OK, where was I?
More news on the barbeque front, right?
Our friends at Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport will host a seriously delicious event next month called ’Que at the View, a festival of food, drinks, live entertainment and the Coast’s very first Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned competition.
(Insert applause.)
‘Que at the View will be Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 on the grounds of the casino. The fun event has an official side: it will serve as the Mississippi championship for the Kansas City Barbeque Society. That’s some serious ‘que.
More than 30 teams will compete for the title and $15,000 in cash in prizes. You can watch the competition Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. for free.
Starting at noon on Saturday, the food festival will feature barbecue-style selections, sides, boiled crawfish and a beer garden with a variety of craft beers. The food and beverage items will be priced separately.
If you want to help pick the best of the team smoked pork dish on Saturday, you can sample all the entries and cast your vote in the People’s Choice Award. (That’s $10 per person.) The winner will receive $1,000, with second place taking home $500.
Saturday will also feature the presentation of awards for the competition. First through 10th place will be awarded at 5 p.m.
Entertainment will include free, live musical entertainment on the grounds by David St. Romain from noon to 2 p.m. and The Lisa Lee Albritton Band from 2:30 to 5 p.m., and an appearance by former New Orleans Saints Joe Horn, showcasing his Bayou 87 BBQ Sauce.
The event will conclude on Sunday with the Champion Ram After ’Que Party featuring Rockin’ Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters. Dopsie will perform in the resort’s View Showroom from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets, which are $15, can be purchased through TicketMaster.com or at the door. Limited seating is available and guests must be 21 or older.
For teams interested in participating in the event, registration information can be found at QueAtTheView.com. Registration will close on March 28. Participants do not need to be KCBS members.
For more information on ’Que at the View, call 877-774-8439 or go to IslandViewCasino.com or Facebook.com/QueAtTheView.