Enter Our Third Annual Grilling Showdown

Hey good lookin’ Santa Barbarans, what ya got cookin?

It’s that time of year again for The Santa Barbara Independent‘s third annual Sizzling Summer BBQ & Cocktail Contest, where the region’s best grillers and mixologists battle for fame and fun prizes. So we are seeking both professional and amateur chefs and bartenders to enter from today through the end of May.

We’ve streamlined the showdowns this year a bit. Since entrants kept sneaking more and more condiments, accoutrements, and sides onto their main plate, we’ve just cut to the chase and got more inclusive by calling for entire “plates” of barbecued food that can feature entrees as well as side dishes. So this this year, we are seeking entries for:

– Professional BBQ Plate

– Amateur BBQ Plate (amateur means that you do not work in a commercial kitchen)

– Pro-Am Vegetarian BBQ Plate

– Pro-Am Cocktail Contest

To enter, we need to see a recipe or detailed description of your proposed dish/drink. We promise to keep it a secret, but without one, we can’t tell what you are going to make, which means that you will not be named a finalist. From there, our judges will winnow down the list to the most interesting proposed recipes, and then the finalists will be called to cook their food and make their drinks at two upcoming public events. There, they will be judged by experts, with the best chef/mixologist emerging as the supreme victor.

Submit recipes to food@independent.com by Tuesday, May 29, 5 p.m. And stay tuned to Independent.com for more updates in the weeks to come.