Hi loyal readers! I have not been posting over the last weeks while I finalize my entries for the Great American Barbecue Festival in Kansas this year.

So far I’ve been whipping up batches of four of my favorite rubs, two sauces, and two bastes. I’ve totally gone bananas with a completely experimental rub this year, and so far the results are mixed. I’ve gone for the most exotic (in my opinion) ingredients I could find, which ended up requiring me to travel halfway accross the States just to buy them.

Probably I’ve wasted my time on this because results are not outstanding yet. It depends what the judges are after. My secret plan is that they will be fed up with the same and variations of the same tastes and when they try my completely different flavors they will start to smile.

For a bit of a hint before I get some photos uploaded, here’s a couple of the exotic ingredients I’m going for:

• ‘Twisted Tongues’ – a combination of ground habanero, del arbo, and white pepper.
• Crushed juniper berries
• Nigella seeds
• Sumac
• Smoked black pepper

I won’t reveal any more! The portions are important, too. So far the rub has been quite a shock to the tastebuds, but after a glass of beer it tastes really good. Before a glass of beer, it tastes … hmm.. like there’s a fight going on in the mouth, the taste buds don’t know how to interpret it.

Some modifications might be needed but alas, I press on!

In case you want to battle me, you can signup here http://www.thinkbbq.com/appforms/sauceapp.php

Will try to post pics soon!