Big Fat Bikers, Hogs & BBQ
Big Fat Bikers, Hogs & BBQ
by JapBikeCoco, Yamaha Rider & BBQ Aficionado
In life, there are few certainties. Times change, people change, secrets come to light, and faith is often lost. However, here’s one thing I do know that holds true over time: Bikers, especially the bigger ones of the group, know good food and where to find it! Follow a Rubenesque biker around long enough, and you will stumble across some good eats!
Being a “few pounds” heavier than I’d prefer, I am no exception to the rule. I ride. I’m big. I know all the back roads to the dive bars and hole-in-the-walls where the food is exceptional, even if the outward aesthetics are not! And my favorite focus is BBQ. I’m partial to dry rubs and Carolina sauce, and don’t care if it’s a 3 hour drive to get to it. Roadside stand or rural six-table restaurant, if I smell smoke, I’ll find my way to it!
Not being a fan of the chain BBQ experience, I’ll go out of my way to find the good ol’ boys who have their own special and unique way of smoking and grilling. And believe me, each one has a unique style all their own. A little more brown sugar, a bit less mustard, more cayenne, heavier paprika, wet smoke, dry heat, whatever … the ones that care, put their own signature on their meat.
Now, having said all this, you will also come to realize that this involves a lot of miles. And even just within Florida, tracking down BBQ can take up a lot of time and a lot of fuel ups. So here’s a little tip I’ve got for you to save you some time! Out on the gulfcoast of Florida, just down from artsy-fartsy Sarasota, and north of over-crowded and over-developed Naples, is a little town you may not have heard of: Venice, FL. If you have heard of it, it’s probably because it was followed by “Best Place to Retire.” So, yeah, not that thrilling. Probably haven’t bothered to check it out, because, let’s face it, watching 80 year olds shuffle through Publix and try to squash you on Tamiami Trail with their land-yachts, though sometimes heart-pounding since it’s like running a gauntlet, it’s not exactly a road trip that you look forward to. Yet, despite its reputation for being a sleepy, old, town full of shuffleboarders, this little dot on the map has a dedicated group of hard-core BBQ enthusiasts who organize one of the state’s largest, sanctioned BBQ events! Seriously, it’s huge! The big-time circuit competitors come down to Venice, FL in the spring to put on one hell of a festival! Under the moniker, Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash, this event, in its 7th year, will be held just a few miles from the beach on April 15th & 16th. Saturday, the 16th is the big eating day, but they’ve got about a week of festivities leading up to it.
They put this event out at their airport festival grounds, and mainly, parking is in a huge field – but for bikers, we get upfront parking on pavement. Guess they figure better to get us right up front and close to the BBQ so no one gets hurt being in the way of a pack of hungry, road weary, 2-wheeled renegades! (Or maybe, for once, someone thought to be considerate of those concerned with kickstands and dirt!)
This event freakin’ rocks because you get BBQ teams from across the nation (even some international guys) coming in to prove their BBQ merit. It’s a sanctioned event, so they get points and credit towards the World Food Championship, the Jack Daniel Invitational, and Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown. Like I said, you get the best BBQ all in one spot. You just can’t beat that. Come hungry, and come early. Traffic gets a little hairy by noon, so come the night prior and stay in the local hotels where the teams are also staying. Party with them, bully them into giving you samples, and ply them with beer to learn of their secret smoking method! On Saturday, get up early and head over. Bring cash because not all of the vendors accept plastic.
If you’re thinking of toting the spouse and kids with you, go ahead and bring ‘em. Because I haven’t told you the best part … Not only are you going to be gaining weight from eating pounds and pounds of brisket, ribs, and chicken … but the Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash also features BLUEGRASS! Who’d a thunk it?! And though I kid around, you’d be surprised by the quality bands they bring in! These people have the inside skinny on who to call and how to make things happen. Every year the lineup gets better, and I don’t know how they’re going to keep topping it! This year, nationally recognized acts such as Flatt Lonesome, The Boxcars, as well as Grammy nominated Grascal will be performing. AND IT’S ALL FOR FREE! Seriously. FREE admission, FREE parking. What? Yeah, all FREE. Well, the BBQ isn’t, you’re going to pay for that by the rib and thigh! But man are you going to be fat and happy!
So if you see a bunch of fat bikers on the road in mid-April, get behind them and follow them down to Venice for one of the best BBQ festivals you’re going to find!
Details:
Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash
April 15 -16, 2016
(Saturday is the competition/vendor day)
Location:
Airport Festival Grounds, Venice, FL
at the end of Airport Ave E., Venice, FL 34285
Want to Compete or Vend? Visit www.suncoastbbqbash.com, all the info is there.
Area Accommodations: