RecipeMuncher

Last years BBQ Fest, by event organizer Drink:Eat:Play, was bitter sweet. Sweet because you got to try some finger licking good BBQ without getting on a plane and heading to Kansas City, but bitter because the lines and crowds were just out of control. I was hoping this year, they would forgo the $10 admission fee, plus $10 per plate of BBQ and charge one price for admission and food. But they are keeping the same format at this year’s BBQ Fest taking place on May 9th and 10th from 12 noon till 6pm.

They are adding additional pitmasters this time around to help alleviate on some of the lines, along with an additional drink tent. The longest line of last year was at LC’s Kansas City que, so this year they will have a second pit and additional students to help out there. This year’s fest will host 10 of the nation’s top pitmasters. Newcomers to this years event include Texas Thunder BBQ, Smack Your Lips BBQ, and 17th Street Bar & Grill. Award-winning cupcakes, pies, root beer floats, and other desserts also available. BBQ is $10, sides and desserts will be $4 each. More high end beers are on tap for this year along with some live music.

You can buy a VIP pass for $50 to bypass all the lines, but you still have to pay $10 per plate. The VIP pass includes admission for both days, a CozmoDeck, and festival t-shirt (and/or napkin). Discount tickets available via Goldstar for a limited time.

BBQ masters and dishes include:

• Bryan Bracewell, Southside Market & BBQ, Elgin, TX
  Beef Brisket & Sausage & Pickles & Onions
• Danny Fisher, Baby Blues BBQ, Venice, CA
  Memphis Ribs and Mac N’ Cheese
• Butch Lupinetti, Smack Your Lips BBQ, NJ
  Pulled Pork & Smoked Beans
• Joey Sutphen, Texas Thunder BBQ, TX
  Beef Brisket & Coleslaw
• Mike Mills, 17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro, IL & Memphis Championship Barbecue, Las Vegas, NV
  Baby Back Ribs & Beans
• Jonathan Burrows, Mr. Cecil’s BBQ, Los Angeles, CA
  Beef Ribs & cucumber/tomato salad
• LC Richardson, LC’s, Kansas City, MO
  Kansas City Spare Ribs & Baked Beans
• Melinda Race, Bristol Farms, Los Angeles, CA
  Chicken and Veggie Skewers