Memphis in May, Memphis, TN May 17-19, 2007

Memphis in May touts itself as the Superbowl of Swine, The College of Pig Knowledge, The Granddaddy of Grills and the Largest Pork Cooking Contest on the Planet. Judge for yourself. Each year more than 90,000 people gather for this testimony to the pig and with prizes totaling more than $61,000.00 we won't beg to differ. Each year the festival honors a country. This year it was Spain with seminars, dancing, exhibits displaying artwork and food starting at the end of April through the grand finale cookoff in May. It truly is amazing the work that goes into this festival. While us here at NCBS are most interested
in the pork offerings, one can spend several weeks leading to the cookoff enjoying all that this festival has to offer including the Beal Street Music Festival and the Sunset Symphony a week after the contest. Memphis in May truly is a month long festival with something for everybody.

There were several categories for their cookoff including whole hog, shoulder, ribs, poultry, seafood, beef, exotic, hot wings, baked beans, tomato sauce, mustard sauce, vinegar sauce, peoples choice, patio porkers along with contests for the best booth, t-shirts and a Ms. Piggie contest (grown men in snouts and tutus).

The Grand Champion this year was Jack's Old South from Vienna GA who also placed first in the whole hog category. Right on Q from Olive Branch, MS was second in the whole hog category and Curly Tail Smokers from Bartlett, TN placed third. Number one in the shoulder category was Viking Cooking Team from Greenwood, MS. Sweet Swine O' Mine from Memphis TN came in second in the shoulder category and Porkscriptions Cooking Team from Bartlett, TN was third.

Visit their site at www.memphisinmay.org.