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Vent: A guy at the Memphis in May contest told me my brisket was 'too smoky' for his taste.
He said it right after taking a bite, then handed the sample back and walked off. Has anyone else had a judge or guest just flat-out reject a flavor profile you worked hard on?
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the_julia3mo ago
Yeah, that "it's subjective but feels dismissive" part hits hard. You spend all that time getting the smoke just right, and someone treats it like a bad sip of wine they can just spit out. I'd be fuming if they handed it back without even finishing the sample, like your work isn't worth their full attention. It's one thing to get a low score, but that kind of rude rejection just sucks the fun out of it.
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viola_butler1mo ago
You know, when I've had that happen with my barbecue, I started bringing a small sample of the rub or sauce on the side, just a tiny bit on a cracker. I'd say "here, try it plain first before you judge the whole piece." It gives them a chance to appreciate the work before they decide if they like the final result. That way, if they're not a fan of smoke, they can say so without me feeling like they tossed my whole plate aside.
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patking3mo ago
Ugh, that's brutal. I've had a judge say my ribs were "too peppery" before, just a one-off comment and a low score. It stings because you balance that rub for hours. Sometimes you just get someone who personally hates black pepper or, like, the taste of hickory smoke. It's subjective, but it feels so dismissive when they don't even finish the bite.
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