The best gear for BBQ and food festivals (plus top news & events)
Back in August, we wrote about based on our personal experiences of traveling around the country. Since that time, it’s been one of our most shared articles, so we thought it made sense to expand on some of the things we’ve learned the past few years.
Here are ten items you can bring that will help you be a pro at BBQ and food festivals around the U.S. and the world. We’ve also included links to a few products we personally like, if you’re looking for ideas.
Ryan and I have attended a lot of BBQ festivals during the past few years, so we’ve learned about what essentials you should always carry with you.
Backpack
One of the most important things to bring to a BBQ or food event is a slim and light backpack. This can help you carry all the rest of your gear. Alternately, a tote bag or large purse can work for this purpose as well. Buy here.
Hat
I’ve made the mistake of not bringing a hat to a BBQ festival before as I’m not a big hat person, but no longer. If it’s sunny and there’s little shade, a hat or cap should be a mandatory part of your outfit. Buy here.
Bandana
There’s a good chance you’ll get a little dirty and sweaty at a big BBQ event, so a bandana can come in handy. Buy here.
Some BBQ and food festivals, such as the Windy City Smokeout in Chicago, include stations to refill water bottles.
Refillable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do at food festivals. Some events include refillable water stations (frankly, all of them should) and because of this, an insulated refillable water bottle will be your best friend. Buy here.
Koozie
Canned beer and soda are popular at food festivals, so a koozie or a similar insulator will help keep your drinks chilled for hours. Buy here.
Sunglasses
Much like our suggestion for a hat, sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun and (maybe) make you look cooler than you actually are. Buy here.
We’ve noticed the use of trays at BBQ festivals to make carrying multiple dishes much easier.
Tray
While it may not fit in your backpack or bag, we’ve begun to notice the use of trays more frequently at BBQ and food festivals. Having one ensures you can stop by several tents or stations to get dishes or drinks before finding a place to sit down. Buy here.
Portable Battery
If you’re attending a food festival, you may be there the whole day. As such, a portable battery will help keep your phone charged and you connected. Buy here.
Hand Wipes
Barbecue is often messy, so if you’re at an event with lots of ‘cue, hand wipes will come in handy. Keeping your hands and face clean is a lot easier if you use a few wipes throughout. Buy here.
Antacid
Last but certainly not least, I always carry a package of Tums Smoothies with me at events because you never know if something might not agree with your stomach when you’re trying so many items. If you bring extra antacid, your friends will appreciate it too. Buy here.
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On a final note, be sure to check what you can and can’t bring into events. Some larger events don’t allow backpacks, professional cameras, and other gear, so look over guidelines and rules before you travel to a venue.
Did we miss any essentials that you can’t live without at barbecue events? Let us know.
Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
Oakland pop-up king Matt Horn will soon be opening a brick-and-mortar location. (Photo via Horn Barbecue)
Food & Wine’s Andy Wang recently visited with Oakland pitmaster Matt Horn, who will soon be opening a brick-and-mortar location. Horn is honoring the legacy of the black pitmasters who came before him, saying, “This is about preserving a legacy. It’s paying respect to those who paved the way for me.”
Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly revisited Kerlin BBQ in Austin and rediscovered their barbecue kolaches (or are they klobasnekis?), writing, “It’s hard to pick a favorite kolache, but the brisket and cheddar ‘Kerlache’ is the most popular variety.”
Memphis restaurateur and television personality Pat Neely has moved to Atlanta, and he is now promoting a homestyle restaurant chain called "This Is It! Southern Kitchen & BBQ."
Our friends at the Barbecue Bros recently profiled pitmaster Spencer Purcell of Hubba Hubba Smokehouse in Flat Rock, North Carolina.
The Houston Chronicle’s J.C. Reid writes that craft barbecue is beginning to dip its toes into breakfast, with breakfast barbecue tacos showing up on more menus around Texas.
Ben and Sarah Lambert, who opened JNL Barbecue trailer at Buzz Mill Shady in Austin, were recently interviewed by the Austin Chronicle about new and old barbecue traditions and what it’s like opening a new barbecue joint.
Brenda and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue will begin construction on a brick-and-mortar location in San Juan Capistrano, California in the near future, with plans for a grand opening around late February of 2020, according to Kevin’s BBQ Joints.
Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston recently sat down for a conversation with Truth Barbeque’s Leonard Botello IV. They discussed the upcoming No Kid Hungry charity dinner, the evolution of Truth Barbeque, and plans for the future.
While Peoria, Illinois may not be the biggest barbecue town, the Journal Star recently raved about local joint Dac’s Smokehouse. It offers both traditional items like ribs and non-traditional dishes like egg rolls with pulled pork and Carolina-style coleslaw.
Last weekend, the 7th Annual Texas Kosher BBQ Championship was held in San Antonio, which attracted thousands of kosher and non-kosher fans alike. The event is the largest of its kind in Texas.
Swig & Swine owner and pitmaster Anthony DiBernardo was profiled recently by the Charleston City Paper about his time served in the Navy, where he had to prepare meals aboard a submarine that was submerged for months at a time. Aboard the USS Batfish, DiBernardo operated out of an 8-foot-by-8-foot kitchen and served four meals a day to 130 men.
This past weekend, New Jersey’s Red White and Que Smokehouse celebrated Veterans Day by offering free meals to vets. Owner and pitmaster Dan Misuraca is a veteran himself and he also does what he can to help veterans year round.
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Sam Zien, aka Sam the Cooking Guy, stopped by The BBQ Central Show to talk steak, Popeyes madness, and more.
Watch: Sam the Cooking Guy - The BBQ Central Show
Host of The BBQ Central Show Greg Rempe is joined by regular guest Sam the Cooking Guy. They cover topics such as steak, Santa maria grills, Salt Bae costumes, being besties with the King and Queen of Jordan, how Sam sets up videos to shoot, and more. Sam even signs up for The Smoke Sheet on air! Watch here.
Listen: Blake Stoker of Blake’s BBQ - Cost of Goods Told
Blake Stoker, owner and pit master of Blake's BBQ in Martin, Tennessee, joins hosts Conor and Darren to talk about how he turned a passion into a successful business. The three talk about Stoker’s journey and how he has won over locals with his Texas-inspired barbecue. Now Stoker is looking forward to the future with a brick and mortar location in the works in a historic mill. Listen to the episode here.
Read: Playing with Fire: BBQ and More from the Grill, Smoker, and Fireplace - by Michael Symon
Chef and restaurateur Michael Symon returns to a favorite subject, meat, with his first cookbook focused on barbecue and live-fire grilling. The 72 finger-licking, lip-smacking recipes here draw inspiration from his favorites, including dry ribs from Memphis, wet ribs from Nashville, brisket from Texas, pork steak from St. Louis, and burnt ends from Kansas City, as well as the unique and now signature Cleveland-style barbecue he developed to showcase the flavors of his hometown. Buy it here.
The No Kid Hungry Dinner takes place this evening at Truth Barbeque in Houston. (Photo by Ben Sassani)
November 13: No Kid Hungry Dinner — Houston, Texas
Some of Houston’s top pitmasters will soon get together for the No Kid Hungry Dinner at Truth BBQ. Leonard Botello IV, pitmaster and owner of Truth BBQ, will host the multi-course dinner and will be joined by Bobby Matos (State of Grace, La Lucha), Erin Smith and Patrick Feges (Feges BBQ), Nick Wong (UB Preserv), and Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar). Vanessa Dworakowski of La Lucha will mix cocktails. The dinner benefits No Kid Hungry, which works to end childhood hunger across the country. More info here.
November 17: 3rd Annual HOU-ATX BBQ Throwdown — Houston, Texas
The Houston Barbecue Festival and Saint Arnold Brewing Company announce the 3rd Annual HOU-ATX BBQ Throwdown featuring top barbecue restaurants from Houston and Austin competing to determine who reigns supreme when it comes to Texas barbecue. Ticket holders will sample each of the barbecue competition entries as well as enjoy Saint Arnold beer.
More info here.
November 23: GrillsGiving — San Antonio, Texas
GrillsGiving is a community-wide barbeque cook-off, music festival and fundraiser. BBQ teams and guests enjoy a festival-like atmosphere, kids’ activities and entertainment along the banks of the Mission Reach. More info here.
December 6-8: North Texas Fair & Rodeo BBQ Cookoff - Denton, Texas
The 3rd Annual North Texas Fair & Rodeo BBQ Cookoff, benefiting the North Texas Fair Association Scholarship and the Robert Bell Memorial Scholarship, will include an SCA Steak Cookoff, High School "HSBBQ" Cookoff, IBCA Barbecue Cookoff, CASI Chili Cookoff, games, and much more. More info here.
December 27-28: Arizona National BBQ Stampede — Phoenix, Arizona
The Arizona National BBQ Stampede is a special event brought to you by the Arizona National Livestock Show in collaboration with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). Teams will be able to enter the competition to earn points at the first event of the KCBS competition season. More info here.
January 1: Fired Up Florida Kosher BBQ Battle — Boca Raton, Florida
The Jay Feder Jewelers Fired Up Kosher BBQ Battle and Festival will be held at the South County Regional Park in Boca Raton, Florida from 1 to 5 p.m. The event will include a barbecue competition, food for sale, and family activities. Proceeds will help support Hadar High School for Girls. More info here.
See the full Smoke Sheet events calendar online here.
You will want to try this recipe for Grilled Lobster Tail by GQue BBQ.
Grilled Lobster Tail by GQue BBQ
For this week’s Recipe of the Week, we chose this recipe from our friend and fellow Mizzou alum (go Tigers!) Jason Ganahl of GQue BBQ. In this video, Jason teaches you how to make lobster tails on the grill so that you don't overcook them. He also shows you how to prepare a delicious garlic butter glaze that will set them off and make for a perfect pairing for your steak. View the recipe here.
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