This past weekend I participated in the 3rd Annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival as one of the celebrity judges, I also had an opportunity to sample much of the fare during the weekend. It was Barbq madness creating a packed house at this outdoor festival on Carrall Street. Featuring 12 restaurants competing against each other, hosted by The Blarney Stone.
1st Place Winner: Calabash Bistro
2nd Place Winner: Railtown Cafe’
The winners were:
Overall Champion
1st Place Winner: Calabash Bistro
2nd Place Winner: Railtown Cafe’
3rd Place Winner: The Charles Bar
Best Ribs:
1st Place Winner: Calabash Bistro
2nd Place Winner: The Charles Bar
Best Wings:
1st Place Winner: Deacon’s Corner
2nd Place Winner: The Hastings Warehouse
Best Brisket:
1st Place Winner: Railtown Cafe’
2nd Place Winner: Gringo
Best Chili:
1st Place Winner: Railtown Cafe’
2nd Place Winner: The Blarney Stone
Best Side:
1st Place Winner: Railtown Cafe’
2nd Place Winner: Gringo
Best Pig Roast
1st Place Winner: Railtown Cafe’
2nd Place Winner: The Blarney Stone
Chef Cullin David of Calabash Bistro
Chef Brendan – The Irish Heather
Chefs from The Charles Bar
Best Corn Bread from The Railtown Cafe
The restaurants served up a menu of brisket, wings, chili and more featuring: 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.
The Deep End (band)
The event was Hosted by Joe Leary who also judged along with Richard Wolak (Vancouver Foodster), Chef Quang Dang (West Restaurant), Jason Garrison (NHL), Georgia Simmerling (Canadian Ski Cross Team), Angus Reid (BC Lions), and Jordan Harvey (Whitecaps). Music was provided by a few bands including The Deep End which were terrific, I missed closing headliner Bend Sinister.
By: Richard Wolak