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I finally wrestled with giving my competition rub to a friend
Hey folks, I ran into a tricky spot with my BBQ buddy last week. He really wanted my special rub for his first big cook-off. In my experience, sharing secrets can blur lines in contests. For instance, if we both use it, judges might notice the same taste. Your mileage may vary, but I feel helping new pitmasters is right. Still, I worried about losing my edge after years of tweaks. Take this with a grain of salt, I ended up sharing a simpler mix instead.
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christopher_bennett22h ago
Last year at the Kansas City contest, I gave my buddy a tweaked rub with less cayenne. He got compliments without copying my EXACT taste.
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thomas_wright4121h ago
Honestly, @christopher_bennett, that's a smart way to help a friend without giving away your secret. How did you figure out the right balance so his rub was different but still good? I bet it took some trial and error to tweak it just right. It's important because in contests, having your own taste can set you apart. Your approach shows that sharing doesn't mean losing what makes your food special.
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