June 14, 2004
Gothamist Eats At The Second Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
As is our wont, Gothamist summers in the city, because there's nothing like lots of people in the city making things hotter. Add in a Big Apple Barbecue Block Party and things get really hot. The Second Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party took over 26th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues, but also Madison Square Park, as the weather encouraged TONS of barbecue lovers, as well as their salivating babies and dogs, to visit and try some 'cue. Easily twice or three times bigger than last year's crowd, perhaps because it wasn't raining, perhaps because there were two more (for a total of seven) barbecue purveyors, perhaps because more people realize how much they want to try some rich, smoked goodness on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, this year's event was jampacked with whole hog (from Mitchell's, photo above), ribs, slaw, and sauce to make even the pickiest barbecue eater smile.
We don't know the exact numbers yet, but Gothamist overheard Paul Kirk, of K.C. Baron say that he went through 1600 pounds of meat on Saturday and 1500 today. Whoa. [Tien has some great photos of Paul Kirk here.] His ribs (above) were quite delicious, but we couldn't try just one kind of 'cue, could we?
This year we made it a point of trying the chopped pork sandwich from Mitchell's Ribs, Chicken & BBQ, which is pork, in a vinegar sauce, and slaw, a with pork skin atop to suck/chew on. It's definitely a more acquired taste, with the tangy vinegar sharpening the soft pork. However, Alaina of NYCEats says it's the only barbecue "worth waiting for in those ridiculously long lines" for - and those lines were ridiculously long - 1 hour waits for many of the places (photo below).
The pork sausage and beef brisket from The Salt Lick were amazing. The beef brisket tender, pork sausage juicy, covered in the Salt Lick's mustardy sauce (photo below). Gothamist note: If you're at the Austin airport, there's a Salt Lick establishment where you can get one of their amazing chopped beef sandwiches. Do it and you'll be sleeping happily on your plane home.
One of our favorites from last year, the pulled pork shoulder from Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, came back (below). Pulled pork is so delectable.
The Kansas City style ribs from Blue Smoke were a crowd-pleaser. It was also fun to see racks and racks of ribs being cooked from behind the stands (below).
Mike Mills Memphis Championship Barbecue/17th Street Bar & Grill ribs returned also. They were very tender, but we missed seeing Jeffrey Steingarten (who was there the day before).
The NYPD made sure everyone was behaving themselves in the presence of so much meat. It was a hot day, and Gothamist caught a group of police officers in a pow-wow (and, no, they were not eating).
This year, the BABBQ Block Party covered Madison Square Park, with dessert and drink stands, as well as a jazz performance space and an area for panel discussions. It's very exciting what's happened to the park since it's been restored. We caught some of the talk about "America's Barbeculture" (and the regionality issues associated with it); we loved the intro ("Barbecue brings people together, but also tears them apart") as much as Jason Kottke enjoyed hearing the phrase "barbecue diaspora."
The Shake Shack in the middle of Madison Square Park was not really open (well, maybe they were, but the custard machine was broken), but they were selling custard-scented bubbles in custard shaped cones. Gothamist will have to go back for custard later.
And the jazz definitely livened things up, but Gothamist saw very few dancers. Maybe it was because everyone was eating.
All in all, a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. We hope to eat as much and add more pork to our bellies next year at the Third Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party.
Check out rion's photos of the event (our mouths water), and here are some more from us...but before that, Alaina pointed out eGullet's Fat Guy Steven Shaw's thread about the event, complete with pictures...Steve also got a shout-out from the Blue Smoke manager before the Barbeculture talk...'cue on, dudes...:
Pork skin from Mitchell's...mmm...pork skin.
And Jake does love his sausage.
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Your pictures are the closest I got to the cue, sadly. When we were there on Saturday afternoon, those "entrance" signs were nowhere to be seen, nor was the cue. Woulda been helpful since the mob was totally confused and pissed. Cue-pons rans out midafternoon, too. There was a brisk exchange happening between disgruntled attendees selling their Cue-pons to hopeful eaters.
I'm camping out next year to be first in line. See you there!
they need to get their shit together! what an organizational disaster. but delicious tho.
no joke- over an hour in line for a taste of brisket just sucks.
I too, missed out on the 'cue for the second year in a row as I was out of town. At least it wasn't because I was massively hungover or (worse) still drunk from the night before. I will need to make sure I don't make any plans to be out of town in June next year.
since ther was no line, i convinced myself to try the pork snoot.... thumbs down.
I was standing in line with my gf and we struck up a conversation with the woman next to us, who happened to be a professional event planner. She was amazed at the disorganization. I have to admit a lot of it seemed like common sense stuff, and I can't believe no one wrote a "lessons learned" memo at the conclusion of last years event. Those folks are clueless.
Food was great, music was better than I expected, the weather was perfect. A very fun afternoon.
the only dish i didn't hit was the pork snout- can anyone describe how it tasted? i mean, i want to hear about the consistency, the flavor, and what sauce they put on it. and if anyone knows where i can get some snout in nyc, please let us know- i need some snout!
so now where do we go if we want to eat bbq during a nyc street festival, any other recommendations so i can plan in advance???
We went and left as soon as we got there. I was not going to stand in an endless line to turn my money into coupons, just to stand in another endless line to turn the coupons into pork. I was so angry because it smelled so good, but it seemed to be staffed by Soviet shoe salesmen. This is the big leagues folks, get your act together. The park should not grant them a permit until they have a better plan.
another "whole hog" photo from the amazing Mitchell's
pit at:
http://www.fotolog.net/jaimew/?photo_id=7826992
I live down near San Antonio, TX -- the Salt Lick is to my taste way substandard if you're looking for Texas 'cue. If you come down to the hill country, hit Bob's Smokehouse in East San Antonio, Davila's in Seguin, or City Market in Luling.
Of course, being a Tarheel, I prefer the "real" barbecue that is shredding/picked pork in the vinegar sauce. Just hold the slaw, thanks. :-)
Lucas
went on sunday, came in from new jersey, everything perfect.
One of the most poorly organized events I've ever been to. If they actually had real lines, more people could have gotten food. I went both days and couldn't even get near anything, while there were tables full of ribs waiting to be purchased. Very disappointing.
Being from the south, I definitely can get into some BBQ. The only problem is that is was a mess - the event. It's like going to a resturaunt and waiting longer to get the food than it takes to eat the food. The lines were just insane, and having to find the end of the line just to get started...that was a joke. I wonder if I can trade in my unused tickets at Blue Smoke, since they were the ones that put this Gong Show event on.
shouldn't the nypd caption have read, "they nypd makes sure there is plenty of pig to go around"?
what a mess.
1. waited 30 minutes in line for "'cue-pons"
2. walked over to 26th st to ungodly lines
3. said "you've got to be f kidding me"
4. only reasonable line was dessert, so we purchased a cobbler and root beer float - $8 (I received the LAST RB float - this was at 1:50 pm...didn't this begin at noon?)
5. returned to end of "'cue-pon" line to unload our remaining 32 tix
6. proceeded to dallas bbq
Based on the glowing reviews last year, I invited friends to join me this year. Due to the disorganization at the event I was really embarrased by the waits for coupons and for food.
These people need to get their acts together. Spread the food trucks out more, open up more money to coupon exchange areas, etc. Ridiculous lack of organization put a huge damper on an otherwise great event (the food was dee-lish!) and a beautiful day.
I too was one of the disgruntled folks Saturday, mouth watering, cue-pons in hand, with no desire to take part in the madness (where were the ends of the lines??). I sold my tix to some unfortunate Midwesterners. Then I realized that I live around the corner from Daisy May BBQ, so what the hell did I care? Great day to be out though...
New Yorkers wouldn't know good BBQ from their mother's moustache.
You simply cannot get it here, apparently even when they bring it in from out of state.
And by the way, there weren't any midwesterners there to hand your tickets too. Nor any southerners. People who grow up near good BBQ wouldn't be seen at an NY BBQ roundup unless they have been forbidden to leave the city.
'Soviet shoesalesmen' is about right. My ladyfriend and I were also among those who showed up, gaped at the chaos, and shuffled down the block to the Rodeo Bar for a margarita, then to Blue Smoke for ribs, corn bread, and collard greens.
I was excited to see Steingarten and Calvin Trillin, but like the rest of the event, the panel was terribly organized. The mics weren't loud enough to hear further than 15 feet from the stage, and Calvin Trillin looked epically bored, like he would rather have been anywhere else on earth.
Is anything more frustrating than a great idea so poorly executed?
Man, we were burned by the brisket - meat was way too tough and mealy, but the sauce was nice. The Memphis ribs were fucking excellent. It took us nearly 20 minutes just to find the end of a line - any line - to get into! What a mess. ROPES, people!
Daybird, I'm not sure you know what you're talking about. At least half the people in line for Saltlick had some affiliation to the state of Texas. I was with a group of 5 people from the Austin area who waited in line an hour both Saturday and Sunday just to get a taste of BBQ from back home.
After seeing David Cross and Mark Maron I didn't think my day could have gotten any better. I was right. Disorganized mess is the kinder, gentler way to describe. Huge bummer. Let's hope someone with a clue starts a rival festival --- Virgil's, Brothers...can you hear me?
Let me add to the dismissives. What total chaos it was... I waited 45 minutes on the "supposed" Salt Lick line to find out at the last minute, or 10 feet from the goal, that there was another line to it. While trying to merge in front, I was pushed out by bunch of guys from the other line, with jeers even. I screamed "f**k you!" with a finger, in total frustration. Yeah, it was too Lord of the Flies for me... Such great idea ruined by such lack of execution.
As an event professional and Memphis native I wanted to kill myself (or really the event organizers).
A great event ruined b/c of HORRIBLE planning.