Beer-lympics and BBQ cookoff at beer, BBQ fest

A barbecue short ribs cookoff and a Beer-lympics will be the highlights of the 2nd Annual Beer and Barbecue Festival today at the Garapan Fishing Base.

The barbecue short ribs cookoff is sponsored by Chun Ji Restaurant, while Roil Soil Clothing is sponsoring the Beer-lympics.

The festival, organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority, would also highlight a cocktail competition that would use beer from the Saipan Brewing Co. and other local ingredients.

MVA managing director Chris Concepcion noted in a press conference Wednesay that the barbecue cookoff would start the festival at 5pm, followed by the Beer-lympics at 8pm.

Official MVA rules specify that a team participating in the cookoff, which is only limited to the first six teams to register, could only be a maximum of two participants: one chef and one helper.

Starting out with provided raw short rib, judging criteria includes how the participating team plates the short ribs, along with its taste and its two side dishes.

First place prizes for the cookoff include $50 worth of festival tokens, two-night stay for four at Mango Resort complete with two pool passes. Second place prizes include $40 worth of festival tokens, a one-night stay for four at Mango Resort, one IT&E beach chair, one IT&E umbrella, and two pool passes at Mango Resort. Third place prize includes $30 worth of festival tokens, a Blu Studio J2 cellphone, one IT&E beach chair, and one IT&E umbrella.

“…Judging for the cookoff starts at 6pm and live entertainment [follows] afterwards with the Beer-lympics at 8pm,” said Concepcion.

The Beer-lympics is a race on the “Roil Soil Beer-Lympic Coliseum” at the Fishing Base, which will be studded with obstacle courses, said Concepcion.

MVA is also working with Fourplay Cuisine and Bar, a popular bar from Taipei, Taiwan, that will be cooking up cocktails named after the CNMI—the “Saipan Sapphire,” “Rota Emerald,” and the “Tinian Ruby.” All cocktails, according to Concepcion, features local ingredients.

The festival today is from 5pm up to 11pm and features bands such as Uprooted, Kensington Hotel’s Bahara Band, a DJ, and James Selepeo’s band.

Age rules apply when buying any alcoholic drinks; 21 is the legal age to drink alcohol in the Marianas.