Get Ready to Rib and Roll at Rib King NYC

Joe Musgni, founder of NJ’s SmoKing of Meats, will be serving up his awesome St. Louis Candied Ribs at Rib King NYC on May 28. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

This is the web edition of the NYC BBQ Weekly newsletter. If you would like to receive this in your inbox for free each week, subscribe here!

At last month’s Brisket King event, Joe Musngi of NJ’s SmoKing of Meats stunned the competition with juicy brisket perfection. Now Musngi is gearing up to surprise the local barbecue world again at Rib King NYC, which will be held on Saturday, May 28 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on Staten Island. (BUY TICKETS HERE.)

“I’m still riding on the high from last month’s win. I went into Brisket King of course wanting to win, but more importantly to get the name out there and showcase what I love to do. It was truly an honor to be recognized amongst my peers and BBQ enthusiasts alike” Musngi said. “The amount of love that has come my way from all over the country has been such a blessing and furthers why I love this BBQ community so much. That's why I couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring my St. Louis Candied Ribs, another fan favorite, to Rib King NYC.”

Musngi will be joining more than 10 other chefs and pitmasters at the annual Rib King NYC gathering, with a mix of newcomers and veterans of the event. The event will not only be a fun food showcase, but it also is a giant Memorial Day weekend picnic where friends and families bring blankets to sit on Snug Harbor’s giant lawn to chill and listen to live music from performer Dusty Wright.

While the pork ribs will undoubtedly be the star of the show, Rib King NYC will also have other snacks on hand. These will include pork sliders from Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs, grilled vegetables from chef Trevor Kunk, pickles, and other fermented foods from Rick's Picks, a “Jamon Station” featuring KY-raised ham, and more.

Drinks will also be plentiful at the event, with unlimited tastes of beer, cider, and bourbon from various operations. There will be a “Hard Cider Alley” featuring Brooklyn Cider House, Aval, Original Sin, Romilly, Austin East Ciders, and more. Staten Island's own Flagship Brewing will also be attending and serving up samples.

Last year’s Rib King NYC winner was Juicy Lucy BBQ, which served perfect competition-style ribs. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

The lineup (so far) at Rib King NYC this year will include:

  • 2022 Brisket King NYC Joe Musngi of SmoKing of Meats, NJ

  • 2022 Brisket King NYC Best Bite winner Bark Barbecue, Queens

  • 2022 Brisket King NYC Best Traditional Brisket winner Blue Smoke NYC, Manhattan

  • Sean Keever of Big Guns BBQ, NY

  • Darlene Lawrence of Sands Jerk Hut, Brooklyn

  • Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats, Brooklyn 

  • Jesse Jones, Chef Jesse Concepts, NJ 

  • Matt Fisher of Queens Custom Barbecue, Queens

  • Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs, SC

  • Zabb PuTawn, Manhattan

Chef Jesse Jones will be back this year and ready to serve up mouthwatering ribs. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

One additional part of the Rib King NYC event that will be a lot of fun is that it serves as a showcase for the Sauce King NYC virtual event. Sauce makers, including Coney Island Saucery, Bayou Gotham, Rocket Fuel Foods, and others, will be there slinging barbecue and hot sauces, and you can try them all out.

Bark Barbecue will be a serious contender to look out for at Rib King NYC. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)

Tickets are on sale now. All-inclusive general admission tickets ($65) let you in the door at 12 p.m. Additionally, VIP Tickets ($85) let you in the gate at 11 a.m. so you have an extra hour to mingle with chefs and pitmasters and try more items. Children 12 and under are welcome with any adult with a paid ticket.

If you come, show up on time or early since some items will run out by mid-day. If you haven’t already bought your tickets, now’s a great time to purchase them. I hope to see you all there

Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ

EAT ALL ABOUT IT (NEWS)

Make sure you’re hungry for music, BBQ, and good views at the upcoming Blues BBQ Festival in Manhattan.

Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:

  • Hudson River Park’s beloved Blues BBQ Festival was just announced that it will be back this year. There’s no better way to spend an August afternoon than with barbecue, drinks, and live music, all on our riverfront. READ HERE.

  • Larry “Meat” Mondello, the proprietor of the Meats Meat food truck on Long Island, has a  brand new brick-and-mortar shop in Mattituck. Meats Meat BBQ is a 1,800-square-foot counter service-only shop and is located in the former home of North Fork Doughnut Co. READ HERE.

  • ICYMI: Kimchi Smoke, which has been serving up incredible barbecue dishes for years at local events, will be opening a second NJ location this summer. “The pandemic helped me focus my menu and operations, and now, I feel like it is the right time to open a second location,” Kimchi Smoke owner Robert Austin Cho told NJ.com. READ HERE.

  • Several great food events have been mentioned in Hudson Valley (and nearby) in a new list from Lohud.com. The roundup mentions the Rock, Ribs & Ridges Festival in North Jersey, which will be held June 24-26. It also mentions the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship, which will be held July 8-10. READ HERE.

  • The New York Beef Council's 2022 Best Burger Contest was held last week to determine New York's best burger. The Final 4 Best New York State Burgers were from Ale n Angus Pub in Syracuse, Illusive Restaurant & Bar in Rensselaer, Ben's Fresh in Port Jervis, and Bear Creek Restaurant in Brewerton. The event crowned Ale n Angus Pub, with their newly created “Hot `n Smokey Candied Bacon Burger” as the best burger in New York State for 2022. READ HERE.

IRL BBQ EVENTS

Do not miss Rib King NYC 2022, which will feature many amazing bites on Memorial Day weekend.

Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:

  • May 21, 2022: The NYC Texas Chili Cook-Off will return to New York City, bigger, louder, and tastier than ever on May 21 at Industry City in Brooklyn. The event takes place between 1 and 6 p.m. and is hosted by the Texas Exes New York Chapter. There will be all-you-can-drink Texas beverages, all-you-can-eat chili and queso (or until it runs out), and much more. Sean Ludwig of NYC BBQ Weekly will be judging too, so come out and say hello! You can also use the code TEXSCHOOL to get 10% off. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • May 21, 2022: Love wings and beer? Then this is the event for you! Held at the beautiful South Shore Craft Brewery, the NY Best Wings Fest will be a finger-licking tasting tour of the best restaurants on Long Island. On top of being able to sample lots of great wings, there will also be a hot-wing eating contest, live music, and giveaways. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • May 28, 2022: This Memorial Day weekend is going to have a forecast for delicious pork and beef at Rib King NYC 2022. The event will be held at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden on Staten Island and is great for families and groups. Chefs and pitmaster talent will include Holy City Hogs, Bark Barbecue, Big Guns BBQ, Blue Smoke, Smoke Sweats, Chef Jesse Jones, Jase BBQ, Queens Custom Barbecue, and many more. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • June 9, 2022: If you love brisket (let’s get real, you probably do if you’re reading this), then you won’t want to miss the Brisket Bash with Hill Country Barbecue in NYC and Kimchi Smoke in NJ. Kimchi Smoke founder Robert Cho will join Hill Country executive chef Ash Fulk in a discussion about brisket, barbecue, and everything in between moderated by Nick Solares while guests enjoy a tasting of their smoked brisket and pickles. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • June 12, 2022: Fink's Second BBQ Grand Bus Tour will take participants on a bus ride to four North Jersey spots to eat smoked meats and drink cold beer to their hearts' content. Hosted by David Finkelstein, owner and pitmaster of Fink's BBQ Smokehouse and Fink's BBQ and Cheesesteak Roadhouse, the event will be a ride of a lifetime. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • Please get in touch if you would like your food event listed here!

  • CHECK OUT THE FULL EVENTS CALENDAR HERE

SAY HELLO

If you're not already subscribed to the newsletter, sign up here. You can also follow along on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter. If you want to write for NYC BBQ Weekly, sponsor the newsletter, or let me know about the best new barbecue you’ve tried, send me an email and let’s talk!

Sean Ludwig