National BBQ Festival headed to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow
Chef Marc Anthony Bynum is slated to participate in the upcoming National BBQ Festival at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Growing up in Wyandanch, Phil Johnson used to cook for his parents as a kid. Today, he’s still feeding people with his award-winning food truck Sammiches earning him the nickname "Phil the Grill" due to his barbecuing talents.
From June 13-15, Johnson is returning to his home turf competing at the National BBQ Festival, which comes to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
"I will be in my own backyard and my first time competing in New York," says Johnson, 54. "I’m going to showcase the flavor profiles that I grew up with. I’m ready!"
BACKGROUND HISTORY
The National BBQ Festival is not a first-time event, but it’s new to Long Island. It ran in Douglas, Georgia, from 2002-2011, under the direction of Kell and Janet Phelps, of Barbecue News, and the National Barbecue and Grilling Association, drawing the top barbecue teams and firepit masters from all over the country. After a 13-year absence, the festival is getting rebooted on Long Island.
NATIONAL BBQ FESTIVAL
WHEN | WHERE 4 to 10 p.m. June 13, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., June 14 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15; Eisenhower Park in East Meadow
COST $54, kids (age 3-12): $25.19, 2 and under go free; Saturday-Sunday pass: $94.65, kids: $43.20; VIP: $171.83 (one day pass), VIP (Saturday-Sunday): $305.60; preferred parking pass: $20
MORE INFO nationalbbqfest.com
"We felt like Nassau County had a lot of potential. It’s an untapped market," said Kell Phelps. "The possibility is limitless as to what it can grow into."
Nassau County is ready for the challenge and booked the event back in September 2024.
"We’re trying to bring back that massive Memphis, Kansas City and Houston barbecue experience to Nassau County," said Jaime Hollander, managing director of RRDA, the official tourism and promotions agency for Nassau County. "We have pitmasters coming in from all over the country who are legends in the barbecue world."
BBQ COMPETITIONS
"Phil the Grill" Johnson, who grew up in Wyandanch, will compete at the National BBQ Festival.
The event will feature a barbecue showdown with the nation’s top BBQ teams who will battle for a $100,000 purse. The SCA (Steak Cookoff Association) Double Steak & Ancillaries competition on June 13 focuses on double steak, wings, meatballs and Long Island Iced Tea (must be 21 or older to enter) for individuals. The National BBQ Festival Competition on June 14 is where teams can showcase their talents in three categories out of five: chicken, ribs, pork, whole hog and brisket.
A team of judges will be present to rate all submissions. The June 13 first-place winner in steak receives $1,000, a Bell trophy, and an SCA Golden Ticket, while the June 14 grand prize-winner takes home $20,000 and a Grand Bell trophy.
Johnson is preparing his famous Philly Crack Wings for the competition.
"It’s a smoked wing that’s fried to crispiness and seasoned in my Triple OG Rub," says Johnson. "I smoke’em, chill’em down and when you throw that cold wing into the hot grease all you hear is snap, crackle and pop."
LIVE FIRE & DEMOS
Pitmaster Thyron Mathews, who was the season 2 champion of “Barbecue Showdown” in 2022, will be serving as the host of the National BBQ Festival; Captain Ron Dimpflmaier, who grew up in Hauppauge, will be cooking in the Live Fire Zone. Credit: Beth Petsche/Upper Iowa University; Lynn Fernandez
The festival will also feature freshly cooked barbecue in the Live Fire Zone, where pitmasters work over an open fire and distribute samples to the crowd. Additionally, there will be demos taught by barbecue all-stars offering grilling tips.
Captain Ron Dimpflmaier, who grew up in Hauppauge, will be working the Live Fire.
"I’m known for taking a regular dish and making it my own," said Dimpflmaier, 55. "For example, I’ll roast caveman steaks whole then finish by cutting them up and sear them directly on hot charcoal. The intense heat from the coals caramelizes some of the sugars in the meat, drawing out its natural flavors."
The 2023 MasterChef Junior Champion and World Junior BBQ League World Champion Raelyn "Lil' Gringa" Barker, 13, of Oakville, Texas, will be present at the Live Fire, making her famous chicken elote nachos and South Texas marinated beef fajita street tacos.
"I don’t get nervous cooking in front of people, but sometimes it’s hard to explain stuff because I’m concentrating," she explained.
Raelyn “Lil’ Gringa” Barker will be cooking in the Live Fire Zone. Credit: Sarah Barker
Many pitmasters will be giving demonstrations to the crowd teaching various barbecuing techniques.
"I spend a lot of time trying to help people make better barbecue. It gives me a lot of satisfaction," said Tuffy Stone from TLC’s "BBQ Pitmasters" and award-winning team Cool Smoke. "I enjoy teaching people how to treat smoke like salt and pepper. It’s like an ingredient or a seasoning."
Pitmaster Thyron Mathews, who was the season 2 champion of "Barbecue Showdown" in 2022, will serve as the festival host and also demonstrate how to make his famous "Mop Style Pork Ribs."
"I fry up bell peppers and garlic then take the oil, add vinegar, black pepper and red pepper," says Mathews. "We then use a mop to apply them to the meat adding additional flavor and moisture."
GO VIP
Those who want to roll in style can get a VIP ticket, which comes with a list of special perks such as designated parking, early entry, unlimited barbecue samples, reserved seating and an event gift bag plus a signature hat.
Marc Anthony Bynum, formerly of Farmingdale, will be cooking in the VIP Tent.
"I’m making smoked chicken legs in a strawberry barbecue sauce with a cornbread crumble plus ribs covered in chipotle espresso barbecue sauce paired next to a pickled watermelon salad," said Bynum. "Additionally, I’ll make several pizzas like my psychedelic wild mushroom pizza and Caribbean queen pizza made with jerk chicken, grilled pineapple, fried plantains and hibiscus barbecue sauce."
LIVE MUSIC
Singer/guitarist JD Leonard of Huntington will perform a "Decades of Country" concert.
On June 13, the crowd gets treated to a "Decades of Country" concert with JD Leonard, of Huntington.
"We play the biggest hits from the ’80s to today," said Leonard. "It’s a high-energy show that ranges from Luke Combs to Martina McBride to Keith Urban to Garth Brooks."
DJ Belal Miller, of Wyandanch, will be spinning tunes on the turntable along with hip-hop legend Warren G on the mic June 14.
"My style spans all genres of music," said Miller, 59. "Once I see the people, I can read what they are feeling."
Kids can jam out with the very interactive family band Rolie Polie Guacamole on June 15 with zany songs like "Library Ghost," "Wake Up Shake Up" and "Avocado."
"It’s not serious," said guitarist/singer Frank Gallo. "Our absurdism is on purpose."
An array of food trucks, a barbecue vendor market selling smokers, grills, meat thermometers, sauces, rubs and spices plus a beer and wine garden round out the festival.
BATS & SPATULAS
When Leonard Aberman of North Bellmore and Jeff Cohen of Wantagh served as Cub Scout leaders, much of their conversation centered on two subjects: baseball and barbecue.
"Everyone seemed to have a podcast at the time," said Aberman, 59. "We’d have these baseball-barbecue talks then figured let’s record it and see if anyone would listen."
Now in its eighth year, the Baseball and BBQ Podcast comes out once a week on Saturday mornings via the Bleav Network.
"There are both baseball podcasts and barbecue podcasts out there. But we like to do things that are unique," said Aberman. "They are two great American traditional pastimes that go together."
Guests range from Ardie Davis from the Barbecue Hall of Fame to former Mets Ed Kranepool and Howard Johnson to actor Robert Wuhl ("Bull Durham").
"When you bring different people together you are going to get some exciting content," said Aberman. "No two episodes are the same."
As far as their chemistry goes, the hosts are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
"I’m the organized one who books all the guests and does all the editing. Leonard is the writer of the team who puts together all the show notes," said Cohen, 63. "I’m more the conservative guy behind the scenes. He’s more of the gregarious jokester out front." — DAVID J. CRIBLEZ
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
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