Mount Dora BBQ adds new Beef Rub

Made with no msg, this rub will make your burgers, steaks, chicken and brisket a winner also excellent on salads and chili.

 This rub garnered 1st place in brisket in the Kansas City Barbeque Society events at the Plant City Pig Jam and also at the Lakeland Pig Fest.

Taking home the bacon

MILLARD K. IVES

Staff Writer

CLERMONT –For two consecutive years, Larry Baker’s Mount Dora Bar-B-Que Co. has taken home the trophy in the barbecue competition.

On Saturday, with the assistance of Merry Hadden and Debi Harbin, Baker started cooking — in the pitch dark — before presenting his ribs, pork, brisket and chicken to the judges later in the afternoon.

Baker said virtually every contestant starts off with the same meat, but the key to his success is timing.

“I do everything on the hour,” said the 48-year-old Baker. “It doesn’t make a difference if you start with the best chicken in the world, if you let it cook 10 minutes too long.

Mount Dora Bar-B-Que Co. beat out 30 contestants after scoring the most total points for the best pork, ribs, brisket and chicken — scores that were based on appearance and tenderness as well as taste.

New at this year’s 11th annual Pig on the Pond were racing pigs, a muscle man ripping a phone book in half and an appearance by the one of the world’s fastest men.

The two-day Pig on the Pond started Friday and was held at Waterfront Park in Clermont. The BBQ competition included such eye catching names as Grillin’ Gangsters, Big Poppa, Junkyard Dogs and Skin and Bones, many contestants had elaborate set ups — huge home-made grills, trophies lining up their booths, hanging pig decorations and more.

Asides from Baker’s bottles of the company’s rub lined up on a table, his booth only displayed banners from it being named the Florida BBQ Association’s 2008 Champion during last year’s Pig on the Pond and the title again in January at a cook-off in Okeechobee — that contest rotates among barbecue events.

“We just try and show up,” said Baker, who uses an old-style pit.

Baker, who has been cooking for more than 25 years and took classes at the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, N.Y, lists his first passion as French cooking.

Pig on the Pond also included carnival rides, gospel singing, dancing, children shows and various entertainment, arts and craft and a number businesses displaying their products.

Robinson’s Racing Pigs stole the show with their track and pool meets that kept a huge crowd laughing. U.S. track star Tyson Gay, who’s training nearby, made an appearance, while Omar Maldonado, with Chiropractic Life Centers in Clermont, ripped a phone book in half, to loud applause.

But the BBQ contest was the highlight of the event — and eaters had to use pink pig dollars to buy their meals. Last year’s event was marred by bad weather. Organizer Cheryl Fishel said the warm weather this year made for a great event.

“And, we have a lot of great cooks,” she said.

The 31 teams were competing for prizes and the chance to win a slot in the Jack Daniel’s contest in Lynchburg, Tenn. as well as to rack up points for the 2010 championship.