SHOW ME YOUR BEST: Local cookbook author Carol Halstead served as one of the judges for Saturday’s cookoff event.

THOMASVILLE- The ideal southern summer day usually consists of two crucial elements: sunny weather and a lit grill. Saturday morning, Bobby Dollar Appliance had not one, but ten lit Big Green Egg grills, all cooking away under the high noon sun.

Between the smell of the perfectly-grilled meat and the sight of the two-story-tall inflatable Big Green Egg, all the boxes of an egg-cellent summer day were checked.

The Big Green Eggfest is one of Bobby Dollar’s most exciting annual events for the grilling community. It celebrates the famed BGE grill, provides food and entertainment, and allows local grillmasters to compete. However, during the pandemic, this festival was put on pause.

Now, over three years later, the Eggfest is back and better than ever.

As the premier dealer for BGE, Bobby Dollar supplied the grills being used in the competition. At the store, they have various sizes and accessories for the grill, as well as deals on the brand. The new grills being used in the competition will be sold at special prices.

Some contestants have their own BGE at home. Contestant Will Snipes is the proud owner of an identical Big Green Egg, which he says he uses three or four times a week. “We love ours,” Snipes said. “It’s a

machine, you can’t beat it. It’s worth infinity.”

Snipes grilled St. Louis-style spareribs and deboned chicken thighs, which were aromatic and wafted a rich barbecue smell off the grill.

There were ten contestants slated and ready to compete, with the grilling commencing at 9:30 a.m.

By noon, the chicken thighs were blackened, tender and ready to be judged. The individual prizes for best custom food and best chicken were both $500.

All were required to grill chicken thighs for the main competition, but for custom dishes, contestants grilled steak, ribs, pineapple upside down cake, burgers and more.

Big Green Egg’s Macon team was in attendance and provided grills, tents, the blow-up grill and prepared food. They also judged the competition, alongside a local judge.

Overall, first place in the chicken thigh competition went to Brice Evans. Second place went to Will Snipes, followed by Michael Hanna in third. Joseph Dekle won the separate custom food challenge.

Bobby Dollar was happy with the outcome and walked around the festival, watching the contestants grill and answering questions.

The festival, which had been a staple event for the appliance store, was a six-year tradition prior to COVID-19. Dollar was enthusiastic about the return of Eggfest and the celebration of the Big Green Egg.

“We’re back to normal,” Dollar said.