Pitmasters fire up for a good cause - Cook Islands News

A two-day BBQ competition is being held as part of the Raro Fire and Food Festival, aiming to raise funds for the Junior Sailing Club and to promote the Cook Islands Barbecue Alliance (CIBA).

According to Steven Cook of the Cook Cartel, the New Zealand national champion pitmaster barbecue team, the competition aims to raise funds for the Junior Sailing Club and the CIBA team’s international travel.

Held at the Sailing Club in Muri, the event started yesterday, with the main competition taking place today.

There are approximately 12 chefs or pit masters who have travelled from New Zealand to compete, joining several local chefs.

The team competitors are a mix of experienced chefs and first timers from New Zealand as well as here from Rarotonga.

According to Cook, on day one yesterday, the chefs competed in the Steak Cook-Off event, which is the first episode of the competition.

There were four different entries: the first dish being chop suey, second and third entry were both steaks followed by the fourth entry which was anything using Paul’s Raro hot sauce. The competitors are also allowed to be creative with their dish.

In today’s major competition, competitors are preparing plates of chicken, ribs, pork and brisket to be turned in to the judges.

“We’ve got a panel of judges, we’ve got some locals, some internationals, where everything will be scored on your appearance, your texture and your taste. And then we can find out who will win each category but also win overall,” Cook said.

The Raro Fire and Food Festival is supported by New Zealand Barbecue Alliance (NZBA) and Chop Chop Barbeque whose representative, Chris Tolcher, is the head judge.

“Come through and help support the Junior Sailing Club, the Cook Islands Barbecue Alliance, and eat some amazing food, listen to good music, have some cold drinks and help raise some funds and you know try and get the barbecue community to grow.”