I am looking forward to being one of the celebrity judges at this weekend’s, 3rd Annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival. This annual festival and competition features 12 Gastown restaurants competing against each other, check out the full event schedule.
The restaurants that will line the streets, serving up a menu of brisket, wings, chili and more are: The Blarney Stone, Chill Winston, The Irish Heather, TUC Craft Kitchen. Lamplighter, Peckinpah, Gringo, The Hastings Warehouse, Calabash, The Charles Bar, Deacon’s Corner, Railtown Café and Stateside Craft.
These Gastown restaurants will be competing in the most canning BBQ & Chili Cook off any street festival has ever seen. There are several new developments to this 2 day event; this year expanded the festival grounds, created a larger licensed area, an outstanding menu suited for the foodie in you and a headlining performance by one of Vancouver’s biggest up and coming acts “Bend Sinister”
The festivities will take place on the 200 block of Carrall Street, between Water St (Gassy Jack statue of Maple Tree Square) and Cordova Street (passing by the entrance to blood alley). The entire street will be closed to vehicular traffic. Large tents & BBQs will line the street which will be filled with picnic tables, a beer tent, restaurant patios, and a large musical stage hosting live music all weekend long.
There is the public voting and tasting, you can buy Taster Tokens will be available for all to sample the BBQ, Chili & Side items: 4 tokens for $10 or 8 tokens for $20 and then their is the celebrity judging panel.
Hosted by Joe Leary who is making his 2nd appearance as the celebrity Host for the 2014 Gastown BBQ & Chilli Festival, Joe has been a member of the Vancouver media on both radio & television for over 25 years, a career broadcaster and freelance writer who is also a former Restaurant owner, Joe brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this year’s event.
It’s two fun-filled afternoons of eating, dancing, pig roasts. Judges include Richard Wolak (Vancouver Foodster), Chef Quang Dang (West Restaurant), Casey Jo Loos (The Peak 102.7 FM), Jason Garrison (NHL), Georgia Simmerling (Canadian Ski Cross Team), Angus Reid (BC Lions), and Jordan Harvey (Whitecaps).
By: Richard Wolak