PrintWin a FastPass to the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party—By Writing a Limerick!
The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. You pretty much know the drill. 'Cuemasters from around the country descend on New York's Madison Square Park for a weekend of meat-smoking for the barbecue-famished masses.
As experienced block party attendees know, the FastPass is the way to go. It gives you and one guest access to special express lines at all 14 of the pit masters as well as those of the other food purveyors there.
Passes are available for sale online till Friday, but if you want to take a chance here, you can put your poetry-writing skills to the test. We have one (1) FastPass worth $52 to give away today to one lucky reader. (We'll have another FastPass to give out on Friday and one more on Saturday.) If you live in New York City or are willing to travel here June 7 to 8, this is your contest. Enter the contest, after the jump ...
Thrown Down Your Limerick!
To enter to win, all you have to do is compose a limerick with a barbecue theme here in the comments.
The best limerick, as determined by the Serious Eats staff, will win. (Note that today's assignment is a limerick, not a haiku!)
But wait! There's more: Each day's winner will also receive a copy of Peace, Love, and Barbecue by pit master Mike Mills and Amy Mills Tunnicliffe.
And that's not all! Serious Eats head honcho Ed Levine has volunteered to lead a little guided tour early in the day on Sunday for all the winners, taking them around to meet the pit masters.
A limerick is a little more labor-intensive than a haiku, sure, but it's still not that hard. And we know that Serious Eats readers are a sharp bunch, so you're up to the task. I'm not the sharpest stick in the pile, and here's what I came up with:
A roster that's otherwise pretty
overlooks grub from dear Kansas City.
With no 'cue to throw down
from my humble hometown ...
well, I think I'll just end this here ditty.
You may submit a comment on this entry until 12:30 p.m. May 30, 2008. One entry per community member. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply. Winner will be posted in the comments section of this post as well as on the Serious Eats Contest Winners Page.
Comments are closed: 20 Comments:
There once was a fattened up pig,
Who could barely get up for a jig,
But it just doesn't matter,
For the pig's blood will splatter,
And we'll all enjoy ribs very big!
hiyaa321 at 2:46PM on 05/29/08
A diet of fondue makes me blue;
I'm desperate to chew something new.
And thus I submit
The fruit of my wit
To bypass the queue for my 'que!
lily314 at 2:49PM on 05/29/08
Jane's kids always ate her ribs with relish
Because her sauce was famously delish
The poor things didn’t know
What they ate with such gusto
Was their daddy's ribs piled on a dish
oosujioo at 2:51PM on 05/29/08
There once was a ‘cue-er named Joe
Whose pulled-pork made you shake head to toe
His brisket was dry
And his ribs were… Oh MY
But who cares ‘cause his swine was to die for
iamnotachef at 3:03PM on 05/29/08
Working so hard cuz they pay me
Until the smell of cue gets me crazy
Pulled pork is my pleasure
Smoked brisket is treasure
After filling my gut I am lazy
mepm231 at 3:41PM on 05/29/08
A whole beast lies gently o'er coals
From snout to tail the smoke rolls.
Henderson's got nuthin' on my skills at bone suckin'
It's burnt ends till the final bell tolls!
terrence_rennet at 4:33PM on 05/29/08
loudly the vegans did chant
urging the 'que-ers recant
but smelling the swine
on which they could dine
they decided the pig was a plant
mattwolfe at 6:01PM on 05/29/08
A proselytizing young veg
Made her sister-in-law finally pledge:
"Give me good barbecue
Or this family is through --
I need meat just to take off the edge."
Julie at 6:32PM on 05/29/08
To all the grand pit masters
I greet you sans my belt fasteners
Craving carnivore creations
A pact for chest palpitations
The bathroom line needs to move faster
MarcoLombardini at 8:58PM on 05/29/08
There once was a piggy so plump
From it's snooty snout to it's tumpy rump
But we musn't be hasty
Those odds bits are tasty
Even though I've got dibs on that rump!
digitalburro at 9:51PM on 05/29/08
My attempt at this limerick may be hokey
I'd do anything to get pork that's smokey
'Que sauce that's sublime
Although dry rub is fine
So send me that pass, okie dokie?
JubileeNYC at 2:30AM on 05/30/08
You say: write a limerick and haiku
Sure, there's nothing I won't do for great 'cue
For brisket cooked all night
A sauce with bite
Heck, would you like a kidney or two?
brunjaune at 10:03AM on 05/30/08
There once was a vegan quite hostile
For whom "Meat = Murder" was gospel
But her conviction died
With one whiff of rib eye
And you can't proselytize with your mouth full.
tortor at 10:19AM on 05/30/08
Pig took a trip to the Apple
With a jaunty blue ribbon on his lapel
Some folks called him a winner
Then invited him to dinner
And now all that's left is the scrapple.
BrooklynBrownie at 10:36AM on 05/30/08
There once was a pit-man from York
Who spent his long nights hard at work
While prepping his pig
He lamented the gig
And cried, "will no sweet lass pull my pork?"
Erisgrom at 10:54AM on 05/30/08
Texas, Carolina, New York,
Give us brisket and sausage, pulled pork,
We keep calling “More meat!”
Smoky, savory and sweet
Like a jewel on the end of your spork.
Geoff at 10:55AM on 05/30/08
Jane had a BBQ out back
Slow cooked ribs charred till black
12 hours left out to smoke
Outcomes Jack with a joke
He looked to Jane and said "Hey, nice rack!"
subinai at 11:50AM on 05/30/08
Interplay of the spicy and sweet
flavors imbued in the smokey meat,
keeps me coming for more.
With 'Cue love at my core,
I await treats from summer's heat
foodinmouth at 12:05PM on 05/30/08
Pulled pork, beef brisket, jalapeno slaw, rib rack….
I’m so excited for such a delightful snack!
But with the lines growing ever-fast
My appetite won’t long last
Please don’t make me get my meat fix at Shake Shack.
Pinchystarfish at 12:27PM on 05/30/08
We Have a Winner!
Texas, Carolina, New York,
Give us brisket and sausage, pulled pork,
We keep calling “More meat!”
Smoky, savory and sweet
Like a jewel on the end of your spork.
—Geoff
The judges say: Great flow—follows the limerick rhythm—and the "spork" imagery is priceless!
Thanks to all who entered. This one was tough to call. Still want to try your hand at winning a pass? Today's assignment is an ACROSTIC POEM!
Adam Kuban at 1:08PM on 05/30/08