ELIZABETHTOWN – Light the pits as if they were the Olympic flame — the competition of the Carolinas is upon us and the supremecy of a fine pork barbecue cuisine title is on the line.
The inaugural Smithfield Cup will take place this fall in historic Elizabethtown, pitting barbecue teams from North Carolina and South Carolina against each other in a battle of barbecue supremacy.
The new event will be staged Sunday, Oct. 13 on the grounds of picturesque Cape Fear Distillery as a select group of pitmasters from the Carolinas will prepare pork samplings from title sponsor Smithfield Foods, which operates the world’s largest pork processing plant in the world in nearby Tar Heel.
In addition, the town of Elizabethtown is one of several presenting sponsors of this unique culinary experience.
Patrons to the event will be provided samples of chopped barbecue, ribs and more, and one Southern side from each team, and then cast their People’s Choice vote for the best barbecue. The winning team will be awarded the Smithfield Cup and display the trophy for one year in that winning state.