Ardie A. Davis
Ardie A. Davis founded the Diddy-Wa-Diddy National Barbecue Sauce Contest in his backyard patio in 1984. Three years later the contest became the American Royal International Barbecue Sauce, Rub & Baste Contest. Davis is a certified Memphis in May Barbecue Judge and a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Certified Master Judge.
A charter lifetime member of KCBS, he has served three terms on the Board of Directors. While on the board he proposed the development of a KCBS Certified Barbecue Judge (CBJ) program. Davis and Ed Roith wrote the original judge certification curriculum and conducted the first classes. The CBJ program has become a successful sanctioned contest network resource of more than 15,000 certified barbecue judges in the US and other countries. Davis penned the official judges’ oath administered at all KCBS-sanctioned contests. He is now a Board Member Emeritus and inductee in the KCBS Hall of Flame.
Davis writes a monthly column, “Remus Says,” in the KC Bullsheet, official KCBS newspaper, a monthly column on barbecue topics in the National Barbecue News, published in Douglas, Georgia, and a weekly Kansas City Star Chow Town blog on barbecue-related topics.
Davis was named a Kansas City Barbecue Legend by the Kansas City Star, with Calvin Trillin, Paul Kirk, Carolyn Wells, Ollie Gates, Rich Davis, Arthur Bryant, Anthony Rieke, Amazing Grace Harris and Henry Perry.
Davis’ most recent books are 25 Essentials: Smoking; 25 Essentials: Grilling; America’s Best BBQ, with Chef Paul Kirk; the 25th Anniversary Kansas City Barbeque Society Cookbook (2010), with Paul Kirk and Carolyn Wells. America’s Best Ribs, with Paul Kirk, and America’s Best BBQ – Homestyle – What the champs cook in their backyards, with Paul Kirk, released by Andrews McMeel in May 2013.
He also wrote The Great Barbecue Sauce Book; Kansas City BBQ Pocket Guide; and co-authored the Kansas City Barbeque Society Cookbook with Carolyn Wells, Janeyce Michel-Cupito and Paul Kirk. Davis has appeared on various TV and radio shows, including three History Channel programs: Modern Marvels, America Eats: Barbecue, and How the States Got Their Shapes – State of Rebellion. Besides barbecue, Davis’ culinary interests are wide-ranging.