A Pappinbarra couple are delighted that their custom-built barbecue smoker has won the first competition they entered.
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Harvey Smith, his wife, Heather, and their three small children moved to Pappinbarra from Sydney three years ago and they love the life there.
A passionate BBQ cook, Harvey makes his Oaky Smokies with recycled materials where possible.
Harvey and Heather and friends formed a team to compete in the Australasian Barbecue Alliance at their first event at Wingham Showground last weekend.
They beat 33 teams to win first place in the competition, organised by Wingham Export Abattoir general manager Grant Coleman.
The Oaky Smokies BBQ team won two trophies – for 1st place in the Grain-Fed Brisket category, and Grand Champion in the overall Brisket Challenge.
Harvey said it was fantastic fun.
“Everybody was willing to give you advice. It’s an amazing atmosphere, with people up until two or three in the morning.”
Each team had to cook two briskets, which were supplied by Grant. One was grain-fed, the other grass-fed.
“It’s a large piece of meat, very muscular, and it only responds to long, slow cooking, for about 12 hours,” said Harvey.
The Oaky Smokies struggled at four in the morning, when the weather got very cold, but they battled on, and were thrilled to win first place for their grain-fed brisket.
“We gave it a good hour and 45 minutes rest, and we knew that it was really good, but when the results came out, we were stunned that we’d won it,” he said.
As well as trophies, the Oaky Smokies won bourbon and some cash.
Back on the farm in Pappinbarra, Harvey and Heather love to cook for family and guests, and they plan to keep making smokers, and enter more competitions.