Skill on the grill
<p>Preston Johnson hard at work on the grill. In the coming weeks, Johnson will be opening Fresh Essentials, a store selling local produce on 4th Ave. E. in Polson.</p>
<p>Local act David Lewing performed live for those in attendance at KwaTaqNuk Resort for Smokin' on the Water.</p>
<p>Joe Santos of Ronan, the namesake of Smokin' Joe's, tends to the grill.</p>
POLSON — As if the West Garceau fire hadn’t lent enough of a smoky ambiance to the air around town, Saturday’s Smokin’ on the Water cookout added a little extra charcoal flavor to the mix.
The fourth annual barbecue cook-off was sponsored by ambassadors of the Polson Chamber of Commerce and took place along the lakeshore at the KwaTaqNuk Resort. The event coincided with the KwaTaqNuk Brew Tour, which showcased a variety of local craft beers, while live music serenaded visitors throughout the afternoon.
Eight total teams of “pit bosses” and their dutiful assistants officially entered the judged culinary competition, vying for local bragging rights as purveyors of the best beef, chicken, pork and sauce in the land.
Angela Collins of the Polson Chamber of Commerce said that while each of the grillmasters wants to win, it’s all about bringing people into the community to have a good time.
“Everybody loves barbecue. We see a lot of the same faces here every year,” Collins said.
“It’s just a fun event and the cookers have a blast,” Collins continued.
Collins was also hopeful that there would be an influx in attendance with the Polson Triathlon wrapping up just blocks away.
Alluring new sights and smells (and free samples) awaited at every vendor’s tent.
While each booth succeeded in serving up tasty grub, in the end, Ronan’s Clint Sohr and the C Lazy S Ranch generated the greatest popular appeal among patrons and was subsequently rewarded with the coveted “People’s Choice” award. The C Lazy S team took home four separate honors on the day.
The only other station to claim multiple awards was Fresh Essentials, led by Preston Johnson, which boasted the day’s best beef and second-best pork. Johnson is just a few weeks shy of opening Fresh Essentials, a store selling local produce that will be located on 4th Ave. E. in Polson.
Not all vendors were professional cooks or grocers. Some were just ordinary citizens who turned out for a fun afternoon and an opportunity to show off their grilling prowess.
One such crew was Dale Oakland and the Ronan Rednecks, who, when asked about their specialty, joked that, “it’s our first year — we don’t have one.”
While the Rednecks might have been joking around, their meat meant serious business, garnering rave reviews and finishing as the day’s runner-up in the beef category. Maybe next year, with a little more “seasoning” they can challenge Johnson for the top spot.
Below is the complete list of winners:
Sauce:
1st Place - Trail’s West Real Estate with Robin Wallace, pit boss and Tami Sanderson.
2nd Place - TIE between Smokin Joe’s ~ Joe Santos, pit boss and KwaTaqNuk Culinarians ~ Nic Stasso pit boss.
Chicken:
1st Place - Trail’s West Real Estate with Robin Wallace, pit boss and Tami Sanderson.
2nd Place - C Lazy S Ranch with Clint Sohr, pit boss.
Pork:
1st Place - C Lazy S Ranch with Clint Sohr, pit boss.
2nd Place - Fresh Essentials with Preston Johnson, pit boss.
Beef:
1st Place - Fresh Essentials with Preston Johnson, pit boss.
2nd Place -The Ronan Rednecks with Dale Oakland, pit boss.
Open:
1st Place - S & S Sports with Ty Starkel, pit boss and Chuck Wall.
2nd Place - C Lazy S Ranch with Clint Sohr, pit boss.
People’s Choice:
C Lazy S Ranch with Clint Sohr, pit boss.