Mings are Kings of barbecue

SUNDAY, JUNE 17: Rain or shine, the barbecue was fine. Brothers Kurt and Kent Ming were the kings of the grill today on Court Street. They won the Low and Slow category in the Second Annual Fresh TV Father’s Day BBQ and Outdoor Expo.

For winning the top prize, the pair have won a trip to compete at the Fifth Annual Cattlemen’s Outdoor BBQ in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The pair started cooking their brisket at 7am on Sunday to have it cooked properly for the judging at 4:30pm.

They beat out nine other teams for the top prize.

Kurt Ming said: “It’s been a long day. I started bringing stuff around my shop on Princess Street around one this morning. At seven o’clock I was back lighting up because that brisket takes all day.

“I was so tired that when they called our names, it took a half a minute to sink in that we won.

“We’re proud to win. We had rinky-dink equipment, but like I tell everyone, it doesn’t matter about the equipment as it’s all about flavor, taste and know-how.”

He said with the top notch people he was barbecuing against, “it means a lot to win today”.

Mr Ming did not compete in the inaugural Father’s Day Barbecue contest, but he said he told Elmore Warren, the contest organizer and owner of Fresh TV, “I told him I would enter next year and I was going to win it, and he sort of laughed it off. I won and I told him ‘I told you so.’”

Mr Warren hailed the day a success in spite of Mother Nature throwing up a bit of rain and wind.

“The weather was not ideal, but it was still good enough to have a good time. That’s the spirit of the event.”

He said the live broadcast on Fresh TV helped drive people to the event and come out and sample the best barbecue that Bermuda has to offer.

“They couldn’t stay away. They wanted to come and smell that barbecue and taste that barbecue.”

Mr Warren prefers fish to meat, but he did sample the marinades, sauces and rubs.

“I really liked the flavor from Mike Pantry and David Outerbridge. They have an amazing rub.

“The Road Kill guys' [The Ming brothers'] blend was so balanced, but there is a distinct difference between these sauces and these rubs so it just matters how the palate is and how stringent the judges are.”

Kevon Steede and his son with their ribs and chicken won the Father and Son category and took a barbecue grill courtesy of Arnold’s.

Wilbur Burt and Raymond Burgess were judged the best in the Homestyle Grillers category and picked up a gift package from M&M Electronics and a $50 gas voucher from ESSO.

The coveted People’s Choice Award was won by Mac McGuinty and Tim Christopher for their chicken, pork butt and ribs. They won a $100 gas voucher from ESSO and $50 from Fresh TV.