Magic Is Made at the Made for KC BBQ Competition
It’s not every day you get a chance to witness a life-changing event resulting in someone’s dreams coming true. On June 11th, that is exactly what took place as the Black Magic BBQ team was crowned Grand Champion at the inaugural Made for KC BBQ Championship held near the airport in Kansas City, Missouri.
In addition to the Grand Champion title and the $25,000 payout, the team will also receive a one-year licensing opportunity to be featured in the new 8,000-square-foot competition-barbecue-themed restaurant at the new Kansas City International airport terminal, set to open in March of 2023. Black Magic BBQ will receive royalties, their winning recipes will be featured on the restaurant’s menu, and the team will be highlighted on signage around the restaurant for the first year of its opening.
Black Magic BBQ from Grain Valley, Missouri, was crowned Grand Champion at the inaugural Made for KC BBQ Championship. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
The idea for the Made for KC BBQ Championship was generated by Outstanding Hospitality Management Group (OHM) during the bidding process to become the concessionaire at the new airport terminal. The company wanted to highlight the Kansas City barbecue tradition not just by including a barbecue restaurant in the terminal but by holding an officially-sanctioned competition in partnership with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS).
“When we think of Kansas City, we think of barbecue, and OHM is committed to delivering a uniquely Kansas City barbeque dining experience to visitors at the airport. This competition, the winning pit master or cook team, and the barbecue restaurant are the first of their kind anywhere in the world,” said Milan Patel, president and chief executive officer of OHM.
KCBS CEO Emily Detwiler, KCBS founding member Ardie Davis, and Old World Spice Vice President Amy Jungk pose for a photo at the judges' meeting. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
Amy Jungk, Executive Vice President of Strategic Relations at Old World Spices & Seasonings, who has deep connections to the barbecue community, was approached to help launch the event. “This contest has the largest purse and I had never planned a contest before. Every time I was at a loss, someone from the BBQ family stepped up to help. This was more reinforcement to me of why I love our BBQ family. This was such a group effort to make somebody’s dream come true,” Jungk said.
Because the idea was to highlight Kansas City competition barbecue, teams participating in the contest had to be based in either Missouri or Kansas and be located within 60 miles of the Kansas City International Airport in order to qualify. They also had to have been KCBS members in good standing for at least one year and were required to have competed in at least three KCBS-sanctioned events over the previous three years.
The brisket box is being prepared for turn-ins by the members of the Smokin Brothers Pro Team members. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
More than 50 local teams applied to participate in the contest. “We did a live random drawing, and 36 qualifying teams were selected for the competition,” according to Emily Detwiler, CEO of KCBS. The event planning team chose to hold the event at Worth Harley-Davidson. “We wanted to be near the airport. Worth Harley-Davidson had the perfect infrastructure, space for the teams, a stage, and facilities for the public,” Detwiler said.
The Made for KC BBQ Championship was a family affair for the Happy Grillmore team. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
Because the contest took place close to home for all of the teams, there was a family atmosphere at the competition. I was particularly struck by how many teams brought young children to the event. On Friday night, festivities included kick-off events, live music, and dessert and cocktail contests sponsored by Holladay Distillery.
The next morning, teams gathered for the celebratory 9:22 AM toast before the competition heated up and things got serious. The contest consisted of the traditional four meats judged at KCBS contests — chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket.
Show Me MO Smoke made several walks to the stage before being named Reserve Grand Champion. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
After the judging was completed and results were tallied, the teams gathered for the awards ceremony hosted by Jason and Megan Day of the Burnt Finger BBQ team. Most of the participating teams were called to the stage throughout the evening. Show Me MO Smoke pitmaster Ronald Lanie and his daughter Amber made several trips to the stage in various categories before being named Reserve Grand Champion.
Fellow competitors cheer on the Black Magic BBQ team at the awards ceremony. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
When Black Magic BBQ was announced as Grand Champion, the crowd erupted in celebration. As head cooks Bre Via and Brad Colter and their teammate Darren McKown made their way to the stage, they were embraced and cheered on by their fellow competitors. This was the first time the team won a Grand Champion award in their two seasons of competing. (View the full results here.)
When asked what winning the inaugural Made for KC BBQ Championship event meant to the team, Via fought back tears to say that it was “life-changing” to be crowned Grand Champion. Colter said that it “finally puts a plus column on what we’ve been doing for two years, and we can use this as a sounding board to grow the sport.”
Earlier in the day, as the competition was underway, I had the opportunity to visit with the Black Magic BBQ team and it was clear they are barbecue ambassadors who want to help build the sport and give back to the community. Via helps to connect teams with individuals seeking to attain the designation of KCBS Certified Master Judge, who are required to cook with competition teams at a sanctioned event.
Black Magic BBQ’s Bre Via shares the memory wall of photos the team has taken during previous competitions. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
Via also draws from her career experience as a Special Education Teacher by promoting youth participation in competitive cooking. Her children — AJ (age 12), Reese (age 12), and Garrett (age 14) — all participate in the sport. Colter spoke about how competitive cooking has helped his 8-year-old son Owen, who is autistic, become more able to express himself.
It is clear that the Made for KC BBQ Championship was an overwhelming success in its first year. The goal will be to continue the tradition of holding a competition each year, with a new winner being highlighted at the barbecue restaurant in the airport terminal. Local artist and celebrity pitmaster Stretch Rumaner custom-made the championship trophies, including one that will be displayed at the airport restaurant featuring the names of each year’s Grand Champions.
When asked what the Made for KC BBQ Championship means for Kansas City, KCBS founding member and Barbecue Hall of Famer Ardie Davis summed it best by saying, “As soon as people step off the plane, they’re going to have the opportunity to really taste some Kansas City barbecue. I love that teams get to rotate and compete every year to see who is featured. It’s just a great concept.”
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Congratulations to Black Magic BBQ and to OHM, KCBS, and Old World Spices on a successful inaugural Made for KC BBQ Championship event!
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
—Chef Michael Symon will soon be hosting a new show called ‘BBQ USA’ on the Food Network. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Cleveland-based chef, pitmaster, and TV personality Michael Symon will soon host a new Food Network series called BBQ USA, where he will showcase notable barbecue competitions and pitmasters that compete all around the country. Symon will visit competitions and festivals, including the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Georgia’s Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, and Texas’ Cedar Fest. BBQ USA will premiere at 9 p.m. on Monday, July 11, on Food Network and be comprised of six one-hour episodes. READ MORE.
The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has a larger-than-life presence at many barbecue events around the country. This week, The Shed will be expanding its presence with a second location in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The pits will be overseen by pitmaster Robert Erwin, who has worked closely with The Shed’s competition barbecue crew. READ MORE.
Well-regarded BBQ couple Willow Villarreal and Jasmine Barela, formerly of J-Bar-M Barbecue, have now joined the Killen’s Barbecue team in Houston. Villarreal and Barela helped J-Bar-M turn into one of the best new BBQ joints in Houston but parted ways with the institution after a large staff shakeup. Now they are working with the Killen’s Barbecue crew in multiple capacities. Villereal told CultureMap he wants to learn the high-volume techniques that Killen’s uses at its other operations. READ MORE.
Dayne’s Craft Barbecue, one of Fort Worth’s top barbecue spots, has operated out of a food truck since it opened in 2019. Now, the joint will be opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant this fall, after partnering with River Ranch Stockyards. The truck will first move this weekend to 9808 Camp Bowie Blvd. near its future home. READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Earnest B’s BBQ has the unique distinction of serving great barbecue out of a car dealership in Frisco, Texas.
Texas Monthly is hosting an event at Truth BBQ in Houston this week that will bring together four top BBQ spots.
The Los Angeles Times has rounded up the best barbecue joints you can visit in Las Vegas.
Former Horn Barbecue chef Oscar Gomez is launching a new pop-up BBQ operation in Sonoma, California, called Primal Cuts BBQ.
If you’re looking for barbecue joints in Pittsburgh, the Post-Gazette has 10 great options to check out now.
MyPlainview has released a great list of five top BBQ restaurants in Plainview and Lubbock, Texas.
Wine Enthusiast has put together four Japanese barbecue recipes to pair with saké and highballs.
—Watch up-close how Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse makes dino beef ribs and more.—
WATCH
Dino Rib and Pastrami Brisket at Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse NYC — Travel Thirsty
Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse, a kosher barbecue joint with three locations between NYC and Miami, is showcased in this recent video. The video is a tad sparse without narration but you get to watch up close and personal how Izzy and his staff make delicious items like dino beef ribs, pastrami brisket, burnt ends, and more. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
The Grill Dads — Pit Life BBQ
For this recent episode of the Pit Life BBQ podcast, host Johnny is joined by The Grill Dads. Mark Anderson and Ryan Fey, to talk about their new book The Best Grilling Cookbook Written By Two Idiots and much more. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations — Nicole A. Taylor
In honor of Juneteenth around the corner, our book pick of the week is Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations by Nicole A. Taylor. Watermelon and Red Birds contains over 75 recipes, including drinks like Afro Egg Cream and Marigold Gin Sour, dishes like Beef Ribs with Fermented Harissa Sauce, Peach Jam and Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs, Southern-ish Potato Salad and Cantaloupe and Feta Salad, and desserts like Roasted Nectarine Sundae, and Radish and Ginger Pound Cake. Taylor also provides a resource to guide readers to BIPOC-owned hot sauces, jams, spice, and waffle mixes companies and lists fun gadgets to make your Juneteenth special. These recipes and essays will inspire parties to salute an important American holiday, and moments to savor joy all year round. ORDER HERE.
—Joe Zavala shows off how to make some fabulous fajitas.—
Zavala’s Fajitas
By Zavala’s Barbecue
In the first episode of Zavala’s Backyard Barbecue, Joe Zavala shows off how to make his version of beef fajitas. First, the beef needs to be trimmed and then seasoned with rub. Then it goes into the smoker to get it to 100 degrees, and the beef is grilled over wood to give it color and a flame-finish. You’ll be sure to win over friends and family with these fabulous fajitas.
Learn more about Southside Market Barbeque.
—A lot of big barbecue events are planned for 2022. Let's go!—
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.
August 4-7, 2022: Windy City Smokeout — Chicago, Illinois
Get ready for beer, BBQ, and country, because the Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival is returning to Chicago soon. The Windy City Smokeout is one of the largest barbecue festivals in the U.S., with this year’s edition bringing a stunningly good lineup together of veterans and newcomers. Read our 2019 Windy City Smokeout recap to learn about the experience. 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.
November 11-13, 2022: KCBS World Invitational — Gadsden, Alabama
The Kansas City Barbeque Society’s biggest event for the rest of the year is the fourth annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition. The event will bring together top champion pitmasters to compete for the title of “KCBS World Champion.” This event will feature three full days of contests and events. There will be both an open contest and a Master Series contest. Plus, backyard teams will be eligible to compete in the open against Master Series teams without impacting their Backyard status. MORE INFO HERE.
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