The Most Star-Studded NYC BBQ Event Is Back in April 2022
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In April 2019, the first iteration of the Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit took place at Pig Beach in Brooklyn. The massive event celebrated the life of chef Jeff Michner, who passed away suddenly in 2018. It was a party for the ages and raised money for charity in Jeff’s good name.
After many pandemic-related delays and cancellations, the second edition of the Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit will return on Saturday, April 30, at Pig Beach’s new Queens location. The event will feature just as many all-star pitmasters cooking up incredible barbecue dishes as last time, along with plenty of beer, cocktails, snacks, and raffles. (BUY TICKETS HERE.)
The Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit, first held in 2019, returns with a huge lineup of pitmasters and chefs from around the country. (Photo by Eric Vitale)
For a little more background, Jeff Michner was the pitmaster and executive chef at Pig Beach in Brooklyn. He unexpectedly passed away following a sudden brain bleed in May 2018. At the age of 36, his death was tragic, and he left behind his wife Sara and 16-month-old daughter Hayes. He also left behind his Pig Beach family, where he was instrumental in putting the joint's barbecue on the map.
The 2022 Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit will be held at the enormous new Pig Beach BBQ location in Queens. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Thus, the first Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit was created with a big goal in mind — to raise money for the Jeff Michner Foundation, which creates scholarships for culinary students, supporting families managing loss and grief. To help raise money for the cause, legendary pitmasters from all over the U.S. show up in support.
As someone who’s been following the barbecue scene in the New York metro area, no event since the defunct Big Apple Barbecue Block Party has brought so much national talent together. Pitmasters from North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, and more will all be there, serving up standards like brisket, ribs, wings, as well as dishes that push the boundaries of barbecue.
The full list of pitmasters and restaurants participating in the event is as follows:
Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Billy Durney, Hometown BBQ
Chris Lilly, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
Sam Jones, Sam Jones BBQ
Tuffy Stone, Cool Smoke BBQ
Amy Mills, 17th Street BBQ
Carey Bringle, Peg Leg Porker
Pat Martin, Martin’s BBQ
Brad Orrison, The Shed Blues & BBQ
Craig Verhage and Leslie Roark, Ubons BBQ
Grant Pinkerton, Pinkerton’s Barbecue
John Wheeler, Memphis BBQ Co.
Tank Jackson, Holy City Hogs
Ed Randolph, Handsome Devil BBQ
Matt Abdoo, Shane McBride, and Matty Boudreau, Pig Beach
Mike Puma, Gotham Burger Social Club
Sean Keever, Big Guns BBQ
Danny Beck, Pearl’s BBQ
Harrison Sapp, Southern Soul Barbeque
Kelly Dallas, Hogapalooza
Phil Wingo, Pork Mafia
Joey Machado, Blues Hog BBQ
Damon Wise & Lauren Hirshberg, Pineapple Express Barbecue
Emily Hersh & Kerry Fitzmaurice, Pure Grit BBQ
Craig Verhage (aka The BBQ Ninja) and Leslie Roark Scott of Ubons BBQ will be back, and maybe they’ll bring back these amazing wings. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
There are two types of tickets you can buy now for the event. First, there are VIP tickets that run for $200 and let you in the door at 11 a.m., with a special meet and greet with pitmasters, cocktails, appetizers, and day-long access to the VIP lounge. Second, there are $100 tickets that give you access to all food and drink between 12 and 4 p.m. If any tickets are left before it sells out, day-of tickets will cost $125. Additionally, children under 12 are free so that you can bring the whole family.
Pitmasters Chris Lilly and Tank Jackson will be back for this year’s Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit, along with other all-stars. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
I hope to see you all at this exciting BBQ event on April 30. If you want to see other significant BBQ events happening in 2022, be sure to check out the NYC BBQ calendar for local events and/or The Smoke Sheet events calendar for national events.
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
The smash burger operation inside the new Bronx Brewery location in the East Village is sure to be a hit. (Photo via Bastard Burgers)
EAT ALL ABOUT IT
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:
Last week, the Bronx Brewery opened its second location – this time in the East Village. While some folks will go for the beer, I might be more excited about the outpost’s new smash burger operation. The burgers are from Bastard Burgers, “a burger chain with more than 50 locations in Sweden that’s been making the thin, griddled patties since 2016.” READ HERE.
After a temporary closure, fried chicken king Charles Gabriel is finally back with a new location of his operation Charles Pan-Fried Chicken. This new location is his nicest one yet and it's located on the Upper West Side. On top of the amazing chicken, he also serves up BBQ ribs and sides like mac and cheese. READ HERE.
Pitmasters from around the country (including Ash Fulk from NYC’s Hill Country Barbecue Market) spoke with VinePair about the best bourbons to pair with barbecue. (You can read my personal picks here too.) READ HERE.
While not a huge fan of Barstool Sports, I do appreciate their irreverent and often hilarious takes on food reporting. In a recent dispatch, “Large” met up with friends at Hoodoo Brown BBQ in Ridgefield, CT. The profane (and funny) review heaped a ton of praise on the joint. READ HERE.
NJ food expert Pete Genovese shared his picks for the 50 best places to get wings in New Jersey, just in time for the Super Bowl. READ HERE.
Waterbury, CT-based Hindsight BBQ (which won second place at Rib King NYC in 2021) was profiled recently by WFSB. They highlighted the brisket, ribs, smoked sausage, and southern homestyle flavors on everything else. WATCH HERE.
The popular burger joint Marty’s became an instant hit when it opened in Fort Lee, NJ, back in September 2020. Now, it has officially made its way to the Jersey City Heights area with another location serving up tasty and creative burgers. READ HERE.
If you want your barbecue-related news featured in this section, please shoot me a note.
If you love brisket, you do not want to miss Brisket King NYC on April 20 at Pig Beach in Brooklyn.
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 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 Rodney Scott, Billy Durney, Chris Lilly, Sam Jones, Carey Bringle, Amy Mills, and more. Don’t miss this. 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.
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