Texas, we have the meats.
A barbecue showdown is heating up in the Lone Star State just in time for the summer season. After its debut last year, SMOKE: A Celebration of Fire and Flavor returns to Central Texas on Father’s Day weekend for a showdown scorching with top barbecue pitmasters and a battle to determine which Southern state’s smoked meats reign supreme.
SMOKE will be held on June 19-20 at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, located at 8212 Barton Club Drive, Austin, TX 78735. While last year’s event pitted Texas and Oklahoma’s barbecue styles against one another, this year’s showdown while evoke a bit more Southeastern Conference energy courtesy the introduction of Alabama to the competition.
The tri-state barbecue off will include John Bates, the Michelin-starred chef behind Austin’s InterStellar BBQ; Kevin Lee, a Food Network vet and chef-owner of Birdies by Chef Kevin Lee in Oklahoma City; and Chris Lilly, five-time world champion pitmaster and the mastermind behind Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q.
“SMOKE celebrates the spirit of barbecue—bringing people together through incredible food, tradition and a little friendly rivalry,” Todd Raessler, regional vice president of Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, said in the announcement on Monday, March 23. “Welcoming Alabama alongside Texas and Oklahoma lets us showcase a truly unique range of barbecue, and there’s no better occasion for it than Father’s Day weekend in the Texas Hill Country.”
Interested in having a taste of this rivalry match up yourself? Tickets are available for a VIP dinner experience comprising a cocktail hour and multicourse tasting menu (selling for $350 per person or $315 a pop when purchased before April 30).
Want to attend an “open-air” showdown instead? Tickets are also available for a masters of flavors competition highlighting nine restaurants from Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, with each highlighting smoked meats, side dishes, desserts and specialty cocktails (selling for $179 a person or $161 per guest when purchased before April 30). Those interested can attend both events for $479.
More details on the event are available online.