PRESSURE IS BUIDING FOR PORKER PARAGONS

Today the pressure's on for the Penny Street Porkers, grand champion for the last two years at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce BBQ Fest.

"We're the team to beat," said chief cook Mike Klipfel on Friday as he served ribs to a group from Bank of America, the team's sponsor.

The contest is anyone's game, said team member W.R. Withers, and the double-blind judging system ensures they'll be judged on their meat, not their name.

Although lots of barbecue was served opening night, the teams are saving their best stuff and bringing out their serious recipes for today.

Of course, Friday's dinner was nothing to sneeze at, but since the only contest Friday was the showmanship competition, the teams let down their hair. The object of that contest was to draw attention to the team through song, dance, skits and generally goofy behavior.

Showing off

The Kiwanis definitely had the most raucous entry, complete with swirling lights, a live band, motorbike and dancing look-alikes of Elvis, Groucho Marx, Bill Clinton and George Bush.

In contrast, Siemer's Best Brands Plus was a study in simplicity, unveiling and lighting two classic ice sculptures.

Capaha Cookers turned the "Survivor" television series to their advantage, boasting they would "out-cook, out-eat and out-party" the competition.

But Bluff City Beer took home the trophy for the second year in a row, reprising the popular barbecue apron contest.

Bruce Loy, last year's "pageant" winner, was back and clad in his coconut-shell bra to crown the new "queen."

But today is all business. Teams will be out at the crack of dawn, mixing seasoning, smoking, chopping and marinating.

The grand champion team -- which takes home a trophy and a $250 cash prize -- scores the highest average overall in six meat categories.

Individual winners are named in competitions for hamburgers, beef boneless strip steak, beef kebabs, pork Boston Butts, pork ribs and pork steaks. Category winners receive cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 for first-, second- and third-place finishes. First-place winners also receive a trophy.