Why You Can’t Miss Brisket King 2023 at Pig Beach
The incredible brisket from Bark Barbecue will be back at this year's Brisket King NYC event. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
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Brisket lovers, get ready to have a cow. The annual Brisket King NYC event is back, and this year's competition promises to be bigger and better than ever. The event will take place on April 26, 2023, at Pig Beach BBQ in Queens and will feature some of the city's best pitmasters battling to see who can make the most mouthwatering brisket.
Brisket King 2023 moves from the Pig Beach location in Brooklyn last year to the larger Pig Beach location in Queens this year. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
This year's Brisket King NYC will be the 12th edition of the competition, which has established itself as one of the top BBQ events held annually in the NYC area. The all-inclusive event will allow attendees to try many brisket dishes and wash them down with beer, cider, and other adult beverages.
More than 20 pitmasters and chefs from around New York, New Jersey, and Texas will be competing, showcasing their masterful techniques for preparing brisket. The near-final list of pitmasters that will be participating this year includes:
Bret Lunsford, Blue Smoke, New York, NY
Robert Austin Cho, Kimchi Smoke, Westwood, NJ
Joe Musngi, SmoKing of Meats, Belleville, NJ
Ruben Santana, Bark Barbecue, Brooklyn, NY
Joey Machado, Texas Charcoal, Seguin, TX
Therdtus “Tony” Rittaprom, Zabb PuTawn, New York, NY
Sean Keever, Big Guns BBQ, Hudson Valley, NY
David Gill, Wildwoods BBQ, North Wildwood, NJ
Cenobio Canalizo, Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue, Brooklyn, NY
Eli Goldman, Tikkun BBQ, Queens, NY
Mario Chape, Big Papa Smoke’m, NJ
Darlene Lawrence, Sands Jerk Hut, Brooklyn, NY
Jeff Schmidt, Hindsight BBQ, Waterbury, CT
Leland Avellino, Avellino Family BBQ, Norwalk, CT
Jase Franklyn, Jase’s BBQ, Queens, NY
Eric Vitale, Eazy's Craft BBQ, Kenilworth, NJ
Attendees will have the opportunity to taste various brisket styles, from traditional Texas style to Korean-inspired and everything in between. Notably, New Jersey-based SmoKing of Meats pitmaster Joe Musngi, who won Brisket King NYC 2022, will be back to defend his title.
In addition to the competition, there will be plenty of drinks on hand. Beer tastings will be provided by Highpoint Brewing Company, Montclair Brewery, and Harlem Brewing Company, while cider tastings will be offered by Romilly Cidre, Aval Artisanal Cider, and Brooklyn Cider House. Also, be on the lookout for bourbon, whiskey, and vodka tastings.
Brimstone will again be one of the notable judges at this year's Brisket King.
Judges this year will include Brimstone, Larger Than Life!; Andrew Rigie, NYC Hospitality Alliance; Peter J. Kim, Founding Director of the Museum of Food and Drink; Kim Plafke, The Meat Hook; Clay Risen, New York Times Editor; Andrea Strong, The Strong Buzz; Misty Banchero, Seattle Butcher's Wife; Nick Solares, Meat Life Media; Gennaro Peccia, Sirius XM Radio; Adam Poch, Sirius XM Radio; Ethan Fedida, Campfire Group; and Ashley Moore, Cooks Country.
The competition is not just about bragging rights, either. This year's Brisket King NYC event also will fundraise and raise awareness for community partner Friends of Firefighters. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket will also go to the Jeff Michner Foundation. So not only will attendees get to enjoy some of the best brisket in the NYC area, but they'll also be supporting two good causes.
Succulent slices of brisket will be handed out at Brisket King. This was the winning brisket from last year's competition from NJ-based SmoKing of Meats. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
If you're a fan of good barbecue or just love brisket, this is an event you won't want to miss. With so many talented pitmasters competing, there's sure to be something for everyone. Be sure to grab your tickets early (early bird sales end on March 30). I hope to see you all there!
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
EAT ALL ABOUT IT (NEWS)
Boots & Bones, a buzzy BBQ joint in Jersey City, has just opened across the street from the Grove Street PATH station. (Photo by HDSID)
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:
Boots & Bones, an exciting new barbecue joint in Jersey City, has just opened and Eater’s Robert Sietsema has a lot of praise for it. He especially liked the beef ribs and pulled pork. Boots and Bones’ chef and pitmaster is Kenny Callaghan, the original pitmaster of Blue Smoke from 2001 to 2013, so the joint already has pedigree in my book. (I also can’t wait to check it out soon.) READ HERE.
This summer, the annual Rock, Ribs & Ridges Festival will kick off concert season with a lot of barbecue and a Southern Rock celebration. The event returns to the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, N.J., on June 23-25. READ HERE.
Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue, which first got its start at Williamsburg’s famed Smorgasburg food market, has made its big return to the neighborhood where it started, reports Greenpointers. The location opened earlier this month. READ HERE.
The very good NJ restaurant Boss Hog Barbecue has been profiled by Only In Your State. I can confirm the restaurant, located in South Plainfield, NJ, is easy to miss but well worth stopping in. READ HERE.
Earlier this month, Jamie McDonald, the owner of Bear's Smokehouse BBQ in Hartford, cooked meals and handed out groceries with the World Central Kitchen team in Turkey following the devastating earthquake there. WATCH HERE.
IRL BBQ EVENTS
You don't want to miss out on all the creative brisket dishes at Brisket King NYC this spring. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:
Wednesday, April 26, 2023: The 12th Edition of Brisket King NYC will be held outdoors at the huge Pig Beach BBQ location in Queens this April. The event will feature brisket dishes from upcoming barbecue pitmasters and chefs. Historically, Brisket King has featured pitmasters before they were household names, so you’re also getting a look at the future of the barbecue scene. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Saturday, April 29, 2023: Jeff Michner was the Executive Chef of Pig Beach BBQ in Brooklyn. He tragically and suddenly passed away in the spring of 2018 at the age of 36. The annual Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit will celebrate Chef Jeff with an epic barbecue at the Pig Beach NYC location in Queens with some of the country’s greatest pitmasters. This year's edition will be hosted by celebrity chef and pitmaster Michael Symon. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Saturday, May 13, 2023: The Texas Exes (the University of Texas alumni) is bringing back its famous Texas Exes Chili Cookoff to New York City soon. The group had a stellar turnout in 2022 after a two-year-long hiatus. But for 2023, the group is going to be BIGGER, LOUDER, and TASTIER than last year. The big Chili Cookoff will be taking place at Pig Beach in Queens. Sean Ludwig of NYC BBQ will be one of the judges, so competitors better bring their most creative chili! BUY TICKETS HERE.
Saturday, May 27, 2023: The Rib King NYC 2023 event, which will be held for the first time at Industry City in Brooklyn, will be the ultimate Memorial Day barbecue. Not only will attendees get to go hog wild for ribs, but it will also feature awesome live music from Little Feat guitarist Scott Sharrard’s El Dorado Slim playing two sets of jammed-out funk and blues mash-ups. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Saturday, September 29, 2023: Back for its 14th year, Pig Island NYC is returning to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens on Staten Island for its third year in a row. More than 20 chefs will come together for this pork-laden festival and compete for the most delicious porcine dishes. There will also be craft beer, hard cider, spirits, and other food offerings – all included with a GA ticket! BUY TICKETS HERE.
Please get in touch if you would like your food event listed here!
SAY HELLO
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