Pig Beach Benefit Brings BBQ All-Stars to NYC
In 2018, the enormous Big Apple Barbecue Block Party left New York and never returned. The event was one of the largest annual barbecue festivals in the country, attracting nationally known pitmasters and hundreds of thousands of barbecue lovers.
No barbecue-focused event has gotten close to the size of the Block Party since it departed but one has captured the feel — the Jeff Michner Foundation BBQ Benefit at Pig Beach. The event was held for its second time this past weekend at the new Pig Beach NYC location in Queens, New York, and featured a star-studded lineup of barbecue greats from around the country. It attracted more than 2,500 attendees, more than double from the first time it was held.
The Jeff Michner Foundation BBQ Benefit featured tons of national barbecue talent. (Photo by Eric Vitale Photography)
The Jeff Michner Foundation BBQ Benefit was first hosted in 2019 and was created to honor the life and legacy of chef and pitmaster Jeff Michner. Michner was the pitmaster and executive chef at the first Pig Beach location in Brooklyn. He unexpectedly passed away following a sudden brain bleed in May 2018. At the age of 36, his death was tragic, and he left behind his wife Sara and 16-month-old daughter Hayes. Michner also left behind his Pig Beach family, where he was instrumental in putting the joint's barbecue on the map.
Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que served up delicious pastrami bacon dogs at the event. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
The first event was a huge success that created a blueprint for top-talent BBQ events post-Block Party. Due to the pandemic, the BBQ Benefit was finally held for its second time this past weekend with a similarly excellent lineup that included Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson BBQ, Tuffy Stone of Cool Smoke, Amy Mills of 17th St Barbecue, Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que, Grant Pinkerton of Pinkerton’s BBQ, Ed Randolph of Handsome Devil BBQ, and more.
Food highlights included Lilly’s BBQ gumbo, Stone’s ribeye steak, Mills’ whole hog, Durney’s pastrami bacon dog, Pinkerton’s brisket burnt ends, and Randolph’s smoked pastrami. The event also featured copious amounts of adult beverages and live music to keep the energy high.
Amy Mills of 17th St Barbecue brought incredible whole hog to the Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
While great food and fun were a big focus of the event, it also raised money for the Jeff Michner Foundation, which creates scholarships for culinary students and supports families managing loss and grief. More than $100,000 was raised for the Foundation and other causes.
The event celebrated the lives of barbecue pitmasters who have passed away and raised money for charity. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
To raise money for the Foundation, an online auction was held offering unique experiences such as Tuffy Stone or Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs cooking for you. Money was also raised by selling $200 shots of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year bourbon.
Tuffy Stone was an attraction for many with his grilled ribeye with bacon and brown butter. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
One thing that was evident as the event came to a close was the dedication of the barbecue community to rally for worthy causes. Pitmasters and barbecue personalities from the likes of Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, and more were represented and all prepared stunningly good barbecue dishes.
Joey Machado of Texas Original Charcoal Company cooked up tasty BBQ pork tostadas. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
The Jeff Michner Foundation BBQ Benefit will no doubt be one of the must-attend NYC BBQ events for years to come. I’m already getting hungry thinking about next year.
Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Shee
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—The smoked meats, sides, and desserts at Roegels Barbecue Co in Houston are some of the best we have tried this year. (Photo by Wai Chan)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
As we have reported during the past few years, Houston has become one of the top cities for barbecue in the country, a trend that looks to continue for the foreseeable future. Eater released their list of the 18 Most Essential Barbecue Joints in Houston, which includes many of the spots we visited in January while filming The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire. (See below to watch the latest episode.) The list shows the tremendous depth of the barbecue scene in Houston, with noteworthy stand-outs such as Truth BBQ, Feges BBQ, Blood Bros BBQ, and Roegels Barbecue Co. READ MORE.
Kingsford announced the second class of their Preserve the Pit Fellowship last week, furthering the program's commitment to honor the history and culture of Black barbecue and invest in its future. The program received over 2,700 applications this year and expanded the fellowship from three to six barbecue industry professionals in 2022. This year’s fellows include pitmasters and business owners from across the nation who will receive immersive training and one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders such as Kevin Bludso, Dr. Howard Conyers, Devita Davison, Bryan Furman, Rashad Jones, Pat Neely, and Amy Mills. In addition, Kingsford also awarded grants to 10 recipients to help support their business goals. READ MORE.
San Antonio has an exciting new BBQ destination with Reese Bros Barbecue, Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn reports. Reese Bros Barbecue opened in January and “reflects the flavors of the city with menu items like Mexican-influenced mac and cheese and queso fundido sausage. “The joint’s trio of brisket, pork ribs, and sausage is already among San Antonio’s best,” Vaughn writes. “A hefty, dark bark surrounds each slice of tender brisket. The rib meat pulls easily from the bone. The ribs are slathered with barbecue sauce and wrapped in foil on the smoker, so they come out plenty wet but not too sweet.” READ MORE.
According to Kansas City Magazine’s Martin Cizmar, Kansas City’s barbecue dessert game is pushing into new territory. Cizmar notes that desserts at operations including Chef J BBQ, Harp Barbecue, Plowboys, and Night Goat are incorporating smoke and BBQ flavors into desserts such as smoked cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies made with brisket tallow, caramel corn with brisket tallow, and more. READ MORE.
Brittany Britto Garley writes in Eater Dallas about the line at Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth. “The act of waiting in line for barbecue is a rite of passage — an expectation when trying the best of the best — and one of the purest, most distilled forms of food culture and community in Texas,” the story notes. READ MORE.
At Southern Smoke BBQ in NC, head chef Matt Register says he's just preaching the old-school barbecue gospel of eastern North Carolina. He’s sharing his love of a wood fire and smokey vinegar with anyone who lines up outside his door. READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn wrote about the recent collaboration between Japanese sandwich pop-up Sandoitchi and Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth.
Spectrum News 1 checked in on the famed Skylight Inn in N.C., where simplicity is key to its success.
Courtney Dabney of Paper City Mag recently wrote about the unique experience of attending Meat Church BBQ pitmaster Matt Pittman’s Barbecue School.
Craft-barbecue pioneer Gatlin’s BBQ in Houston continues to expand and experiment with its extensive breakfast menu.
The “rabbi pitmaster” Mendel Segal is bringing Kosher smoked meats to Shaker Heights with Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ.
Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, a barbecue concept founded in Brooklyn, recently announced its first Maryland franchise location.
Pure Grit BBQ, a new vegan BBQ concept, will open in New York City in mid-May.
Here are 5 important grilling tips from Jon Wipfli of Animales Barbeque Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Chicago Food Magazine shares tips on where and how to celebrate National Barbecue Month in the Windy City this month.
Vinepair helps kick off National BBQ Month with 5 delicious dishes that pair with Crown Royal.
GrillGrates work on any grill and make every grill better! Visit our Shop By Brand page and find the perfect set today. CLICK TO ORDER HERE.
—Don Nguyen of Khói Barbecue combines the amazing barbecue and delicious Vietnamese pho he grew up with in Houston.—
WATCH
Keeping it Real with Khói Barbecue — The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire
Join Erica Blaire this week as she talks with Don Nguyen of Khói Barbecue at their pop-up at Xin Chào for their Lunar New Year's Celebration. Thirty years ago, Don arrived in Houston from Vietnam and it wasn’t long before his love affair with barbecue began. Find out how Khói Barbecue uniquely fuses Texas barbecue with Vietnamese cuisine in this video produced by On3media. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
The Sausage Sensei Bill Dumas — The Pitmaster’s Podcast
In this episode of The Pitmaster’s Podcast, hosts Rusty and Anthony chat with Bill Dumas, also known as the Sausage Sensei. If you are even remotely interested in sausage you need to make the trip to Liberty BBQ in Round Rock or Brotherton's Black Iron in Pflugerville to see what Dumas has created. If you want to learn how to make sausage the class he teaches is required learning. Dumas discusses what it takes to make sausage, what you may need, and shares some tips and info about one of the oldest foods known to humans. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Hot and Fast BBQ on Your Traeger Grill: A Pitmaster’s Secrets on Doubling the Flavor in Half the Time — Ed Randolph and Noelle Randolph
Award-winning pitmasters Ed and Noelle Randolph have perfected the hot and fast technique so you can spend less time grill-side while still turning out tender, fall-off-the-bone masterpieces. Hot and fast grilling means higher temperatures, shorter cooking times, and the same great smoky, slow-cooked flavors you crave. Pack some heat with Competition-Style St. Louis Ribs, and then prepare a meal fit for a king with a Bourbon-Kissed Steak au Poivre. Char up some Crispy Chicken Wings with Blackberry Sauce, or try out a smoky Chile-Coffee Rubbed Tomahawk (see the Recipe of the Week below). And if you want appetizers to impress, then look no further than Ed and Noelle’s Lamb Lollipops with Mint Butter and Tri-Tip Crostini with Pimento Cheese. With bigger flavors and less time, this guide will transform any Traeger amateur into a pitmaster faster than you can say “barbecue.” ORDER HERE.
—A tomahawk steak is an impressive cut to serve to guests at gatherings. (Photo by Ken Goodman)—
Chile-Coffee Rubbed Tomahawk
By Ed and Noelle Randolph
There are steaks and then there is the tomahawk. Want to silence a room? Set a perfectly cooked tomahawk on the middle of the table. A tomahawk is a rib-eye steak with the rib bone still attached. The bone is frenched and you are left with what looks like an ax of meat. A tomahawk is massive; on average they are a minimum of 2 inches (5 cm) thick and weigh more than 2½ pounds (1.1 kg). They say a tomahawk is meant to be shared, but apparently, no one has told Ed. A cut of meat this large would typically take more than an hour on a grill. We know you can achieve the same great results in half the time.
Reprinted with permission from Hot and Fast BBQ on Your Traeger Grill by Ed Randolph and Noelle Randolph. Page Street Publishing Co. 2022. Photo credit: Ken Goodman.
Learn more about Southside Market Barbeque.
—A lot of big barbecue events are planned for 2022. Let's go!—
May 6-8, 2022: Kansas City BBQ Festival — Kansas City, Missouri
The second year of the “KCQ,” a non-competition barbecue event that celebrates barbecue from Kansas City and many other barbecue towns. It will take place in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium and feature barbecue from KC-based mainstays and out-of-towners. Last year’s event featured ‘cue from Joe’s Kansas City, Jones Bar-B-Q, Plowboys BBQ, 2M Smokehouse, Black’s BBQ, Central City BBQ, and Sugarfire Smokehouse, so expect great joints to be involved in 2022. MORE INFO HERE.
May 11-14, 2022: Memphis in May — Memphis, Tennessee
The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a four-day competition held in Memphis, TN. Teams representing the best of barbecue that have been honing their craft for years compete for the title of World Champion and a share of the more than $140,000 in prize money. The Contest features championship pork categories of Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog, as well as the ancillary competitions of Hot Wings, Sauce, and “Anything But Pork.” The 2022 competition will be held in the Memphis Fairgrounds due to construction at its normal home at Tom Lee Park. MORE INFO HERE.
May 21, 2022: The NYC Texas Chili Cook-Off — Brooklyn, New York
The NYC Texas Chili Cook-Off will return to New York City, bigger, louder, and tastier than ever on May 21 at Industry City in Brooklyn. The event takes place between 1 and 6 p.m. and is hosted by the Texas Exes New York Chapter. There will be all-you-can-drink Texas beverages, all-you-can-eat chili and queso (or until it runs out), and more. Sean Ludwig from The Smoke Sheet and NYC BBQ will be one of the judges at the event, so be sure to say hello. You can also use the code TEXSCHOOL to get 10% off. MORE INFO HERE.
May 22, 2022: Carolina BBQ Festival — Charlotte, North Carolina
The first-ever Carolina BBQ Festival will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, with some of the biggest names in Carolina barbecue. The event is the creation of Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ in Charlotte and will celebrate three regional styles of Carolina barbecue. The one-day event will include legendary barbecue from Bryan Furman, Buxton Hall’s Elliott Moss, Jon G’s Garren Kirkman, Lexington Barbecue’s Nathan Monk, Southern Smoke BBQ’s Matthew Register, Tay Nelson of Bobby’s Barbecue, and more. MORE INFO HERE.
May 28, 2022: Rib King NYC — Staten Island, New York
Food Karma Projects – the producers of Pig Island NYC and Brisket King NYC – are bringing you the ultimate memorial day barbecue and picnic with Rib King NYC. Join in the fun on Saturday, May 28th. The event will feature amazing ribs from joints all over the NYC metro area, a Sauce King NYC showcase, Hard Cider Alley, pickles, grilled goodies including vegetables from the Snug Harbor Heritage Farm plus many other food products, spirits, and drinks. It’s all happening at the historical Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in Staten Island. Ride the NYC ferry to flavor and kick off summer at this all-inclusive Memorial Day weekend festival. BUY TICKETS HERE.
June 4, 2022: Troubadour Festival (Georgetown edition) — Georgetown, Texas
After a huge inaugural event in Celina, Texas in 2021, the Troubadour Festival will be expanding to three different event locations this year. The first of these will be in Georgetown, not too far from Austin. Music headliners include The Panhandlers and William Clark Green, and pitmasters will be there from 2M Smokehouse, Blood Bros. BBQ, Interstellar BBQ, J-Bar-M BBQ, Leroy and Lewis, and more. MORE INFO HERE.
June 10-11, 2022: Made for KC BBQ Championship — Kansas City, Missouri
Pitmasters in the Kansas City area are invited to compete in the first annual “Made for KC BBQ Championship,” with a chance to win a combined prize purse totaling $46,000. The Grand Champion will be showcased in a competition BBQ-themed restaurant in the new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport. The Outstanding Hospitality Management Group is partnering with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) and Old World Spices & Seasonings to hold the event on June 10-11, 2022 at Worth Harley-Davidson. MORE INFO HERE.
June 17-19, 2022: Denver BBQ Festival — Denver, Colorado
The 4th annual Denver BBQ Festival will return this June at Empower Field at Mile High. Don’t miss this chance to grab an ice-cold brew and sample pure smoked bliss from award-winning pitmasters from across the country. The final day of the event coincides with Father’s Day, which makes a ticket a potentially amazing gift for BBQ-loving Dads. MORE INFO HERE.
September 2-4, 2022: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, presented by Pinehurst Resort, US Foods and The Pilot, is a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition” featuring award-winning pitmasters from across North Carolina in one of the most picturesque settings in the entire state. The three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst, offers a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. MORE INFO HERE.
September 10, 2022: Pig Island NYC — Staten Island, New York
Pig Island NYC will celebrate its 13th year on September 10, 2022, at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Join in for all-inclusive food and drink, from all-star pitmasters and chefs who will be serving up delicious porky goodness, as well as local breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Top chefs will compete for the best dishes and event-goers reap the benefits. Expect a ton of amazing eats and a great place to picnic with friends and family for the day. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Sept 28 - Oct 2, 2022: American Royal World Series of Barbecue — Kansas City, Kansas
The American Royal World Series of barbecue is the largest BBQ competition in the country. On top of a massive KCBS competition with roughly 500 teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full lineup of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. Read our 2021 recap of the event to learn more about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2022: Q in the Lou — St. Louis, Missouri
The annual Q in the Lou is happening again this fall! Don’t miss this chance to grab an ice-cold brew and sample pure smoked bliss from award-winning pitmasters from across the country. The event is held nearby the St. Louis Arch and held the final weekend of regular season play for the St. Louis Cardinals. MORE INFO HERE.
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