Grilling for LI charity, bragging rights

They call themselves the "Grill Scouts" -- three former Long Island Girl Scouts out to show the men they can be barbecue champs, too.

Ashton Saber, 19, looked at home Saturday among the grills and smokers lined up at the Battle of the BBQ Brethren competition in Manorville.

Saber and two other former members of her North Babylon Scout troop were among the 44 teams vying for cash prizes.

"It's something that takes patience, which is something I have to get used to," she said. "It's kind of a new skill."

Organizer Phil Rizzardi said the annual competition, held for the first time at Maples Bar, is all about "bragging rights." Proceeds this year will go to the nonprofit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County.

"It's about hanging out with your friends and smack-talking," he said.

The prize pool totals $7,500 this year for the two-day event. Winners will be announced Sunday. Contestants are judged on grilling and barbecuing in the preparation of beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs and chicken.

A business major at Farmingdale State College, Saber said the key to her barbecued ribs recipe, which won a local competition last year, is a Texas-style rub and three hours of cooking, another two hours of grilling in foil, and one last hour of grilling on an open flame to make the ribs crispy.

featured female grillers.

They included Laura Schwarz, 48, of Sayville, who competes as a leader of a four-member team called Blazin' Buttz.

The team has won the grilling category prize at a previous Battle of the BBQ. "It becomes this thing that consumes you," Schwarz said.

She said the Manorville event has a fun, family camping-type atmosphere. Women are playing a more prominent role in the competition, she said, coming up with winning flavor combinations.

"We have to put the nice touch on it," she said.