2025 Pig Island festival showcases diverse approaches to barbecue

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If ever there were a moment when a food critic and professional barbecue judge truly earned her salt, it was Saturday at the Pig Island NYC BBQ festival and competition.

This year’s Pig Island returned for its 16th year on Staten Island, a sprawling salute to the pig and all things pork with the cold beverages to pair with it all. With one dish better than the next, it was a tough event to pick the Number One, agreed the judges, including yours truly.

Although there was one clear Best In Show. Based on the points, Kam Rai Thai. This pit master presented pork belly two ways — as a hunk of bacon and paper-thin slices — on a plate with a myriad of delightful, herbaceous sauces and a downright fantastical grilled bao bun brushed lightly with butter.

Arguably the best beverage of the day was Momentum Brewery’s non-alcoholic beer lineup. The company hails from Long Island and is New York State’s only non-alcoholic brewhouse. One of its two founders, Alexander Himburg brought hundreds of cans to personally sample on the crowd of craft beer lovers who enthusiastically returned to the station for more over the afternoon.

Guests who have attended prior Pig Island events knew the ropes. One visitor from Brooklyn said, “Last year we didn’t realize how hard it was to carry all those mini trays—total rookie move! This year, we came prepared and brought our own trays. Learned our lesson!”

Jodie Shalonis from Edison, N.J. said, “What a beautiful celebration—people from all walks of life coming together over a shared love of pork! It’s such a wonderful opportunity to taste different flavors and experience the creativity behind each dish. I’m honestly at a loss for words—it’s just amazing. I’m just thankful for all the love.”

Flagship Brewing Co., Upstate Distillery, Fort Hamilton Distillery and Morgan’s Rum were among the represented booze companies.

The Pig Island BBQ festival and competition brought together an impressive lineup of pitmasters and food industry professionals this Saturday, showcasing both traditional and innovative approaches to barbecue.

The competition featured a distinguished panel of judges, including Stephanie Perez, known for her visual food storytelling through @yeahfoodbeer and her expertise in pairing regional cuisine with craft beer throughout New York.

Gennaro Pecchia, who co-founded Chefs Who Care and formerly co-hosted SiriusXM’s Roland’s Food Court, brought his extensive industry knowledge to the judging table.

Adding to the expert panel was Adam Poch, a seasoned New York food judge with a decade of experience in grilling and smoking techniques. Ethan Fedida, founder of Elfassy Foods and recently crowned 2024 Sauce King NYC Grand Champion, rounded out the judging panel with his expertise in artisanal sauce creation.

The competition drew twelve notable participants, including local favorites and established names in the barbecue scene. Competitors ranged from Rodrigo Duarte of Don Rodrigo to the three Farella brothers of Brothers BBQ. The event also featured diverse culinary perspectives, with participants like Oak Marprasert from Kam Rai Thai and Samsaen, and Amita Phookaw from Khaosan bringing their unique approaches to barbecue.

The competition also saw participation from Jase’s BBQ, Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs, Sean Keever representing Big Guns BBQ, and Jose Perez from Archie Moore’s and The Meat Truck. Brooklyn’s barbecue scene was well-represented by Cenobio Canalizo from Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ and the FDNY Red Hook Raiders of Brooklyn BBQ Team, led by John Fuchs and Vinny Ferrante.

And the winners are:

Best In Show — Kam Rai Thai

Best Whole Hog — Holy City Hog

“La Mas Sexy” — Mike’s Hot Honey with Chef Kevin Morgan and his stellar “Lechon Loco,” a fried plantain cup filled with queso Frito, aji verde, smoked pork belly, pickled onions, mojo and Mike’s Hot Honey

I’m Lovin’ It Award — Big Guns for the McRib Sausage

Best Food On a Stick — Khaosan

When Pigs Fly — Morgan’s Smoked Chicken Wing with Candied Bacon Sauce

Special Award for “Getting on the Highway” — Don Rodrigo

Friends of Firefighters People’s Choice — To be announced after all the beans are counted, interrupted by a thunderstorm