here is my completed contest entry......

i had posted a preview of this a week or so ago, but i've got the final stream done and turned in and the contest is in full swing.

here are the details on the contest....

Quick Synopsis:
Five grilling/bbq enthusiasts have been hand picked to compete in this competition and contacted independently. They have received a package of Coachella Valley California Dates in which they must pair with pork. You will judge them and determine who the winner is based on a Date & Pork themed photo stream they have prepared. Winner will be sent a box of beer and other items of interest from yours truly and be named the TBS BBQ King for 2011.

The Objective:
The participants will document the preparation and final presentation of the dates and pork utilizing any form of pork product they choose. They will create a photo stream of at least 15 pictures but no more than 35 showcasing the event on Google Picassa. The final picture in the stream will be a designed plate with the meat, two sides and one beverage. The sides and beverage are up to the participant and should be chosen in regards to winning over the judges. One side may be a dessert, but dates MUST be used in the dessert.

The Judging:
Anybody and everybody should judge and vote on this competition. YOU ARE A JUDGE! Judging is based on the aesthetic presentation of the photo stream. This is not a popularity contest so please vote on the photo streams only. Things to consider for the judges when voting are:
- Composition of photos including detail, sharpness, color balance, lighting, etc. Blurry pictures are not acceptable.
- How informative the photo stream was in terms of the process from start to finish.
- How attractive and desirable the final meal appears.
- Overall enjoyment of the photo stream.


Specific Rules for Participants:
Any pork product or cut may be used. This may include but not limited to bacon, sausage, shoulder, ribs, loin, ham, etc.
Dates and pork can be grilled, smoked, roasted, rotisseried, etc but must be cooked outdoors.
The dates must be identifiable in the meal. Meaning a jam that is visible is ok, but burying them in a bbq sauce where you can not see them is not.
All sauces used on the dates and pork must be hand made. No bottled sauces or marinades allowed.
BBQing mascots such as pets, children and woman wearing skimpy outfits are encouraged in the photos.
At least one "complete meal" photo must be used in the photostream and should be placed at the end of the stream.
For consistency and a "level playing field", all participants must use same photo sharing site for photostream. Google Picasso.
Photo stream must be completed by June 1st which is 3.5 weeks away.
Not adhering to the rules will result in an instant disqualification from the contest.


What is a Date?. From Wikipedia:

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around the Persian Gulf.[1] It is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. The leaves are 3–5 m long, with spines on the petiole, and pinnate, with about 150 leaflets; the leaflets are 30 cm long and 2 cm wide. The full span of the crown ranges from 6 to 10 m.


and here is the my final entry photostream.....


https://picasaweb.google.com/107444540370252839641/TBSWestsideThreatThrowdown?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGtq6jWrZq3fg#slideshow/5612339714659274850


i'll let you guys know how i do.

thanks for looking!