2023 Lineup
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THE BEST IN BBQ COME TO DENVER
Mike Johnson
Sugarfire Smokehouse
Westminster, CO
Hailing from a background in fine dining, chef Mike Johnson launched his culinary career under a young Emeril Lagasse before heading north to develop his skills under the expertise of Chicago’s Charlie Trotter and Gabino Sotellino. Today, Mike is the chef and owner of St. Louis’ Sugarfire Smoke House, an award-winning restaurant that shines light on Johnson’s dynamic capacity. Sugarfire has consistently been ranked best barbecue in St. Louis and chef Johnson continues to establish himself as a culinary master and renowned competitor.
Menu:
Nashville Turkey Sliders
Pork Rinds
Miso Salmon Crepe (VIP Hour Only)
Leslie Roark Scott
Ubons BBQ
Yazoo City, MS
Leslie Roark Scott has become a multi-generational BBQ legend, spinning the importance of her lifestyle right into how she operates at Ubon's. It’s all about southern hospitality, and a visit with the Ubon’s crew at the Denver BBQ Fest will include a healthy dose of their famous bloody marys and out-of-this-world BBQ.
Menu:
Mississippi Style Spare Ribs
Bloody Mary Salad
Kent Black
Black’s BBQ
Central TX
Kent Black, a Texas native born in 1952, has always been a go-getter. Even as a child, he showed his entrepreneurial spirit by selling snow cones outside the store. As he grew older, he began working at the family business, where he was always eager to help out in any way he could, whether it was stocking the grocery store or working in the restaurant.
Kent's passion for helping others eventually led him to become a prosecutor for the State of Texas, where he spent 20 years protecting children, nurses, and the elderly. But when his parents were ready to retire from the restaurant, Kent returned to operate the business full time and eventually purchased it from his parents.
Thanks to Kent's leadership and the strong foundation that was laid by his parents, The Original Black's Barbecue is now located in 4 cities across central Texas, sharing a 90-year legacy with folks from all over the world
Menu:
Brisket
Homemade Sausage
John Matthews & Brian Scoggins
Pappy’s Smokehouse
St. Louis, MO
With the wild success of Pappy's Smokehouse, owners John and Brian are well-known by BBQ enthusiasts. Launching the BBQ renaissance in St. Louis in 2008, these two continue to be well known for their glazed, Memphis-inspired ribs. Their love of people and BBQ festivals ensures everyone who encounters Pappy's on the road has a great experience.
Menu:
Baby Back Ribs
Baked Beans
Tim Scheer
Blues Hog Barbecue
Washington, MO
From start to finish, Tim has engineered his own barbecue process. The pitmaster of the successful competition BBQ team Shake and Bake, the owner of Blues Hog Barbecue, and the inventor of the Gateway Drum Smoker. He knows what it takes to make next-level barbecue!
Menu:
Pulled Pork Sliders
Pineapple Slaw
Whole Hog (VIP Hour Only)
Jason Ganahl
GQue BBQ
Denver, CO
After honing his chops in St. Louis’ BBQ hotbed, Jason took his red-hot passion for BBQ to Denver and began to spread the smoked love to the Mile High City. Now he boasts a packed trophy case and a must-visit Denver BBQ joint.
Menu:
Smoked and Fried Wings
Mile High Grilled Street Corn
Matt Vargocko
A Bit Twisted Brewpub & BBQ
Aurora, CO
A Texas boy bringing that good ole Central Texas Style BBQ to Colorado. He specializes in Brisket, Pork butts, and Ribs, and uses his meats to make some phenomenal smoked tacos! When he's not smoking, he's Brewing beer for his brewpub. A perfect day for Matt is drinking IPAs, smoking meat, and watch'n college football.
Menu:
Dirty South Pork Tacos
Smoked Potato Salad
Texas Brisket Philly (VIP Hour Only)
Blaine Baggao
ADOBO
Denver, CO
Chef Blaine Baggao started ADOBO Food Truck after a head-on motorcycle accident derailed his career in finance, Blaine Baggao re-evaluated his professional path, ultimately launching Adobo in 2017 as a food truck that combines his New Mexican and Filipino roots. Today the business has its own spacious brick-and-mortar location complete with pool table, live music, and dog friendly patio as well as the counter operation inside First Draft in RiNo. ADOBO is also one of the original vendors at Meow Wolf Convergence Station. ADOBO XO has garnered several award since fully opening in October of 2022 including Westword Reader's Choice Best New Bar, Top 100 Restaurants in Denver by Westword, Top 10 Green Chile in Denver by Westword, Ultimate List of Denver's Top Tacos by 5280 Magazine, Best Mash-Up: Filipino, New Mexican by Westword Magazine, Top 15 Live Music Venues in Denver by Westword. Chef Baggao can also be found on the Emmy nominated show NETFLIX called Fresh, Fried and Crispy.
Menu:
Carnitas Tacos
The G.O.A.T (yes, goat) - VIP Hour Only
Johann Callender
Barbados Smokehouse
Barbados
Hailing from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Johann Callender, owner of Barbados Smokehouse which is based in the island of Barbados and JJ’s Smokehouse in Trinidad fuses Traditional American BBQ with Caribbean Flavors. His goal is to continue the origins of BBQ or barbacoa from the West Indies. The word barbecue comes from the language of a Caribbean Indian tribe called the Taino. After moving from Trinidad to Barbados he decided to leave the corporate world as an economist behind and turn to crafting his unique flavors and style through the Barbados Smokehouse. After success in Barbados, JJ’s Smokehouse is his latest undertaking in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Menu:
Smoked Flash Fried Chicken
Sweet Heat JDQ Watermelon
Pimento Wood Smoked Jerk Lamb (VIP Hour Only)
Keith and Jodi Segura
Woodhill Small Batch BBQ
Littleton, CO
Keith Segura, along with his wife and fellow pitmaster Jodi, began hosting pig roasts in their Colorado subdivision years ago. After joining a competitive BBQ team, Keith worked alongside Jodi started their own catering and food truck business. Pig roasts are still their bread and butter, though, coordinating roasts for Breckenridge Brewery and many other corporate and private clients.
Menu:
Brisket
Macaroni Salad
Woodhill Twinkies (VIP Hour Only)
Matt Abdoo & Shane McBride
Pig Beach BBQ
New York & Florida
Pig Beach chef and partner, Matt Abdoo first earned his bbq chops on America’s highly competitive barbecue team, Salty Rinse. Since then, Matt and team have continued their winning streak. Today, Matt is a frequent guest on The Today Show and can be seen on Food Network programs such as Beat Bobby Flay and The Kitchen.
Although Shane McBride has worked in some of the most prestigious restaurant kitchens in the country, he started a competition bbq team to satisfy his craving for some real Southern bbq in the Big Apple. This BBQ obsession led to Shane joining the Pig Beach team in 2015 and helping to grow the brand to where it is today.
Menu:
Baby Back Ribs
Jalapeno Cucumber Salad
Bill Espiricueta
SMŌK Barbecue
Denver, CO
They say where there’s smoke there’s fire, and Chef Bill Espiricueta is no exception: born in Austin, Texas, Chef Bill has been eating, making, and enjoying BBQ with a fiery passion from an early age. He got his start at Kansas City’s progressive Bluestem Restaurant before jumping to fine dining, working with Nobu Matsuhisa at Nobu in downtown Dallas’s Crescent Hotel, then finding his way to Boulder where he was drawn to the more casual atmosphere and focus on locally sourced food at Oak at Fourteenth where he worked closely with Chef Steve Redzikowski before opening Smok RiNo, Denver in 2018. Our continuous growth led the team to open their refined food stall location in Junction Food & Drink in 2020 and Smok Fort Collins in 2021.
Menu:
Asian Pork Belly Burnt Ends
Banana Pudding
Jeff Gebott
VIP ONLY
H3SH3R BBQ
Denver, CO
From an early age, Jeff Gebott was fascinated with fire and smoke. While watching his father work a barrel-style grill for church potlucks, he learned instantly what controlling a perfect fire meant to those guests eating at his home. Roles in Jeff's childhood home were well defined, his father manned the grill while his mother gracefully baked cookies and other confections in the kitchen, thus establishing his love for food and fellowship.
Growing up in California, Jeff's home was always filled with family and friends celebrating life over a full dinner table. To this day, Jeff treats his dining rooms like it were his own home.
Menu:
Flanken Short Rib (VIP Hour Only)
Joey Machado
VIP ONLY
Texas Original Charcoal Co.
Texas
Over 20 years in BBQ Industry, currently owner of Texas Original Charcoal Co and Texas Original Brands. Specialized in Central Texas Style BBQ with a Latin Twist and live fire cooking. As a competitive cook for the last several decades and still today, understands the industry from the inside out. Over the years has been responsible for the growth and success for many major brands and now manufacturers for or consulting for many in the segment. High quality products for exclusive markets is his focus in current lines.
Menu:
Ribeye (VIP Hour Only)
James Boatright
VIP ONLY
Boatright’s BBQ
St. Louis, MO
James L. Boatright Sr., is a renowned pitmaster hailing from St Louis, Missouri, with a passion for creating mouth-watering, authentic barbecue. With over two decades of experience in the industry, James has become a household name in the St Louis area and beyond, known for his signature slow-cooked meats that are tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor.
Big J has also had the opportunity of competing on Netflix Show, “American Bar-B-Q Showdown” and Food Network, Canada “Fire Masters”. He has also made guest appearances on Podcast shows, radio stations and so much more.
Menu:
Beef Short Ribs (VIP Hour Only)