Competitive BBQers Turn Up the Heat at ‘Border Classic Cook-Off’

'Whatcha Smokin' BBQ' head cook, Mike Reyes, holds his prize after winning the Reserve Grand Champion (2nd Place) title at the 2nd Annual Border Classic Cook-Off

28 barbecuing teams from Del Rio and the surrounding area faced off at the Val Verde County Fair Grounds in a showdown to determine the region’s best barbecuers. After multiple rounds of judging in categories that included chicken, pork, ribs, and brisket, team Dirty Smoke from Uvalde, Texas emerged as the Grand Champion of the event while 2nd place went to Del Rio's own 'Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ'.

C.B. Barboza, head cook of Dirty Smoke, has been cooking competitively with his team since 2021. This year, they’re looking to smoke their opponents by being consistent competitors. And so far, they’re on fire. 

"This year, this is competition number 4. We usually do about 20 to 25 a year. So, we’re on the trail a lot," Barboza says. 

Teams will often travel to compete in as many events as possible throughout the year to rack up points within a larger competitive circuit, in this case, organized by the Champions Barbecue Alliance. This is called "chasing points". So far, team Dirty Smoke has proven themselves to be among the very top dogs in the state of Texas.

CB Barboza, head cook of Dirty Smoke, and his wife hold up their Grand Champion prizes.

"We’re currently ranked 2nd in CBA, and we’re going to keep on chasing points," Barboza said after clinching the top spot on Saturday.

Of 340 ranked teams in competitive Texas barbecuing, Barboza and his Dirty Smoke team currently sit at the number 2 spot. A healthy lead, but the season is young.

Meanwhile, Del Rio’s own Whatcha Smokin’ claims they are the "#1 BBQ IN TOWN", and they just might be onto something. At the Border Classic Cookoff on Saturday, Whatch Smokin’ beat out every other team, including Dirty Smoke, in one category: Chicken. Which very well means you can find the best barbecue chicken in southwest Texas by finding Mike Reyes, head cook for Whatch Smokin’ BBQ, in his cherry red food truck around town.