This weekend’s cool, clear weather promises to be perfect for Hammond’s annual Smokin’ Blues & BBQ Challenge, taking place on Friday and Saturday.  The Challenge, the largest competitive BBQ event in Louisiana, is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.  More than 50 teams from around the country will compete.  For the non-professionals, the Challenge has a Backyard Boogie division–open to “any meat cooked on a grill”, as well as a Chicken Little contest (best BBQ chicken cooked by kids between 6 & 16).

My favorite part of this event?  The Sweet Tea challenge:  enter a quart of your best sweet tea (individual and commercial/restaurant divisions).  I can’t imagine judging 50 different sweet teas….after the fifth or sixth taste, I think my tastebuds would be fried beyond all discernment by the teas’ tannins.