In what is sure to be one of Missouri’s most creative and enticing annual summer events, Overlook Farm in Clarksville will hold a three-day BBQ festival, with 10 professional teams and 10 amateur teams competing for cash and prizes in a barbecue competition. Overlook Farm’s Executive Chef, Tim Grandinetti, also is bringing in five of the country’s leading chefs and BBQ aficionados to compete, demonstrate and prepare outstanding meals the weekend of Aug. 6, 7 and 8, 2010.

Overlook Farm, home to two bed and breakfasts, a seasonally driven restaurant, retail store and gardens overflowing with vegetables, berries, orchards and herbs has won acclaim recently for its dedication to luxury accommodations and farm-to-table sourcing of local ingredients.

The barbecue competition will be held Saturday, Aug. 7. Dr. Brownstone is Grandinetti’s BBQ alter ego. Amateurs who want to compete should call 573-242-3838. Dr. Bownstone’s award winning barbecue will be available all day on Saturday. In addition, the five distinguished chefs will hold free open-to-the-public culinary/BBQ demonstrations throughout the day Saturday.

• 11:15 a.m., Joseph Lerner of Hickory, N.C.,  executive chef and food service director of Bermuda Village in Winston-Salem, N.C.

• 12:45 p.m., Mark Beaupre of Orlando, Fla., is the director of food and beverage and is executive chef at the JW Marriott Orlando, Great Lakes.

• 1:30 p.m., Debbie Gold of Kansas City, who has been featured in numerous articles and was named “Chef to Watch,” by Esquire Magazine.

• 2:15 p.m., Grady Spears of Fort Worth, Texas, an author of six cookbooks who has been featured on Good Morning America and The Today Show.

• 3:45 p.m. Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe of Chicago, who has been featured on the Food Network, is the author of five BBQ cookbooks and writes the “Ask Dr. BBQ” column for Fiery Foods and BBQ magazine.

Festivities kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6, and end with a 1:00 p.m. brunch on Sunday. There will be live music each day. To learn more about all the exciting weekend activities and to take a peak at the menus, click here.

For those looking to stay overnight, the exquisite inns are an easy walk from all the festivities: www.overlookfarmmo.com/accommodations.

Overlook Farm

Perched atop one of the highest points along the majestic Mississippi River and winding down to the scenic Great River Road, lies one of the country’s most unique and attractive travel destinations,  Overlook Farm in Clarksville, Missouri.  With its collection of luxury inns, farm-to-table restaurant and lush, bountiful orchards and gardens, Overlook Farm is an oasis tucked among the rolling hills and Mississippi River, just one hour north of St. Louis.

The property has been in the family of Proprietor, Nathalie Pettus for over 150 years, and was part of her great grandfather’s acquisition during the Spanish land grant in the early ninteenth century.  Nathalie has recreated the elegance of a time past with modern day indulgences through the meticulous renovation of some of the oldest residences in the state. At the same time, she has partnered with area growers to bring back the farming heritage of the region.

For more information visit: www.overlookfarmmo.com.