Barbecue is a style of cooking in which meat is cooked slowly over indirect heat, usually a wood-fired or charcoal grill. It originated in the United States and is now popular around the world. Throughout the US, there are a variety of regional styles of barbecue which differ in methods of cooking, types of wood and type of sauce used. From Memphis to Atlanta, there are a variety of BBQ festivals and competitions that celebrate this beloved style of cooking.
BBQ Festivals
Kansas City
Kansas City is known as the “Barbecue Capital of the World” and is home to some of the best BBQ festivals in the country. The American Royal is the world’s largest BBQ competition, drawing thousands of competitors and spectators every year. The KC BBQ Classic is another popular event, featuring over 30 restaurants competing for the title of best BBQ in the city.
Memphis
Memphis is home to some of the best BBQ in the country and is known for its dry-rub style of cooking. The Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest is the largest pork barbecue competition in the world, drawing hundreds of teams from around the globe. The Memphis BBQ Network is a local organization dedicated to promoting the art of BBQ in the city.
Houston
Houston is known for its Tex-Mex and Cajun-inspired BBQ. The Houston BBQ Throwdown is an annual event featuring some of the best BBQ restaurants in the city. The Houston Barbecue Festival brings together pitmasters from around the country to showcase their style of BBQ.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a growing center of barbecue, with many restaurants featuring a variety of styles. The BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival is an annual event held in the city, featuring some of the best BBQ restaurants in the area. The Atlanta BBQ Festival is another popular event, highlighting the unique style of BBQ found in the city.
Austin
Austin is home to a variety of different styles of BBQ, including Tex-Mex and Central Texas barbecue. The Austin Reggae Fest is an annual event that showcases some of the best BBQ restaurants in the city. The Texas BBQ Festival is another popular event, featuring some of the best BBQ chefs in the state.
Other Cities
In Charlotte, the Q City BBQ Championship is an annual event featuring some of the best BBQ restaurants in the region. The Big Apple BBQ Block Party is held in New York City each year and brings together pitmasters from around the country. The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is held in Nashville and celebrates the city’s unique style of Nashville Hot Chicken. The Midwest Fire Fest is an annual event held in St. Louis, celebrating the city’s unique style of barbecue. The BBQ on the Banks competition is held in the city each year and showcases some of the best BBQ restaurants in the area.
BBQ Competitions
Best of the Best
The Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue is one of the most prestigious BBQ competitions in the world, drawing teams from around the globe. The American Royal World Series of Barbecue is another popular event, featuring some of the best teams in the country.
Regional Competitions
The Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest is the largest pork barbecue competition in the world. The Great American Barbecue Contest is held in Kansas City each year and draws teams from around the country. The World Food Championships is an annual event held in Las Vegas, featuring some of the best BBQ teams in the world. The Golden Grill is a regional competition in Texas, showcasing some of the best BBQ restaurants in the state.
Conclusion
Attending a BBQ festival or competition is a great way to experience the unique styles of barbecue from around the country. From Memphis-style dry-rub to Kansas City-style sauce, there’s something for everyone. To prepare for a competition, it’s important to practice your recipes and create a timeline for cooking your meat. Some crowd-pleasing recipes include smoked brisket, pulled pork and ribs. With a bit of preparation and practice, you can create some of the best BBQ in the country.
References:
American Royal. “Welcome to the American Royal.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.americanroyal.com/
KCBS. “KC BBQ Classic.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.kcbbqclassic.com/
Memphis in May. “World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://memphisinmay.org/world-championship-bbq-cooking-contest/
Houston BBQ Throwdown. “About the Houston BBQ Throwdown.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.houstonbbqthrowdown.com/about
Houston Barbecue Festival. “Houston Barbecue Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.houstonbarbecuefestival.com/
BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival. “About the Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.bbqbrewsandblues.com/about-the-festival
Atlanta BBQ Festival. “Atlanta BBQ Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.atlbbqfestival.com/
Austin Reggae Fest. “About the Fest.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.austinreggaefest.com/about-the-fest
Texas BBQ Festival. “Texas BBQ Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. http://www.texasbbqfestival.com/
Q City BBQ Championship. “Q City BBQ Championship.” Accessed May 11, 2021. http://qcitybbq.com/
Big Apple BBQ Block Party. “About the Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.bigapplebbq.org/
Music City Hot Chicken Festival. “About the Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.hotchickenfest.com/about-the-festival
Nashville BBQ Festival. “About the Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. http://www.nashvillesbbqfest.com/about-the-festival/
Midwest Fire Fest. “About the Festival.” Accessed May 11, 2021. https://www.midwestfirefest.com/about
BBQ on the Banks. “BBQ on the Banks.” Accessed May 11, 2021. http://bbqonthebanks.com/
