National Barbecue Association visits local restaurants

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The National Barbecue Association held its annual convention in Mobile this week.

  PLENTY OF HOTEL ROOMS BOOKED

The convention is bringing dozens of people to town, and filling hotel rooms.

Mark Lambert with the National Barbecue Association said, "This week, we have over 800 rooms booked, 800 room nights, booked at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza."

SAMPLING MOBILE BARBECUE

Convention attendees visited a number of Mobile barbecue restaurants on Wednesday, February 20. 

Scott Frantz owns a Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q franchise in Mobile. 

He said, "They're going to come in. They want to know our techniques. They're going to look at our equipment. They're going to come and ask questions about different things that we do. How do we prepare the food this way?  Hopefully, I can catch a little off them today, too and ask some questions." 

WHAT DO THE ATTENDEES SAY?

Arthur Cohen of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said, "We got here a day early. So, we were able to see a little bit of the port, a couple of museums. It's a very nice town, very nice city."

Eva Harris of Riverside, California, however, has been a little under the weather.

She said, "I've been sleeping. I've been sick. You know, every time I come to the South, I have an asthma attack because of the weather."

Laurie Neef of Murphysboro, Illinois, said, "Well, yesterday, we went to Biloxi. We went to the Shed, and we went to the Beau Rivage. So we did some exploring yesterday."

Clarence Booth is from the Buffalo, New York, area.

He said, "(The weather) reminds me of Buffalo..well, good Buffalo weather.”　

ALL BARBECUE ALL THE TIME?

Lambert said, "Most of these people are barbecue individuals, and most of the people that are barbecue people really don't eat barbecue anymore. So we're looking to get something that comes out of that ocean."

He said namely seafood.

BARBECUE BASH COMING UP 

But, the Association is holding a Barbecue Bash this Saturday at the Renaissance Riverview, and you can buy a ticket.