The Best Bites from the 2021 NYCWFF Backyard BBQ

The 2021 NYCWFF Backyard BBQ attracted hundreds of barbecue lovers to the Intrepid Museum.

This past Sunday’s massive New York City Wine and Food Festival (NYCWFF) came to a close with the indulgent and exciting Backyard BBQ session. The Backyard BBQ featured many of the best pitmasters in the New York City metro area and one of the best in Texas, plus lots of drinks and decadent desserts, all hosted at the Intrepid Museum on the west side of Manhattan.

Perhaps more than anything else, the event was also a chance for members of the BBQ community to see each other and raise money for NYCWFF’s charity partners — the Food Bank for New York City and God’s Love We Deliver. Some of the biggest pitmasters serving up grub included Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que; Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ; Matt Abdoo and Shane McBride of Pig Beach NYC; Ed Randoph of Handsome Devil BBQ; and Robert Austin Cho of Kimchi Smoke.

Notably, about halfway through the event, a double rainbow appeared over the city, and then it started raining on all the attendees. At the end of the night, I (and everyone else) was stuffed to the brim with delicious beef ribs, whole hog, steak, duck legs, pulled pork, banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery, and ice cream from The Social. 

Check out the photos below to see some of the best bites from the event. These photos were graciously taken by Anthony Scerri of Brooklyn-based Smoke Sweats, who you should follow for his BBQ pop-ups and his photos.

Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que at the Backyard BBQ.

Hometown Bar-B-Que served up smoked pork tacos with salsa roja, crema, and cilantro.

Truth BBQ (just named as the No. 3 barbecue joint in Texas by Texas Monthly) served up incredible beef ribs with housemade pickles and onions.

The Truth BBQ beef ribs being cut up prior to serving the crowds.

Bark Barbecue owner Ruben Santana poses with Truth BBQ owner Leonard Botello IV.

The pastrami beef ribs from Handsome Devil BBQ were a huge hit.

The Handsome Devil BBQ crew cooked up whole hog for the crowds at the Backyard BBQ.

NYC BBQ founder Sean Ludwig poses with Ed Randolph and Noelle Randolph of Handsome Devil and Matt Abdoo of Pig Beach NYC.

The BBQ beef sandwich from Pig Beach included pickles, onions, BBQ sauce, & Gochujang ranch dressing.

A rainbow appeared over New York City during the NYCWFF Backyard BBQ.

Pitmaster Ash Fulk of Hill Country Barbecue Market was in attendance at the Backyard BBQ.

The Hill Country Barbecue team served up smoked duck wings with soy molasses sauce and topped with peanuts and scallions.

Holy Ground pitmaster and co-owner Franco V poses for a very Halloween-esque photo.

Holy Ground served up chopped brisket sliders with a side of charred broccoli salad.

Pat LaFrieda served up top-notch tomahawk steaks at the Backyard BBQ.

The SmoKING of Meats from NJ offered up excellent Filipino pork belly burnt ends.

Mario Chape of Big Papa Smoke’m served up amazing turkey and plantains.

Chef Andrew Zimmern had his own station where his team served up Pat LaFrieda beef dogs.

Robert Austin Cho of Kimchi Smoke offered up beautiful beef ribs at the Backyard BBQ.

Kimchi Smoke dressed up smoked beef rib with lettuce, habanero, and gochu glaze.

Galinha Portuguese BBQ from NYC served up chicken thighs with salsa verde and piri piri sauce.

Thank you to Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats for helping me take photos and for being hilarious.