Barbecue will be the centerpiece of a new local food festival, this one dubbed Smoked Dallas, slated for October 4 in Main Street Garden downtown. In addition to barbecue in all its meaty glory, festivalgoers can expect “smokin’” tunes and other entertainment.
“It’s meant to take the best of traditional BBQ fests but add a twist: the inclusion of celebrated area chefs and restaurants doing their take on BBQ in the heart of downtown Dallas,” said Tami Thomsen, of event producer SONAR Management, in a release.
Fifteen traditional pitmasters and chefs are on the bill, from joints such as Black’s Barbecue (Lockhart), Cousin’s Bar-B-Q (Fort Worth), Hutchins BBQ (McKinney), Schmidt Family Barbecue (Bee Cave), and Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q (Tyler) — all of which were ranked among the best in the state by Texas Monthly.
As for chefs, Kent Rathbun will be cooking, along with Jennie Kelley and Ben Starr, Masterchef season two finalists and current operators of Frank Underground.
Among the music acts are Bob Schneider, Black Joe Lewis, The Tontons and Lost Coyote, fronted by Dallas chef Dean Fearing. Rounding out the fun are booths from Ascot + Hart and PhotoWagon as well as a pop-up barbershop from Hair By Charlie’s.
More BBQ slingers and musical acts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Beneficiary for the inaugural Smoked Dallas is Cafe Momentum, which provides at-risk youth with job skills, mentors and networking opportunities within the restaurant industry. Students enrolled in the CM program will prepare side dishes at Smoked Dallas.
Barbecue fans who simply must get a one-hour jump on the tasting can buy VIP tickets ($75); general admission tickets ($45) provide access to the tasting and concerts from 2-5 pm. After 5 pm, tickets ($22) are for the concert only, with BBQ available for purchase separately.
Tickets go on sale July 2 via Prekindle.com.
Pitmasters from places like Stanley's in Tyler will churn out barbecue favorites at Smoked Dallas.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora