The succulent, wood-smoked world of American barbecue is about to hit Leicestershire.
Husband and wife champion barbecuing team Scott and Lyndsey Lane, from Hugglescote, are working with America's Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) to launch the organisation's first official barbecue cook-off in England.
The KCBS organises some of America's biggest barbecue competitions, with first prizes of up to $100,000 being awarded to the finest food from hundreds of hungry participants.
Now, teams from the UK, USA, Ireland, Germany and Netherlands are among those expected to take part in the Leicestershire event, called Q on the Canal, which will involve a KCBS crew jetting in from the States to assist.
Barbecue-loving Ashby School teacher Lyndsey, 43, said: "It's going to be fantastic.
"It's the first of its kind in England and we'll have loads of other things going on during the day – but the main event will be the barbecuing."
The chefs will be pitting their pulled pork and beef brisket against each other at the Globe Inn, in Snarestone, on Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26.
They will be assessed by licensed judges, who must take a course and recite an oath before qualifying as an official adjudicator.
American-style barbecuing involves slowly-cooked joints of meat, rather than the traditional burgers and sausages.
Hunk of beef brisket and pork shoulder are cooked over coals and wood smoke for up to 18 hours to create tender joints.
Self-employed fishing pole repair man and fellow barbecue fan Scott, 44, said: "We've been competing in barbecue competitions since about 2008 and managed to win all sorts of prizes in England and the USA.
"I love barbecue – it's the food that gets you hooked, but then it's the camaraderie and the friends you make.
"It's a bit of a cliche, but they call it a barbecue family – we've got more friends in the States than we have in England and we're always going to visit."
Scott and Lyndsey compete under the name Miss Piggy's BBQ, and already have a long list of trophies for their efforts.
They are two-time British champions, current European champions and were the highest-placed team outside of the USA at the Jack Daniel's World Championships, held in Tennessee, last year – finishing 25th out of 87 teams.
Scott said: "We want to bring the feel of American barbecue to England. I
"t's completely different to our traditional burgers and sausages – I told an American about our summer barbecues once and he laughed and said 'that's just grilling'.
"Then he showed me photo of his barbecue pit and my eyes lit up.
"I want other people to come down in May and get as inspired as I was."
Scott and Lyndsey are donating proceeds from the cooking event to Help for Heroes.
"The more people attend, the more we can donate," said Scott.
Teams will be competing for a place at KCBS tournaments in Las Vegas, Kansas City and Lynchburg, in Tennessee.
