Prepare for Meat Sweats at Brisket King NYC 2022

Brisket King NYC will soon bring together amazing barbecue pitmasters from around the Tri-State area. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

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For true barbecue lovers, few meats can compete with juicy, smoked brisket. And these days, Texas-style smoked brisket has become the norm across the country, including in the New York City metro area. 

If you’re one of the many who love brisket and all the things you can do with it (sandwiches, tacos, etc.), you won’t want to miss the next edition of Brisket King NYC. This year’s version of the event will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at Pig Beach NYC in Brooklyn. Participants will be able to try a ton of brisket dishes, as well as get their fill of craft beer, hard cider, and spirits.

Buy tickets to Brisket King NYC 2022 here.

One of the long-time competitors at Brisket King is Kimchi Smoke of New Jersey, which has always brought incredible brisket dishes. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Brisket King NYC has long been one of the most important and influential barbecue events held in the NYC area each year. In fact, in a move that preceded just how big barbecue was about to become, some legends of the barbecue industry have taken part in the event.

In 2017, for example, barbecue titan Aaron Franklin and Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn both attended the event and helped judge it. Check out this video to see a fresh-faced (and humble) Franklin talking about brisket cooking tips, competitors, and much more at that edition of the event.

Restauranteur, author, and TV show host Aaron Franklin was a judge at Brisket King in 2017.

Brisket King NYC 2022 in April will bring together a mix of 15 established and up-and-coming barbecue talents from across the Tri-State area. The competitors will include:

One of the most exciting new competitors this year is the SmoKING of Meats from New Jersey. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Notably, this year’s Brisket King event falls during Passover. The event organizers have noted there will be “plenty of Passover-friendly dishes and drinks in the lineup of brisket and beverages you know and love.”

Like almost all Food Karma Projects-produced events, the incredible Friends of Firefighters charity will be the community partner for Brisket King. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket will go to the Jeff Michner Foundation, which is named after the Pig Beach NYC’s former pitmaster, who passed away tragically in 2018.

Another top Brisket King competitor will be Avellino Family Barbecue from Connecticut. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

If you plan to attend, it’s highly recommended to arrive early because some hot items will run out quickly. The best chance to try everything is to show up on time or ahead of schedule. There are also VIP tickets available that will get you in the door an hour early.

I hope to see you all at Brisket King NYC!

Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ

Bark Barbecue has steadily risen to be the hottest BBQ pop-up in NYC. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

EAT ALL ABOUT IT (NEWS)

Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:

  • Ruben Santana, owner and pitmaster of Texas-style BBQ pop-up Bark Barbecue, was profiled in a new video from Munchies. I’ve been watching Santana’s profile rise quickly since early 2021, so it’s nice to see him now getting national attention. Santana will also be at Brisket King, so that’s a good place to try his brisket if you haven’t already. WATCH HERE.

  • Pandemic restrictions, including vaccine mandates, have been lifted at the vast majority of NYC area restaurants as of March 7. Some restaurants, however, have kept vaccine checks in place. READ HERE.

  • Speaking of the end of pandemic restrictions, several BBQ joints were in the news regarding the announcement. 

    • Patrick Hayes, manager of Virgil’s Real BBQ in Midtown, told the NY Post that some of his workers felt less safe without the rule in place. “A few of my servers said they were concerned that we wouldn’t be asking for vax cards anymore. A few of them said they didn’t feel comfortable, and asked if we could keep asking for vax cards. They said they weren’t sure if they’d come in for the shift otherwise,” Hayes told The Post. READ HERE.

    • Ataur Rahman, the general manager of a Dallas BBQ location, estimated that business had been down as much as 30% since the vaccine requirement was introduced last August. “We did takeout and we had a patio for them, but still, you know, it's winter, so they want to sit inside.” Rahman said the end of the restriction was “the biggest help we need right now.” READ HERE.

  • Royal Rib House, a classic Bed-Stay BBQ joint that closed in January 2020, will soon reopen in mid-March at its new location at 256 Malcolm X Boulevard. “I’m really happy to be up and running again in the same neighborhood,” owner Jason Barnett said. “I’m humbled by the love and support from the community and the fact so many people have put me on.” READ HERE.

  • Smok-Haus, a popular barbecue restaurant on Long Island, was just named as one of the best restaurants in the 2022 Bethpage Best on Long Island awards. READ HERE. 

  • Pure Grit BBQ announced that it will be opening its highly-anticipated vegan BBQ restaurant in New York City this May. More details are coming soon. READ HERE. 

The Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit will be a star-studded BBQ event held in late April in Queens.

IRL BBQ EVENTS

Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:

  • March 8 - June 8, 2022: The Long Island Wing Hunt, a self-guided wing tour of the best chicken wings, is back this spring. You can buy a ticket and then go to many of the best LI wing spots and get free wings with your “wing pass” all season! BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • April 20, 2022: The 11th edition of Brisket King NYC will be held at Pig Beach in Gowanus, Brooklyn on Wednesday, April 20. This all-inclusive event will feature 15+ chefs and pitmasters cooking up the juiciest brisket you can find, plus craft beer, hard cider, and spirits. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • April 30, 2022: The 2nd Annual Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit will be held at the new Pig Beach location in Queens. It features a lineup of some of the best pitmasters in the country, including Billy Durney, Chris Lilly, Sam Jones, Carey Bringle, Amy Mills, Brad Orrison, and many more. Don’t miss this if you keep up with the national barbecue scene. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • May 21, 2022: Love wings and beer? Then this is the event for you! Held at the beautiful South Shore Craft Brewery, the NY Best Wings Fest will be a finger-licking tasting tour of the best restaurants on Long Island. On top of being able to sample lots of great wings, there will also be a hot-wing eating contest, live music, and giveaways. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • May 28, 2022: This Memorial Day weekend is going to have a forecast for delicious pork and beef at Rib King NYC 2022. The event will be held at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on Staten Island and is great for families and groups. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • If you would like your food event listed here, please get in touch.

  • CHECK OUT THE FULL EVENTS CALENDAR HERE

SAY HELLO

If you're not already subscribed to the newsletter, sign up here. You can also follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you want to write for NYC BBQ Weekly, sponsor the newsletter, or let me know about the best new barbecue you’ve tried, send me an email and let’s talk!

Sean Ludwig