'Grill on the Hill' barbecue extravaganza set for northern Michigan resort this weekend
Attention barbecue enthusiasts: There's an annual competition for grill gurus who want to show off their skills.
And folks who enjoy eating great barbecue can join in, too.
"Grill on the Hill" is set for Saturday at Treetops Resort, a Michigan ski and golf resort in Gaylord, about 3½ hours north of Detroit.
This is the fourth such event that brings together fanatics showing off their knack for tending to grills — some tending all night — to churn out tasty barbecue. It's open to all skill levels of grilling and barbecuing and all types of grills. Teams can still enter the competition until Wednesday.
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Those competing must bring their own grill and be limited to cooking on charcoal, wood, or pellet fires. For entry fees and official rules, go to treetops.com.
Grill on the Hill is open to spectators from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Those competing typically set up the day and night before.
A team of judges will judge each team on the appearance, taste and tenderness of what they grill. Awards will go to the best ribs, pork and beef brisket. A people's choice award will also be awarded.
For spectators, expect plenty of barbecue tastings, several celebrity chef barbecue demonstrations, vendor booths and beer tent featuring local breweries and pouring samples, live entertainment and lawn games.
Celebrity chef demonstrations include award-winning Flint native Joe Pichey of Go Blue BBQ. Pichey, who now lives in Texas, is a contributor to the Tailgate Tuesday feature every week during the University of Michigan football season.
How to get tickets
The taster package for spectators is $35 ($25 for ages 12-20) and includes unlimited tastings, vote for people's choice for best brisket, ribs and pork butt and four beer samplings (or two pop or water under 21 years old).
Awards will go to the best ribs, pork and beef brisket. There will also be an overall people's choice award. Teams are competing for cash prizes.
If you go: Grill on the Hill
Treetops Resort is about 3½ hours north of downtown Detroit off I-75. The property features several golf courses, a spa, restaurants and other amenities.
For information or lodging packages, go to treetops.com or call 866-348-5249.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Grill on the Hill' coming to northern Michigan resort
