There’s plenty of smokin’ good ’cue at annual BBQ block party in Madison Square Park (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Madison Square Park
23rd to 26th Sts. between Fifth & Madison Aves.
Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10, pay per plate, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Fast Pass: $125; Big Rig VIP Pass: $275
www.bigapplebbq.org
www.madisonsquarepark.org
The immensely popular and ridiculously crowded Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is upon us, as pitmasters from around the country gather in Madison Square Park and serve up some damn fine BBQ. The sixteenth annual event, being held June 9-10, features some old favorites as well as some up-and-comers: Ash Fulk of Hill Country of Pleasant Hill, California (Brisket Sandwich with House Pickle & Coleslaw), Bill Durney of Hometown Bar-b-que in Brooklyn (Chopped Brisket & Jalapeño Cheddar Link Sandwich with Queso and Tater Tots), Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que in Decatur, Alabama (World Championship Pulled Pork Sandwich with Spicy Mustard Coleslaw), Ed Mitchell & Ryan Mitchell of Ed Mitchell’s Que in Wilson, North Carolina (Eastern NC Whole Hog Sandwich with Slaw), New York City’s Erika Nakamura & Jocelyn Guest (Hot Dog with Kimchi & Mayo; Kielbasa with Mustard; Bratwurst with Kraut & Mustard), Garry Roark & Leslie Roark Scott of Ubon’s Barbeque in Yazoo City, Mississippi (Mississippi Chicken Wings with Bloody Mary Cucumber Salad), Jean-Paul Bourgeois of Blue Smoke in Manhattan (Fried Smoked Chicken with Tabasco Honey; Broccoli & Black-Eyed Pea Salad), Joe Duncan of Baker’s Ribs in Dallas (St. Louis Ribs with Jalapeño Cole Slaw), John Stage of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Manhattan (St. Louis Ribs with BBQ Beans), John Wheeler of Memphis Barbecue Co in South Haven, Mississippi (Baby Back Ribs with Mamma June’s Baked Beans), Jonathan Fox & Justin Fox of Fox Brothers Bar-B-Q in Atlanta (Brisket & Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage with Jalapeno Slaw & Pickles), Mike Mills & Amy Mills of 17th St. BBQ in Murphysboro, Illinois (Apple City Barbecue Baby Back Ribs with Tangy Pit Beans), Pat Martin of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville (West Tennessee Whole Hog Sandwich with Coleslaw), Rodney Scott of Rodney Scott’s Bar-B-Que in Charleston (St. Louis Ribs with Coleslaw), Sam Jones of Skylight Inn/Sam Jones BBQ in Ayden, North Carolina (Eastern NC Whole Hog Sandwich with Sweet Slaw), and Scott Roberts of Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, Texas (Brisket & Sausage with Sesame Coleslaw).
Huge hunks of meat and more will be available at sixteenth annual bbq festival in Madison Square Park
There will also be sweets and sides for $4 to $8 from Pies ‘N’ Thighs (Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Spicy Watermelon Salad, Biscuit & Gravy Sausage, Cornbread), Ample Hills Creamery (“Corn to Run” creamy corn ice cream with cornmeal crumble and blueberry swirls), Doughnut Plant, the Original Fried Pie Shop (Apple, Apricot, Blackberry, Cherry, Peach), and Sugaree’s. The lines can get extremely long, so the best way to enjoy the event is to go with a bunch of friends, get on different lines, and then gather somewhere in the park to devour your meal. The $125 FastPass gains access for you and one guest to the express lanes and $100 worth of food, drink, and merchandise; the $275 Big Rig VIP Package grants you that in addition to access to the VIP tent and private VIP area with open bar and snacks. The music lineup on Saturday features Ben Sparaco and the New Effect at 12 noon, Mo Lowda & the Humble at 1:30, Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers at 3:00, and the Felice Brothers at 4:30, while Sunday’s roster consists of Cypher Music at noon, the High Divers at 1:30, the Vegabonds at 3:00, and Max Creek at 4:30.