How the First Party in the Pit Event Celebrated Kansas City BBQ
Inaugural Party in the Pit Event Celebrates Kansas City BBQ
BBQ aficionados, food lovers, media members, and a group of talented pitmasters and chefs gathered to celebrate Kansas City barbecue last week. The inaugural Party in the Pit took place on a beautiful October evening at Fox and Pearl in downtown Kansas City. The event was organized by Terra Whipple, (aka BBQ Handler and co-owner of Chef J BBQ in Kansas City’s historic West Bottoms neighborhood) and The Smoke Sheet’s very own Ryan Cooper (aka BBQ Tourist).
The inaugural Party in the Pit brought together folks from the barbecue community to celebrate Kansas City barbecue. (Photo by Pilsen Photo Co-op)
The exclusive event was the brainchild of Whipple after attending Cure Camp, an educational workshop presented by Creekstone Farms that included several local pitmasters from the area. Whipple envisioned an opportunity to bring together a group of pitmasters from Kansas City to showcase what makes their barbecue so special. After talking with pitmasters and operators from 18 different Kansas City restaurants, the idea for Party in the Pit was born.
Initially, the idea was to highlight several new craft barbecue operations, such as Wolfepack BBQ and Night Goat Barbecue, which have sprouted in Kansas City during the past few years. However, classic staples of the Kansas City barbecue community became interested in supporting the event, including Jack Stack Barbecue and Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. Whipple saw the opportunity to highlight the diversity of Kansas City’s scene. Soon the event took shape with the help of sponsors such as Raikes Beef Co., Bull Creek Distillery, and many more, who each donated their products and services towards the effort.
Terra Whipple of Chef J BBQ envisioned Party in the Pit as an opportunity to showcase Kansas City’s talented pitmasters. (Photo by Tarik Sykes)
Whipple envisioned holding an event that would allow pitmasters and their crew to get together to hang out with one another. Rather than picking a busy weekend, she chose to hold Party in the Pit on Tuesday, which is industry night for members of the food service community. The gathering was an invitation-only celebration rather than a ticketed public event, with members of the barbecue community, media members, sports figures, and influencers in attendance.
Chef J BBQ’s Justin Easterwood cooked sausages over an open flame at Fox and Pearl. (Photo by Wai Chan)
On Monday evening, pitmasters and their friends gathered to cook together, swap stories, and watch the Kansas City Chiefs playing Monday Night Football. Mike Sullivan of Creekstone Farms and Adam White of Fox and Pearl cooked porchetta, a small suckling pig stuffed with pork belly and herbs. Chef J BBQ’s Justin Easterwood cooked wagyu beef and mangalitsa pork sausage over an open fire. Wolfepack BBQ’s Jared Wolfe cooked reverse-seared steaks.
Chef Pam Liberda of Buck Tui BBQ had the opportunity to sample dessert from Smoak Craft BBQ at the event. (Photo by Tarik Sykes)
Things heated up on Tuesday as everyone gathered for the main event, with the Chiefs’ DJ Ray and Icon Event Group providing music and entertainment. Meat Mitch Barbecue was perhaps the first on the scene, smoking meats on site. Smoak Craft BBQ served a delicious pork belly bite with peach and hatch chili jam on polenta which was one of my favorite bites of the night. The operation also served a delicious smoked bread pudding with bloc caramel sauce from Maps Coffee & Chocolate.
Party in the Pit guests had the opportunity to sample Raikes Beef wagyu burnt ends from Jazzy B’s Kitchen. (Photo by Wai Chan)
Brandon Simpson of Jazzy B’s Kitchen, friend of The Smoke Sheet and owner of one of the most underrated spots in Kansas City barbecue, served Jamaican jerk ribs with Strawberry Ginger BBQ sauce and burnt ends. Scott’s Kitchen and Catering made mouth-watering wagyu pastrami with a Russian dressing slaw to make a deconstructed reuben. One of our favorite new spots, Buck Tui BBQ, served their Thai-infused BBQ sausages with many guests raving about their delicious Asian sauces.
Chef Vaughn Good of Fox and Pearl and Night Goat Barbecue served pastrami beef ribs. (Photo by Phon Wills)
World Champion pitmaster Todd Johns, who recently closed his Plowboys Barbeque restaurants to retire from the restaurant industry, cooked wagyu chuck roll alongside Chef Tom from All Things BBQ. Andy Groneman of Smoke On Wheels cooked ‘pork wings’ on the impressive new Creekstone Farms food truck.
Chef Vaughn Good of Fox and Pearl and Night Goat Barbecue began brining his beef ribs from Raikes Beef more than a week before the event to make eye-catching pastrami beef ribs. On top of the hill overlooking the event, Bull Creek Distillery served their award-winning spirits next to Creekstone’s whole hog pit and the station for the new Asian-inspired sauces from Sarinade.
A portrait of Henry Perry from Philip Bergantine was presented to Perry’s granddaughter Bernetta McKindra. (Photo by Chandler Johnson/Kalimizzou)
Local artist Philip Bergantine created a portrait of Henry Perry, the King of Kansas City Barbecue, live on site at the event. In what was perhaps the most special moment of the evening, the finished portrait was presented on stage to Perry’s granddaughter Bernetta McKindra. Pitmaster Todd Johns was also honored with a portrait from Bergantine, which was signed by each of the pitmasters who participated in the event.
While Party in the Pit took a lot of hard work, particularly for Whipple, everyone came together to pitch in for the community and support what we are doing. As soon as we stepped off the stage that evening, we were asked when the next event would be. We would love nothing more than to make this the first of many events, and we welcome your ideas on where we could take this in the future.
I left Party in the Pit on cloud nine, honored to have been able to play even a small part in such a gathering with the barbecue community. It was an amazing experience and a wonderful opportunity to see old friends from the barbecue community and make even more new friends. Most of all, I was incredibly hopeful about the future of Kansas City barbecue. The best is yet to come.
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Check out more photos from the event from Zach Bauman of The Pitch. Stay tuned for a future story on what it was like to help organize a BBQ event for the first time. If you would like to share your ideas on future Party in the Pit events, please get in touch.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
—The Heavy Smoke BBQ team from St. Peters, Missouri, won The Jack this past weekend. (Photo by Ed Reilly)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Chris Schafer and his team Heavy Smoke BBQ won Grand Champion at the 33rd annual Jack Daniels World Invitational Barbecue Championship this past weekend. The Heavy Smoke BBQ team is based in St. Peters, Missouri (just outside St. Louis) and has operated a brick-and-mortar restaurant of the same name since 2020.
Chris said he got bitten by the barbecue bug in 2011 when his friend invited him to cook chicken at a local event. Chris ventured out on his own in 2014 and cooked an entire competition by himself and won Reserve Grand Champion. In 2017, Chris’ dad Eddie joined Heavy Smoke BBQ, and they now have a winning streak that would be the envy of any team, including winning the 2019 KCBS Invitational World Championship and 2021 KCBS Invitational Open World Championship.
Thanks to The Smoke Sheet contributor Ed Reilly for reporting on the ground at the event. READ MORE ABOUT THE WIN HERE.
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BBQ blogger and friend of The Smoke Sheet John Tanner has updated his list of the best places to eat near I-95 between Washington, D.C. and Miami. His list showcases essential non-chain and locally owned spots to grab a bite at in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Highlights from the list include ZZQ Texas Craft Barbecue in VA, Stephenson’s Bar-B-Q in NC, Schuler’s Bar-B-Que in SC, and Southern Soul Barbecue in GA. READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Charleston City Paper spoke with 6 noted pitmasters, including Rodney Scott and John Lewis, about their tips for great barbecue.
Mashed outlines some of the best BBQ joints to eat ribs at in Texas.
Restaurant SmartBrief writes that the next big thing in BBQ is “throwing out the rule book.”
Popular New York-based BBQ chain Mighty Quinn’s is opening its first Florida location in Tampa this month.
Spectrum News profiled Chad Phuong, the pitmaster behind Battambang pop-up in Long Beach, California, that blends Cambodian flavors with American BBQ.
Dani Goldblatt writes about her experience going from Hebrew school teacher to shaking up the kosher BBQ scene.
—The inaugural Party in the Pit event was organized by Terra Whipple and Ryan Cooper to celebrate Kansas City BBQ. (Photo by Zach Bauman)—
WATCH
Kansas City’s Best Pitmasters Gather for Party in the Pit — Beef Cheeks Media
Jordan Turner captured this video of the inaugural Party in the Pit, which brought together the BBQ community in a celebration of Kansas City BBQ. The exclusive event highlighted barbecue from 18 of the city’s top pitmasters, who shared a variety of delicious dishes with attendees, while Bull Creek Distillery served their award-winning spirits. That evening, local artist Philip Bergantine created a portrait of Henry Perry, the father of Kansas City BBQ, which was presented to Perry’s granddaughter Bernetta McKindra. The event was organized by Terra Whipple of Chef J BBQ and The Smoke Sheet’s Ryan Cooper. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Henry Perry, Kansas City’s Barbecue King — Gravy
In this episode of Gravy from the Southern Foodways Alliance, producer Mackenzie Martin tells the story of Henry Perry, the first person to really make a living selling barbecue in Kansas City. Over his long career, Perry’s business savvy led him to own multiple restaurants. When Perry died in 1940, his three notable apprentices went on to cook for the two most historically famous barbecue restaurants in Kansas City: Arthur Pinkard at the first Gates BBQ, and Texas brothers Arthur and Charlie Bryant, who created Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Seriously Good Chili Cookbook: 177 of the Best Recipes in the World — Brian Baumgartner
Brian's first-ever cookbook is all about his favorite food both on-screen and off, and he has scoured the United States and beyond to find the best, most savory recipes. Featuring 177 chili recipes hand-picked by Brian Baumgartner and stamped with his "seriously good" approval rating, the Seriously Good Chili Cookbook contains new and inventive ways to spice up chili for all occasions, all year long. ORDER HERE.
ese Smoked Bacon Pumpkin Seeds are the perfect fall snack. (Photo via Girls Can Grill)—
Smoked Bacon Pumpkin Seeds
By Girls Can Grill
Adding bacon makes everything better, especially these smoked bacon pumpkin seeds. They're sweet, crunchy, and salty — the perfect snack combo. Check out this recipe from Christie Vanover of Girls Can Grill.
Learn more about Southside Market Barbeque.
—Grill Girl Robyn Lindars is hosting an awesome Women's Grilling Clinic this weekend in Fort Myers.—
October 22, 2022: GrillGirl X GrillGrate Women’s Grilling Clinic — Fort Myers, Florida
Grill Girl Robyn Lindars is teaming up with GrillGrate to host a Women’s Grilling Clinic at the Robot Ranch in Fort Myers, Florida. The goal of the Women’s Grilling Clinic is to teach women the fundamentals of grilling in a relaxed “Girls Night Out” Atmosphere. This class is for any woman who wants to learn how to grill, learn different styles of grilling, and try new recipes to remake at home. In addition to Robyn, instructors include Erica Blaire Roby, Sunny Moody, Brooke Lewis, and Ron Dimpflmaier. MORE INFO HERE.
October 22, 2022: World Championship Hot Wing Contest and Festival — Memphis, Tennessee
The 2022 World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival (WCHWCF) will take place Saturday, October 22 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.) at Tiger Lane, on the grounds of the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, TN. This will mark the 20th year of the festival, previously known as the Southern Hotwing Festival. Whether you like your wings grilled, smoked or fried, with seasonings that range from sweet to savory to exotic, there’s sure to be something for everyone. The event will benefit The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis and will also include fun, family friendly activities such as the Kids Korner, the popular Corn Hole Tournament, and the Wing Eating Contest. MORE INFO HERE.
October 22, 2022: Lexington Barbecue Festival 2022 — Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina, is often called the “Barbecue Capital of the World.” Every year, the city holds the giant Lexington Barbecue Festival. The festival is held in October and routinely attracts more than 100,000 visitors who reach the festival to enjoy the tastes, the unique atmosphere and the diverse events of the festival. Go and prepare to feast! MORE INFO HERE.
November 5-6, 2022: Texas Monthly BBQ Fest — Lockhart, Texas
Texas Monthly is excited to bring TM BBQ Fest to the city of Lockhart, the BBQ Capital of Texas. On November 5-6, the historical downtown and Lockhart City Park will create the backdrop for an expanded weekend festival, designed to celebrate many aspects of Texas barbecue. Expect tons of the best bites in Texas barbecue at the event. MORE INFO HERE.
November 4-6, 2022: Q BBQ Fest — Dallas, Texas
The Q BBQ Fest is coming to Texas. Join in the fun at the Miller Lite House at AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) on November 4-6, 2022. Don’t miss this chance to grab an ice-cold brew and sample pure smoked bliss from award-winning pitmasters from across the country. MORE INFO HERE.
November 5-6, 2022: Texas Monthly BBQ Fest — Lockhart, Texas
Texas Monthly is excited to bring TM BBQ Fest to the city of Lockhart, the BBQ Capital of Texas. On November 5-6, the historical downtown and Lockhart City Park will create the backdrop for an expanded weekend festival, designed to celebrate many aspects of Texas barbecue. Expect tons of the best bites in Texas barbecue at the event. MORE INFO HERE.
November 11-12, 2022: Warriors BBQ Ribs Championship — Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii’s first ever KCBS-sanctioned BBQ competition will take place on Veterans Day Weekend with the debut event “Warrior BBQ Ribs Championship.” This contest will include 3-rounds of pork ribs at the beautiful beachside Kapiolani Regional Park on the island of Oahu. The cake is $10,000 in prize monies, and the event theme (“Honors-to-Others”) will not only seek to celebrate Hawaii’s diverse backyard barbecue scene but also bring special honors to veterans, active military, and first responders. MORE INFO HERE.
November 11-12, 2022: Bourbon & Barbeque Louisville — Louisville, Kentucky
Bourbon and barbecue aficionados will want to stop by this new festival in Louisville. The event will feature pitmasters from around the country and tons of bourbon samples. 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.
November 18-20, 2022: Jacksonville BBQ Fest — Jacksonville, Florida
During the past few years, Florida has become an even bigger attraction for barbecue restaurants and events. The Jacksonville BBQ Fest, held at TIAA Bank Field (where the Jaguars play), is one event that brings barbecue fans together to get a taste of great local and national barbecue bites. On top of the top-notch food, there’s also live music and great drinks to enjoy. To get a taste of this event, be sure to read Ed Reilly’s recap of the Denver BBQ Festival, which is hosted by the same organizers. MORE INFO HERE.
November 19, 2022: Holy Smokes BBQ Festival — Charleston, South Carolina
Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan of Home Team BBQ, Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine, and Robert Moss, the Contributing BBQ Editor for Southern Living, have invited the leaders of the barbecue community from around the country to come together in Charleston on November 19th, 2022 at Riverfront Park. With live music playing on stage against the backdrop of the Cooper River, guests will have a unique opportunity to sample a range of barbecue styles from the group of renowned pitmasters. Expect to taste slow-smoked whole hog, pork and beef ribs, Texas-style brisket, smoked sausage, BBQ tacos, and much, much more. MORE INFO HERE.
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