the 39th year that teams from all around the world will descend on Kansas City to see who will be crowned grand champion. If this is your first time at the World Series of Barbecue, or if you just want to get the most out of your experience, here are our tips to get the most out of your visit.
1. Drink lots of water the day before
The key to enjoying any event or festival is to stay hydrated. A good rule of thumb is to drink plenty of water the day before you go. Many athletes follow a pre-hydration routine the day before a race or event. Remember, the World Series of Barbecue is a marathon, not a sprint, you want to put yourself in the best position to last all day. (It also helps prep you for a full stomach!)
2. Fast the morning of and be active the few hours before the tasting event
For an event that revolves around food, you are going to want to come hungry. Fasting the morning of, and then staying active before the event is a good way to work up a hunger, ensuring you get the most out of your experience.
3. Take small portions (and bites)
Like we said before, this is a marathon, not a sprint. There is plenty of world class barbecue to try, so don’t go for a full meal from one stand! Try samples from multiple stands to get the best fully rounded experience, and decide which is your favorite!
4. Ask questions of BBQ pitmasters
The pitmasters wouldn’t be in competitive BBQ if they didn’t love what they do, and generally they are more than happy to tell you all about their BBQ (short of telling you their secret ingredient). This is a great way to meet new people, refine your taste buds, and get the best food from each stand (they will say everything is good but will point you to their one specialty).
If you are going for the tasting route and trying multiple BBQ places, you need to drink water in between tasting. Not only will this cleanse your palate, but will keep you hydrated to keep you going all day.
6. Wear comfy pants
There will be a lot of walking, and a lot of eating, so wear your comfy pants, preferably with an expanding waistband.
Ah the meat sweats, the not medically recognized condition of sweating after eating way too much meat. One way to combat the meat sweats is to try and eat some fiber rich greens, if you can find them at a BBQ competition. Like that coleslaw you weren’t going to eat…
If the American Royal World Series of Barbecue has inspired you, pick up any and all supplies you might need to start smoking your own meat at your local Price Chopper.
