OC Fairgrounds BBQ Fest

Pork, Pork, Pork, Beer, Pork, Beef, Beer--and who's complaining? Not me!

It was the day after graduation and what better place to take the fam than a BBQ festival?!

There were numerous stands handing out BBQ ribs, pulled pork, brisket, meatballs wrapped in bacon, and chicken--some better than others, but still very delicious.

It was the first time I was able to try BBQ cooked in the styles of their different respective regions back to back and compare them. There was the vinegar sauce, and the sweet thick BBQ sauce, and there was spicy and sweet BBQ sauces; all bold and full of flavor in their own way.

The brisket was a hit or miss, some were dry, bland, and relied too heavily on the sauce as a crutch, while others were surprisingly moist, flavorful, and barely needed any sauce (these were my favorite). Although I did stumble upon several different sauces that I fell in love with; mostly the ones that were spicy, sweet, and smoky but revealed it's flavors in stages.

RIBS! Probably my favorite of the day.

Ain't that just a beauty?

Juicy, juicy brisket

Bacon wrapped meatball

The pulled pork was amazingly good because it soaked up all the sauce.

This picture really doesn't do it justice! (plus, this was the last dish of the day for us)