Bug River Barbecue
The Bug River Barbeque is an annual food festival that takes places in New Carydam. The BRB, as some locals call it, typically takes place after the first flowers begin to bloom on the banks of The Centipede, which positions it usually in the months of late Void or early Vision.
While there are now several events associated with the festival, the titular barbeque challenge is the main attraction. In this culinary contest, participants compete to prepare the most delicious meal using only local ingredients. There are only two rules governing the competition: only a single entry is allowed per participant, and the dish must feature centipede prominently as an ingredient.
The latter event stipulation is part of the reason the cook-off exists in the first place--to thin the encroaching herd of centipedes that manifests on the banks of The Centipede in the spring.
After every event, the bodies of a few Carydamians are found on the banks of the river, mauled by vengeful carrion crawlers, presumably for the disruption it causes to their ecosystem.
History
Selected BRB champions and winning dishes
- 892 AC--Long Wilma, Fried Centipede in Shalejam
- 905 AC--Treesom Villamora, Centipede in a Firehole
- 918 AC--Gromusk Battlegem, Saffron Centibread
- 919 AC--Gromusk Battlegem, The Revenge of Centibread
- 920 AC--Gromusk Battlegem, Too Much Centibread
- 943 AC--Jandusk, Frog & Centipede Fricasee
- 969 AC--Billims Yis-Hakekian, Centipede Reduction in Bugfoam
- 1010 AC--Ummtisk Ulltram, Giant Centipede Steak
- 1044 AC--T'malizori, Raw Centipede with Fig Sauce
- 1067 AC--Rare Zoramar, Centipede Ale
- 1079 AC--Venomhead, Spicy Centipede Chili
Execution
Participants cook their meals the during the designated time frame allotted on the day of the contest. They then submit the entries under an assigned number, known only to the participant and the record keepers, so that the judge presiding over their dishes can determine the winner fairly.
Since 1078 AC, that judge has been Catarina.
The judge picks a first place and runner up. The first place receives a significant monetary reward, a gold medal, and the title of Chef Centipede until the next year's contest. The runner up receives a firm handshake.
While there have been some adventurous and culinarily progressive winners, most of the successful dishes exhibit a great deal of rustic charm.
Components and tools
The funding for the festival emerges from two sources. The first is the fees collected by merchants who wish to sell their wares on festival grounds. The second is through a community grant, with monies coming from all over New Carydam.
A particular generous offering is usually contributed by the residents of Starminster Hold. While most view the festival as far too rustic for their tastes, they very much enjoy the culling it brings to the centipede population of their district.
Participants
The role of BRB Judge as, traditionally, been awarded to those that are deemed essential to the culture and customs of New Carydam. In the past, this honor has included local heroes, celebrated artists and poets, brilliant scholars, and whimsical individualists. The current judge, Catarina, is of that latter category.
Observance
The timing of the festival has always been determined by the first bloom of the flowers on the bank of The Centipede. This usually falls somewhere between 15 Void and 5 Vision, but the BRB has been known to occur as early as 28 Ashes and as late as 13 Fortune.
Primary Related Location
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