Okay, I admit it. I was a novice. An amateur. A rookie. Before I moved to Kansas City, I had no idea what real barbecue was. When I was growing up, my mom made "BBQ sandwiches" all the time, but what we called barbecue was ground beef in tomato sauce. The sandwiches were good, but I had no idea what REAL barbecue was. Until now.

The first time I came to Kansas City, I went to Gates Barbecue. My life was forever changed. I had a beef on bun, needed about 10 napkins to get through the meal, and I was hooked. I soon went to Arthur Byrants and Jack Stack, and ate everything from ribs to brisket. The list of great things about Kansas City is a long one, but man, barbecue is right at the top.

I'm still not a master when it comes to barbecue. I've learned a lot, but you quickly realize how little you know when you go to places like the American Royal contest. Those people know barbecue. They spend thousands of dollars and basically spend an entire weekend with no sleep in order to cook the perfect meat. And boy is it worth it.

I've hopefully learned enough now to actually give my humble opinion on this delicacy. This Friday, I'll be a judge at the Smokin' Chambers BBQ contest in the Northland. This is my second year... it's a great event with some fantastic food. Then, in a few short weeks, I have the honor of being a judge at the grandaddy of all barbecue contests: yes, the American Royal. Judging at the Royal a year ago was the last step in my journey to becoming an official barbecue fanatic. I'm cutting back on my food consumption already to prepare for the several pounds of smoked meat I'll eat. I'm proud to say I'm no longer a novice. Bring on the ribs!