Just heard about this. Got to say it's a bit of a relief for me. Harvard is my first competition and if everyone is kept to lettuce, that will make it more simple for me!! More of a focus on taste vs a silly garnish in a styrofoam to-go container!!!

quote:

Originally posted by TonyD:
More of a focus on taste vs a silly garnish in a styrofoam to-go container!!!

I don't think that's the case. They'll still score your appearance prior to tasting, and that score will still count for the same amount as before.

i'm not a competitor but seems kinda odd that they judge appearance but then limit ya to what ya can use and then what that is is not what they eat. some pics i've seen they just get the meat and rarely look at the garnish. me? i think it should be just the meat.

Making a parsley bed is easy and, IMO, makes the playing field (or should I say putting green) level by keeping the judges' focus on the meat.

Its the closest thing there is to no garnish. I'm not a cert judge, but when I see a posted pic of a turn-in on a parsley bed, I focus on the meat. Any other garnish tends to distract and better be well done.

I use to not do parsley beds, so if I can offer some advice: get green lettuce and cut away most of the leaf and just use the outer ruffles to frame the meat. Sliced disks of the upper half (green part) of a romaine heart can be packed into the bottom of the box to lift the meat up.

Last weekend my 15 year old son entered a rib & chicken contest in our home county and they didnt allow any garnish. I learned real quick that garnish is pleasing to the eye. The box looked bland to me, but it was easy for him to box up.

He won 1st place in chicken & ribs too against an all adult field.

Dale, he'll be competing against the master soon!!!

IMO, All garnish should be banned, it is a meat contest not a garnish contest

Bill, go to a good restaurant some time and see how your meal is presented. People eat with their eyes first. Yes, I agree it's a meat contest and garnish can be a P.I.A. But as my buddy Dale says, it's much more pleasing to the eyes.

This is the official post on the KCBS website. The ban only applies to a few States, but 2 of those, Tenn. and Mo. have some huge contests next month(Jack and the Royal), So alot of teams are going to forced to rethink their boxes.

Here is the ruling from KCBS...
Due the recall of parsley shipped to 10 different states, which have been recalled due to the risk of salmonella contamination and food poisoning in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. The Board of Directors has issued the follow advisory and rule change for all KCBS sanctioned contest held between this date and September 20, 2009.

The use of all types of parsley (including but not limited to curly, flat leaf, Italian or any other type) and cilantro is prohibited and shall constitute an illegal garnish and therefore be disqualified.

IMO the parsley looks the best in the box. That being said, I do not like to pull the meat from the box with parsley/salad stuck all over it.
I judge BBQ not salad!
-CP

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Piercy:
This is the official post on the KCBS website. The ban only applies to a few States, but 2 of those, Tenn. and Mo. have some huge contests next month(Jack and the Royal), So alot of teams are going to forced to rethink their boxes.


-CP

You may want to re-read that, Chuck... It says "The Board of Directors has issued the follow advisory and rule change for all KCBS sanctioned contest held between this date and September 20, 2009." The parsley recall was only in a few states, but the rule change affects all KCBS competitions for this weekend. So far it hasn't been extended past the 20th so the Royal and the jack are in the clear so far.

^Thanks for clarifying that Ron. Maybe I need to change my font size.
-CP