Houston BBQ Throwdown!

Taste the future of Houston Barbecue

The Houston Barbecue Festival and Saint Arnold Brewing Company announce the inaugural “Houston BBQ Throwdown!” featuring Houston’s best barbecue restaurants competing to create the next great barbecue dish that represents Houston-style barbecue.

“It’s time to recognize a Houston style of barbecue,” says J.C. (Chris) Reid, event organizer and Houston Chronicle barbecue columnist.

In his recently published “Houston barbecue manifesto,” Reid called on Houston barbecue joints to develop smoked dishes that are representative of the unique diversity of Houston’s food and culture.

Much like Kansas City-style barbecue is associated with “burnt ends” and Memphis-style is known for pork ribs, Houston-style barbecue will become known for dishes that incorporate the many diverse culinary influences of this “creole” city.

“International cuisines such as Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian, and Pakistani combine with the indigenous influences of soul food and Cajun cooking to create a rich diversity unmatched in Texas,” says Reid. “Adding the smoked meats of Houston’s barbecue scene to the mix is an obvious next step.”

Invited barbecue joints will produce one dish that represents their interpretation of Houston-style barbecue. Ticketed guests will be able to sample the dishes from all the restaurants.

A blind judging process featuring barbecue experts from around Texas will pick a single winner from the entries. There will also be a “People’s Choice” award in which guests can vote for their favorite dish.

Participating barbecue joints include (subject to change): Blood Bros. BBQ, Brooks’ Place BBQ, The Brisket House, Corkscrew BBQ, Feges BBQ, Pappa Charlie’s Barbeque, The Pit Room, Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, Ray's BBQ Shack, and Roegel’s BBQ, with more to come.

The barbecue judging panel will include Houston Chronicle restaurant critic Alison Cook, Texas Monthly food editor Patricia Sharpe, Saint Arnold Brewing Company founder Brock Wagner, Houston pitmaster Greg Gatlin, and Robert J. Lerma, president of the advisory council for Foodways Texas.

A limited number of guest tickets will be sold. $55 general admission includes Saint Arnold beer and samples of each barbecue joint’s competition dish. $120 VIP tickets also include access to the private Saint Arnold Investor’s Pub for viewing of the judge’s panel.

ONLY CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE WILL BE ADMITTED FREE. ALL OTHER AGES MUST PURCHASE A TICKET (this is because we want to ensure there is enough barbecue for all guests).

More information: festival@houbbq.com

Produced by Burnt Brisket LLC.