BIG D BBQ BATTLE
…Answer the Call to Battle!
Friday, April 24, 2015
GENERAL TEAM INFO AND RULES
1. A team will consist of one head cook and up to 4 assistants not to exceed a total of 10 team participants.
2. Two MANDATORY Cooks’ Meetings will be held prior to the event. At a time and location to be determined
by the City of Dallas, an initial mandatory cooks’ meeting (#1) will be held by city officials as an “educational”
meeting and will be held at least two weeks prior to the event day. Mandatory cooks’ meeting (#2) will be held
Thursday, April 23 at a designated on-site location at 5:00 p.m. At least one representative out of the team
must attend these two meetings (Does not have to be the same representative) or your cooking space will be
forfeited.
3. The number of cooking teams will be limited to a maximum of 60.
4. Team cooking spaces will be assigned the week of March 16 and coordinated/marked on location Tuesday,
April 22.
5. NO live animals of any kind are allowed on the grounds; if it has fur, if it barks, meows, or growls, if it walks
on all-fours, if it requires a collar, a leash, or a cage ... leave it at home!
6. Check in will start at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning, April 23 at a designated on site location. Every
team must be set up that evening prior to 5:00 p.m.
7. “Team Night” will be Thursday, April 23 from 5:00 -10:00 p.m. Each team will receive wristbands for the
cooking team and tickets for your guests. Your participation in this is optional and should not be opened to
the public. Each team will be responsible for furnishing and cooking your own food for Team Night.
8. Friday, April 24 the judging will be held from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The general public will start arriving at 5:00
pm at which time you may begin serving the public. Beer, water and/or sodas will be provided by the North
Dallas Chamber of Commerce for the public.
9. All food preparation areas must be covered with some kind of awning or cover. Pop-up awnings and
tents will not be provided by the Chamber or organizer. Teams can either bring their own pop-up or a unit
can be rented from M&M Special Events, 214-350-5373. Cooking area must be kept clean and trash emptied
into the containers provided. DO NOT dump cooking oil or grease on the pavement, grass or in the trash cans
and dumpsters. Grease trap bins, waste water, and ash discard will be provided on site. Damage to any of the
aforementioned will result in damage and/or cleanup charges. All props, (hay bales, wood, etc.) must be picked
up and your area cleaned immediately following the event.
10. On Thursday morning (April 23) upon check in or thereafter, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce will
provide your team with beef briskets, pork ribs and pinto beans. A portion of the supplied meats and beans will
be used at your choice for the judging aspect of the event. The remaining meat and beans is designated to feed
the public after the judging has concluded during the public hour of the event on Friday.
11. Cutting open or dismantling any part of the fence will NOT be tolerated!
12. The gates will be staffed; ANYONE WITHOUT A WRISTBAND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE
GATES! Wristbands will not be for sale at the gates. NO WRISTBAND, NO ENTRY! ...this includes your
cooking team! Additional tickets for Friday can be purchased before the event online for $25 each or $30 each
the day of the event at the gate.
13. Teams may hand out promotional items, food, products, etc. from their booth ONLY and NOT from any other
location or booth. The selling of items or services is NOT permitted.
14. NO vehicles of any kind are allowed in the BBQ area, all non-essential vehicles must be parked in designated
areas or outside the fenced perimeter. Parking for RV’s and campers will be available; locations to be determined
at later date.
15. Being a business networking event, children and strollers are strongly discouraged.
16. Please share all the information and rules with your company and/or team.
Cooking Contest
1. The “Cooking Contest” will be held in these three categories: (1) beef brisket, (2) pork ribs, and (3) Pinto
Beans. Wild game, fish, fowl, or road kill will not be judged. Only one entry in each category per team will
be allowed for judging.
2. ALL cooking must be done on the premises; no food may be prepared in a private dwelling. Teams
must use wood or charcoal for cooking meat. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE: If your team choses to use
propane in any fashion it REQUIRES a permit with a cost associated to it and should be obtained
separately and independently as an individual participant from the City of Dallas. The North Dallas
Chamber of Commerce WILL NOT PROVIDE THIS PERMIT! If you have questions or would like to explore
this option, we would be happy to direct you to the City of Dallas Fire Department for reference. All
covered cooking devices are acceptable; open top grills, holes and pits will not be permitted.
3. A total of 11 plaques or trophies will be awarded: First (1st), Second (2nd), and Third (3rd) place in each of the
three judged categories. There will be one overall award for Showmanship; and one overall Grand Champion.
The winning teams and/or photos will be listed in the Chamber newsletter, the Chamber website, social media,
and other various publications, space permitting.
CODES/SUPPLIES
All City of Dallas Health Code specifications for food storage and handling must be met at all times. Attached as
Exhibit is a document entitled City of Dallas Code Compliance Services. It is YOUR responsibility to know and
understand all rules and regulations governing the activities covered under the Big D BBQ Contest.
a. All raw food must be refrigerated; the holding temperature must remain at or below 41 degrees.
Therefore you will be required to store your raw food in the reefer provided by the Chamber. Storage on ice in a
cooler is NOT sufficient and not acceptable!
b. Each team will need to provide a "food preparation" area in order to participate. All food preparation areas must
be covered with some kind of awning or cover. The seasoning, marinating and the cutting of all food must be
performed in a three sided enclosed area to protect the food preparation from the elements!
c. After cooking, all food items MUST be maintained in a covered warming container i.e.: roaster ovens or
crockpots with proper lids; chafing dishes or canned heat (sternos) will NOT be allowed (please see attached
Rules for BBQ Battle from the City of Dallas Health Department included in this packet) and maintained at 135
degrees or higher.
d. Cleanliness of the cooking team and cooking area is REQUIRED! Examples:
1. Smoking and drinking is prohibited on the serving line and in the prep area.
2. Clean hands, single service articles, gloves, and utensils are a must. All single service items (plates,
napkins, etc.,) must be covered for protection.
3. Your preparation area MUST have suitable overhead covering to prevent the elements from coming in
contact with your food items.
4. The cooking team must serve the food items; do NOT allow anyone to "help themselves" to your food
items.
5. A mild solution of bleach water is a must for the storage of your wiping towels.
6. An approved sanitizer will be required. The label will indicate if it is approved for use by a
Food establishment. Household disinfectants like "409" and "Lysol" are not approved by the Food and
Drug Administration as sanitizers and cannot be used at temporary food events.
7. Teams must have a tub for washing and rinsing dishes, utensils and hands as well as a 10 gallon
container of clean water to change out the dirty water in the tubs.
8. Wastewater must be disposed of properly and must not be dumped on the pavement or grass.
**NOTE** If there is a question, please see the included City of Dallas Code Compliance Services
document.
e. Each team must have its own fire extinguisher that is easily accessible.
f. Participants must provide all needed equipment: cooker, canopy, tables, storage, serving supplies, utensils, etc.
Participants requiring electricity must supply thick gauge (min. 16 gauge) extension cord and must adhere
to all electrical, fire and other codes of the City of Dallas. Your booth space will have access to a 4 plug outlet;
the Chamber will need to know how many warmers you will be using and how many plugs you will require in
advance.
g. You may hang your company banner or paid sponsor of team logo or banner in your designated paid cooking
space only.
h. The Chamber must approve the use of all props, banners, tents, canopies, games, etc. prior to the event.
Props, banners, tents, canopies, games or any other equipment may NOT exceed the boundaries of your
designated paid cooking space. Excessive music, firearms or any other explosive noise producing pyrotechnics
are not allowed.
Everyone on your team MUST adhere to the rules. Abusing any of the rules is punishable by expulsion from the
event. Everyone in connection with the guilty person(s), business and/or cooking team will be expelled.
Return the attached, signed agreement by fax, mail or email to:
Geoeffery Williams
North Dallas Chamber of Commerce
10707 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 368-6991
Fax: (214) 691-5584 Email: [email protected]
Paul Maynard
North Dallas Chamber of Commerce
10707 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 368-0596
Fax: (214) 691-5584 Email: [email protected]
BIG D BBQ BATTLE
…Answer the Call to Battle!
Friday, April 24, 2015
PLEASE READ BEFORE SIGNING
Agreement made by and between the undersigned team and the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce that will be
(hereinafter called the Chamber) producer of the BIG D BBQ BATTLE (sometimes referred to as the “Contest”)
that will be (hereinafter called the BBQ).
We, the undersigned team (sometimes referred to as “Contestant”), hereby acknowledge that we have reserved a
space for our exclusive use at the BBQ. We understand the team agreement, the entry form, and full payment
must be received by March 16, 2015 in order for a space to be confirmed. If the team agreement, entry form, and
full payment are not received by March 16, 2015, the Chamber reserves the right to reassign the space as
needed.
In consideration for reserving said space for our use during the BBQ, we agree to pay the Chamber a total sum of
$_________. Cancellations in writing prior to April 1, 2015 are eligible for a refund of 50% of the total fee. We
understand that NO REFUND will be given after April 1. Space assignments are made by the Chamber staff. The
Chamber reserves the right to make space location changes which will, in the opinion of the Chamber, be
beneficial to the BBQ.
Neither the Chamber, any sponsor; or any member of the Chamber Barbecue Committee involved with the BBQ
will be liable for any loss or damage to the property of teams or their employees due to fire, theft, accident or any
other cause whatsoever that may arise from use or occupancy of provided space. The team agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless any member of the Chamber, any sponsor, the Chamber Barbecue Committee and the City of
Dallas involved with the BBQ against any and all liability arising from any and all damage to property or personal
injury or loss caused by the team, its agents, representatives, employees, or any such person.
Security guards and public liability insurance are provided by the Chamber. The Chamber will exercise
reasonable care for the protection of the team's materials and displays. However, no liability for losses will be
assumed or implied. The Chamber is not liable for loss or damage to equipment. Please get an insurance binder
on your equipment if not already covered in your policy.
We hereby understand and agree that the space leased herewith includes only that which is defined and set forth
in the published Chamber Rules and Regulations, and participants must adhere to all electrical, fire and other
health codes of the City of Dallas and that any additional requirements desired by us must be approved by the
Chamber in writing.
We understand by participating in the BBQ, we must have one representative from our cooking team present
at the cooks’ meetings which will be held on TBD at a location to be designated. We will be responsible for
providing our own inventory for the Team Night festivities. For the BBQ competition, we understand that we will
be provided with USDA or State inspected meat for judging and that a portion of that meat will be used to feed the
public. We understand that we will be providing sample-sized portions to the public during the BBQ event. We
understand the Chamber is not responsible for covering any expenses incurred due to our participation in the
BBQ.
We hereby acknowledge that we have read and will comply with the City of Dallas Environmental Health
Department's Policy for Operations of Temporary Food Establishments and Cook-Offs and the
accompanying Chamber Rules and Regulations governing this contract.
I have signed this contract and am authorized to do so. We agree that the same shall be and are hereby made a
part of this contract and that we and our employees and representatives will at all times observe, perform and
abide by the same. We agree that there are no oral or written agreements or representation other than those
printed or written herewith, and that this application shall constitute a valid contract only when accepted by the
Chamber.
*CONDITIONS, DISCLAIMERS, AND LICENSE: By entering this EVENT each entrant agrees to be bound by
these Official Rules and by all decisions of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce (which decisions are final
and binding on all matters relating to the Contest), and to comply with all federal, state and local laws and
regulations. The decisions of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce are final on all matters of fact,
interpretation, eligibility, procedure and fulfillment. The North Dallas Chamber of Commerce is makes no
warranties, and hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any kind related to
this Contest (Defined as an event in which people or teams compete for judged supremacy in opinion within a
specified sport, activity, or particular quality) or otherwise relating to the administration, security, fairness,
integrity, or proper conduct of the Event.
All taxes (including without limitation Federal, state and local taxes) in connection with the Prize, and the
reporting consequence thereof, are the sole responsibility of the Contestant.
By entering this Contest and unless prohibited by law, all contestants consent to use of his/her respective
name, voice, photograph and/or likeness for advertising or publicity purposes for this and similar promotions
without compensation and any Contestant may be required to provide a signed release acknowledging such
consent, unless restricted by law. Moreover, by entering this Contest, unless prohibited by law, the Contestant
agrees to grant to the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and its licensees, affiliates, and assigns, the right
to print, publish, broadcast, and use, worldwide in any media now known or hereafter developed, including
without limitation the World Wide Web, at any time or times, the Contestant’s name, likeness (actual or
simulated), voice (actual or simulated), and as news or information and for advertising and promotional
purposes without additional consideration; and further without such additional compensation, for use in, any
presentation or other activity which may include filming/audio/video/electronic or other recordings and/or
interviews, as may be determined from time to time by the Sponsor in its sole discretion.
CONDUCT: By entering and participating in this Contest, Contestants (a) fully and unconditionally agree to be
bound by these official rules and by all decisions of the Chamber (which decisions shall be final and binding in all
respects), including without limitation decisions regarding eligibility, prize winners and the interpretation of terms
used in these Official Rules; and (b) represents and warrants that all information provided by Contestant in
connection with the Contest is true, accurate and complete. The Chamber reserves the right, at any time and at its
sole discretion, to disqualify and/or deem ineligible to participate in this Contest or any future Contests or other
promotions of the Chamber.
RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION: By entering the Contest, Contestant, its affiliates, officers (present and
former), directors (present and former), agents, attorneys, employees, legal representatives, successors and
permitted assigns, releases, acquits, and discharges the Chamber its affiliates, officers (present and former),
directors (present and former), agents, attorneys, employees, representatives, successors and permitted
assigns from any and all claims, demands, and causes of actions of whatever nature or character, whether in
contract or in tort, but not limited thereto, known or unknown, directly or indirectly, which in anyway relates to
the Contest
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: In no event shall the Chamber be responsible or liable for any damages or losses
of any kind, including without limitation direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, arising
out of any kind.
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with, and governed in all respects by, the laws of
the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Venue shall be in Dallas County, Texas
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original
and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement.
Severability. If any part or parts of this Agreement shall be held unenforceable for any reason, the remainder of this
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement is deemed invalid or unenforceable
by any court of competent jurisdiction, and if limiting such provision would make the provision valid, then such provision
shall be deemed to be construed as so limited.
Headings. The headings for section herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning of the
provisions of this Agreement.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Seller and Purchaser, and supersedes
any prior understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this Agreement. There are no other promises,
conditions, understandings or other agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
Company Name:
Team Captain:
Email:
Phone Number:
Size of Cooking Space Needed
Electrical Needs
Cooking Team Representative Signature
Date
NDCC Representative Signature
Date