It’s a process that takes practice to perfect.  Hard work, careful conditioning, and endless dedication are all necessary to be the best.  In Alabama, one might think we’re talking football.  But whether you say “War Eagle” or “Roll Tide,” this time we’re talking about something that is close to the hearts of all Alabamians: Barbecue.

This year, the Alabama Department of Tourism’s Year of Alabama Food campaign hosted a state BBQ Sauce-Off.  After intense regional battles featuring 34 nominees at farmers’ markets in Decatur, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, and Mobile earlier this month, the four regional finalists met in Birmingham at Pepper Place on Saturday during the Pepper Place Saturday Market.  The blind taste test featured finalists LawLers Barbecue Sauce (Athens), Costa’s Famous Original Bar-B-Que Sauce (Birmingham), Phil’s BBQ Sauce (Eufaula) and Viper Sauce (Fairhope).

“Our state has a great barbecue culture, and we wanted to highlight it during the Year of Alabama Food,” contest coordinator Brian Jones said in a statement. “When visitors come through an area, they want to sample the local barbecue flavor and take some of it home with them. These sauces are like barbecue passion in a bottle.” (Source: AL.com)

In order to qualify for nomination, each barbecue sauce had to be bottled in Alabama or for an Alabama-based company, in addition to being available for purchase in retail outlets.

So who came out on top?  Congratulations to Phil’s BBQ in Eufaula for being named the best barbecue sauce in the state!

March in Alabama means a few things.  Footballs programs begin spring practices (giving glimpses of potential national championships to come), kids start itching for the ever-nearing freedom of summer, and families flock to the beach for a week away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  In the midst of all this, Alabama farmers are busy harvesting strawberries, peaches, and blueberries and getting ready for the bountiful tomato and okra crops of summer.  And in order to give these farmers a fun, urban outlet to sell their wares, Pepper Place Market is getting ready for it’s 14th season.  In addition to fresh farm produce, market-goers will be able to find prepared foods, artisan goods, and more.

There are some new and exciting things coming to the market this summer.  In addition to old favorites such as weekly chef demonstrations and live music stages, this year the market will be adding a children’s tent to get kids more involved.  Pepper Place Market is teaming up with groups such as Children’s of Alabama, the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Artplay, and more to promote farming, healthy food, and active lifestyles to children of all ages.

The spring market will run every Saturday 7-noon, rain or shine, in the main parking lot of the Pepper Place Complex from April 13th until May 5th.  The summer market kicks off May 11th and will spread to a closed-off 29th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues South.  For more info be sure and follow Pepper Place Market on Facebook and Twitter.