Barbecue aces vie for Best of the Best ticket
Supervisors face off for town honors

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, August 7, 2008

The Smokin’ Eagles Barbecue Competition on Aug. 15 and 16 at The Summit mall will not only feature area barbecue experts competing for a chance at national competition, but a special challenge competition between the Wheatfield and Town of Niagara supervisors. Shown, from left, are Smokin’ Eagles organizer Roy Gregory, Wheatfield Supervisor Tim Demler, and members of the Town of Niagara barbecue team – chef Joe White, Supervisor Steve Richards and Councilman Robert Herman – delivering their challenge last week at Wheatfield Town Hall. (photo by Chuck and Donna Cederman)

An international battle will take place Friday, Aug. 15, and Saturday, Aug. 16, in the parking lot of The Summit mall in Wheatfield. Weapons of choice will be sauce mops and barbecue forks.

The cancellation of the last in a series of Canadian Barbecue Association competitions has meant that some of those Canadian barbecue teams are enrolling in the upcoming Smokin’ Eagles Barbecue Championship, according to Roy “Honcho” Gregory, chairman of the Wheatfield event.

When the smoke clears, one individual or team will be able to pack up their barbecue aprons and head to the National BBQ Festival’s Best of the Best Invitational from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 in Douglas, Ga. Only 50 teams compete in this invitation-only yearly event.

Another barbecue battle is shaping up for the local event, sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1411, but this one doesn’t include the golden ticket south. Wheatfield Town Supervisor Tim Demler and Town of Niagara Supervisor Steve Richards have formed their own barbecue teams to compete for bragging rights and the Supervisor’s Cup.

Neither of the town supervisors claims any barbecue expertise beyond simple backyard grilling of hot dogs, hamburgers and steaks, but both note their teams include “secret weapons.”

The Town of Niagara team consists of Richards, Councilman Robert Herman and their barbecue ace Joseph White, a town highway employee.

“I’m no chef. I admit that,” Richards said. “I’m gonna help out though – kitchen help, probably the dishwasher.”

The Wheatfield team is made up of Demler, Councilman Ken Retzlaff and their special chef Matt Forcucci.

“According to Matt, his recipes and ability to barbecue is far superior to anybody Steve Richards can put up against us,” Demler said. “I think my job will be whatever Matt tells me it is.”

Already the barbecue forks are making a few jabs.

Richards said he plans a side bet with Demler – “If the Town of Niagara team wins, he’s going to have to stay out of the newspaper for one week. That alone is worth our team trying our very hardest.”

Demler retorted, “If he wins, he’ll have to be IN the newspaper for a week.”

Gregory said he hopes the Superintendent’s Cup challenge will expand to include all the county’s supervisors next year, as well as local state and congressional elected representatives.

The one person not cooking at next weekend’s Smokin’ Eagles is Gregory, even though barbecue and the coming competition have dominated his days and even invaded his nights for months. He’s rarely seen without a copy of National Barbecue News under his arm (that’s where he found out that Best of the Best was looking for someone in a Northeastern state to sponsor a barbecue), as he’s wrangled into shape the competition he hopes will turn into a major Niagara County event and a major source of funding for the Eagles’ various charities.

“Grilling is in my blood,” Gregory said, explaining that he and his brother used to accompany his dad who did the grilling for the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Department in the Town of Tonawanda.

Before he retired from ABF Trucking in Tonawanda, Gregory used to take his barbecue grill to work on Fridays to cook dinner for fellow workers. Now, he’s the grillmeister for the Eagles’ many fundraisers, picnics and special events.

His huge grill, called “Roy’s Toy” by friends, was hand-built in his garage and has undergone several revampings when Gregory has spotted some new feature he likes. In addition to having the capacity to hold six 25-pound roasts at a time, it has a side oven for things like baked beans and potatoes.

While Gregory might pick up some new ideas for his grill at the competition, he’ll be too busy to cook.

The national group is sending representatives to oversee and help with the local competition.

Currently, Gregory has 13 paid-up teams from Western New York, Canada and Ohio ready to compete. With the new Canadian teams coming in, he has extended the deadline for everyone to allow last-minute signups, up to a limit of 30 teams. Checks can be delivered the day of the competition as long as firm reservations are in place. Contact Gregory at 695-3755 or e-mail mailbags2@aol.com for details.

The entry fee is $220. If a contestant wants to sell what is cooked, a Niagara County Health certificate is needed at a cost of $75.

Entrants can barbecue in a maximum of three categories chosen from among beef brisket, pork shoulder, pork ribs or chicken. If they choose to do all four, the worst score is dropped.

Gregory said Smokin’ Eagles still is accepting vendors and sponsors for the competition. For more information, go to www.1411.foe.com.

Admission for the public to the Smokin’ Eagles competition will be $5. Starting at noon Friday, contestants will be setting up and starting their cooking. There will be a car show and bands. On Saturday, the competition starts at 9 a.m. There will be a breakfast, and the judging starts at noon, followed by awards presentations. For an additional $5, visitors can get a taste of the competition and vote for the Peoples Choice Award. Bands will be featured on stage and various vendors will be present.