A record crowd was on hand Saturday August 27th to see Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ from Des Moines IA crowned Grand Champion of the 10th Annual Deaths Door BBQ. Darren Warth took first place in both the Chicken and Brisket categories and also finished 5th in Pork and 9th in Pork Ribs to help him clinch the title. The Reserve Grand Champion award went to the Delano MN team Shiggin & Grinnin. Jeff Vanderlinde finished in the top ten in three of the four categories and 11th in Pork Ribs to help secure his runner-up spot. Finishing third was last years Grand Champion Peter Golob and his Red rock Cafe team from Amasa MI. Fourth went to The BBQ Bus out of Elmhurst IL and Hudsons WI Que’s Yer Daddy.
Individual category winners include; in Chicken Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ, in Pork Ribs it was Que’s Yer Daddy, Pork went to Mud’s BBQ from Westmont IL and in Brisket it was Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ. Twenty six teams competed in the Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event for $8,000 in prize money. In the KCBS One Meat Rib Contest the first place award went to The BBQ Bus. Finishing in second was 270 Smokers from Lexington VA followed by Smokin Ghost BBQ out of Chillicothe IL. Running out the top five were two Wisconsin teams; CC2 and Cheese Curd Cartel from Hortonville.
On Sunday four Steak Cookoff Association events were held at the DDBBQ site. The first event was the Deaths Door Gin Cocktail Contest won by Steve Tanck. Runner-up was Stephanie West with third going to Melissa McDevitt. Scott Tank took fourth and Joe Raschke fifth.The Dessert category went to Stephanie West. Finishing second was Annette Hallman with Sara Tank third, Melissa McDevitt fourth and rounding out the top five Scott Tank.
Two steak contests are held between the two ancillary events. Steak A was won by Jay Kassara. Second was Dan Dicke with SCA World Champion Scott Nardi third. Jessica Barnes-Nardi and Jeff Hiers finished fourth and fifth respectively.In Steak B Stephanie West taking home the top spot with Wendy Kassara finishing second. Third went to Jay Kassara fourth went to Terry West and fifth to Melissa McDevitt.A Golden Ticket was given to a cook in each category which gives them an invitation to the SCA World Championships this fall in Texas.
DDBBQ would like to thank our major sponsors; Smithfield, W.I. Chamber of Commerce, W.I. Electric Cooperative, Door County Medical Center, Nicolet National Bank, Quantum Technology, Electrical Synergies, Summer Place Resort, Dancing Goat Distillery and Snake River Farms.
We would also like to thank all are there sponsors for their support. Special thanks to my committee; Mary Lynn Andersen, Cathy Meader, E’lise Haller, Tom Nikolai and Jake Farm. We like to thank the teams, judges and visitors for making this our best event to date!
Mark your calendar for the 11th Annual Deaths Door BBQ on August 26th, 2023.