International BBQ Fest

The International BBQ Fest was this weekend in Owensboro, KY about an hour away from BG. Who would have thought an international BBQ fest would be in KY? I could see Texas yes, but I didn't know KY was a BBQ hot spot...

I was so happy when I found out it was the same weekend my parents were going to be here. Perfect! Family activity! We drove out there and I think it was truly the first time my parents were in wilderness/nature. They've always been city people (Hong Kong, Toronto, Mississauga, LA, New York City) so Kentucky was a culture shock. When we rolled into Owensboro, they called it "quaint" because they've never really been in a small town before.

The BBQ Fest was interesting. I don't really know how to describe it because it wasn't what I thought it would be and it was also interesting how my parents experienced it. We got there around noon but I guess the actual "BBQ Fest" part of it didn't start until 4 pm, so all the BBQ we saw there (and that I wanted to eat) wasn't going to served until later that afternoon! Do you know how hard it is for me to see all this meat just sitting around but not being able to actually eat it?!

Yes, marinate those ribs with a small broom!

Hello pork chops!!

There was this one booth set up there with a (I believe) self-acclaimed "pitmaster". I say that because a) he didn't barbecue anything during the demonstration and b) the stuff he did make...he didn't even make! Exhibit A: He came out with a chicken he bought at a store and just dumped some pepper and mayo on top and called it a "new creation". Exhibit B: He was like "I'm going to show you a recipe I made" and goes on to stick some sausage and peppers on a stick and says "and then you grill it!" Um, I'm sorry sir, but I'm pretty sure anyone who barbecues...already knew that! I want those five minutes of my life back please.

False advertising of the "pitmaster"

I like how fries is "fryz" and look at all the deep fried stuff...yes...

The only food that my parents and I did eat is not what people would think about eating when they come to a BBQ Fest. Well, I had a pork burger, which was actually pretty good, but my parents (being Chinese and not understanding just how exactly a BBQ Fest works) bought a gyro! A gyro! They buy Greek food at a BBQ Fest. Of course they would, that's my parents!

Being at the festival is also when I realized where I might get my slight-ADD from sometimes. My dad is pretty chill, he likes to peruse. My mom on the other hand, this woman, she has serious attention span issues. There were lots of different things going on at the festival, some guy playing guitar (and singing "America Pie" mind you), an antique car show, lots of vendors, the concession stands...and I wanted to check everything out just to see what was going on.

My mom watches the guitar guy for like two seconds, then wanders off to get free samples of frappuccino from the McDonalds stands, then comes over to where my dad and I are about to check out the antique cars and tells us we have to go to the concession area because she's hungry. Ok fine we walk there, my dad and I pause to look at the menus, my mom wanders aimlessly ahead of us to see what else there is. I see something I want to get, she insists we have to go see another concession stand first. I don't really know how else to fully explain her (somewhat) erratic behaviour and I'm sure this description doesn't serve her justice, the only way I can summarize it is "she blazes her own trail"...oftentimes without the consideration of those with her, which the majority of the time is my dad.

I think we would have enjoyed it more if we knew the actual BBQ wasn't going to be served until later at night. My parents didn't want to wait around that long so we actually left before we could get some BBQ :( but not before I bought a waffle ice cream stick! I'm very easily pleased.