Foodievents

Here’s the Pitmaster Lineup for June’s Eleventh Annual Big Apple Barbecue

Yes, Ed Mitchell will be there.
Yes, Ed Mitchell will be there. Photo: Melissa Hom

Danny Meyer’s reps have just finalized the lineup for this year’s smoked meat spectacular, the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, which goes down June 8 and 9 within Madison Square Park and its immediate surroundings. Four returning pitmasters — Chris Lilly, Mike Mills, Ed Mitchell, and Kenny Callaghan of Union Square Hospitality Group’s own Blue Smoke — have been part of each of the event’s eleven years, and this year’s crew is nothing less than stellar. Check out the full lineup, plus more information on tickets, straight ahead.


• Kenny Callaghan
Blue Smoke, New York, NY

• Joe Duncan
Baker’s Ribs, Dallas, TX

• Mike Emerson
Pappy’s Smokehouse, St. Louis, MO

• Charles Grund Jr.
Hill Country, New York, NY

• Jimmy Hagood
BlackJack Barbecue, Charleston, SC

•Tommy Houston
Checkered Pig, Danville, VA

• Chris Lilly
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur, AL

• Patrick Martin
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Nashville, TN

• Mike Mills
17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro, IL/ Memphis Championship Barbecue, Las Vegas, NV

• Ed Mitchell
Raleigh, NC

• Garry Roark
Ubon’s Barbeque, Yazoo City, MS

• Drew Robinson
Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Birmingham, AL

• Scott Roberts
The Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood, TX

• Rodney Scott
Scott’s Bar-B-Que, Hemingway, SC

• John Stage
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, New York, NY

• John Wheeler
Memphis Barbecue Co., Fayetteville, NC/Horn Lake, MS

• Sam Jones
Skylight Inn, Ayden, NC


In addition to all that smoked meat cooked by legends listed above, Weber will offer classes with Kevin Kolman, and Mario Batali will appear with his sons Benno and Leo, whose debut cookbook called The Batali Brothers Cookbook will be published on May 14.

As always, proceeds from the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party support the Madison Square Park Conservancy. Admission is free, and barbecue plates from each vendor cost $9. Organizers also sell FastPasses for $125, which come with a preloaded balance of $100 and allow guests to access express lines, a healthy edge at an event that now draws more than 140,000 guests each year. Saturday FastPasses are sold out, but some are still available for Sunday’s festivities here.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party [Official site]
Earlier: How to Get the Most Out of the Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Here’s the Pitmaster Lineup for June’s Eleventh Annual Big Apple