Pizarro: San Jose Councilman Pete Constant does a little political grilling Tuesday, June 16, 2009 By Sal Pizzaro, Mercury News In addition to being a photographer and a politician, Pete Constant's also a whiz at the barbecue grill. The San Jose councilman was named grand champion and took home the prize for best ribs at the Winchester Business Association's BBQ Cook-Off on Saturday. His secret? "Being a crazy, dedicated fanatic," he said. Constant started two days in advance, brining the ribs and putting on a dry rub before smoking them for about nine hours — moisturizing and glazing every hour. "For this event I went and set up at 10 p.m. the night before and slept in my car so I could start the smoking at 3 a.m.," Constant said. "Then I went back to sleep in my car and set my alarm for every hour." The competition at the Century 21 movie theater parking lot was judged by Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, San Jose Assistant Fire Chief Teresa Deloach-Reed and Mission College hospitality program instructor Scott Brunson. See the other winners at www.winchesterba.org. Contact Sal Pizarro at spizarro@mercurynews.com or (408) 627-0940 and read him online at blogs.mercurynews.com/pizarro.