BBQ Challenge heats up Firemen’s Park
It wasn’t quite a sporting event, but there were plenty of game faces during the first Summer Daze BBQ Classic at Firemen’s Park this weekend.
Competitive cooks from across Canada and New York State gathered at the spacious Niagara Falls park for three days to test the might of their meat and claim the big trophy.
There was money involved, too — $1,000 to the overall winner — but co-organizer Mike Sporar doubts they even cared. It’s bragging rights they wanted.
“If you asked most of them about the money, they wouldn’t even know,” said Sporar on the competition’s final day Sunday.
Just before noon, the 25 cooks were in “game mode” as they prepared their final ‘turn in’ of BBQ to be judged. Cooks were ranked on their chicken, ribs, pork butt and brisket.
Niagara Falls friends Fred Stevens and Greg Taylor, who call themselves the 905 Smoke Kings, entered the contest on a whim when they heard it was coming to town.
While fun, they weren’t prepared for how serious it can be.
“We thought it was kind of for amateurs, but it’s pros,” said Stevens. “These guys do this for a living. We’re just out here having fun. We have a real job.
“These guys are all sponsored. This is coming out of our pocket.”
The duo intend to return next year, and eventually hope to own their own food truck.
Sporar expected about 2,000 people to attend the three-day event.
Cooks were originally supposed to be set up on grass, but an open air burning ban issued by the fire department on Thursday forced organizers to change plans. All of the BBQs were relocated to one of the Firemen’s
Park parking lots.
While some of the competitors offered food for sale, most were there strictly to compete. There were other food and drink options on site, said Sporar.
“A couple growing pains, but everyone seems happy,” he said. “We want to build it from here on out for next year.”
It was also, in some ways, a possible preview of next year’s Niagara Falls Ribfest, which is looking for a new home. Firemen’s Park is a likely candidate.