Just look at how happy they are! :D
Today was the last day of New York’s annual Big Apple Barbeque Block Party in Madison Square Park where sixteen admirable pitmasters attempted to feed a kajillion and a half hungry barbeque fans.
My friends and I aimed to arrive at 11am sharp, as soon as the event opened, but ended up somewhere closer to 11:30am. That meager head start proved good enough as we got about 20-30 minutes to walk around undecidedly, use our fastpass incorrectly (then, use it correctly … doh), and eventually procure ourselves plates of barbeque before the crowds descended. Then, two of us tried to gnaw the same rib.
I swear we’re competent most days.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get any photos of the ‘cue because it was delicious. This should come no surprise as I have a very different set of priorities than the average food photographer when surrounded by the savory (a set that will sometimes lead to two people eating one rib). But I will pull them from Facebook once they’re posted by the ‘real’ photographer in our group, and his photos would be better than mine anyways. So, don’t leave! Or, I mean, come back! When I have more photos! (**update: photos added at the end**)
What I do have photos of, and what was one of the highlights of today’s eat-bbq-as-entertainment agenda — in addition to the pulled pork, baby back ribs, brisket, and root beer float — is the deep fried fruit pies we got at the end.
The blacked out portion of the sign used to read “apple”. By the time we got to the front of the line, they should have blacked out “peach” too, which sucks, because that was the one filling we all agreed that we wanted.
As you can see from the uninterrupted ribbon of receipts, this stand was the most popular girl at the school dance. Minutes after we ordered, they sold out and shut down, leaving the long line of hopefuls to disperse, the oiled perfume of the deep fryer hanging on their clothes, teasing them, haunting them, always reminding them that they were once this close to touching glory, only to have just missed the one chance to change their lives forever.
Luckily, those suckers were not us! HA HA HA. HA!
We may not have gotten our first choice, but we did get our second choice — apricot — which you know, kinda looks the same if you’ve had a few beers and squint.
This photo is to prove that I have passed my class on ‘Sharing’ and deserve to graduate into adulthood. I will take that life of bills, worries, and deteriorating memory now thank you!
So sweet and gooey and apricot-y on the inside. Devoured. Also, crispy fried pie crust, you are a noble and generous edible.
I’m sorry little apricot pie and I thank you for the sacrifice you have made here today. YUM!
Photos by Tim
Have you been to the Chip Shop in Brooklyn? You can even bring your own stuff to deep fry. And now I want a fried peach pie. I think I can even smell it. Hopefully that doesn’t mean I’m having a stroke or something.
You and food. I’m telling you. xoL
No I haven’t, but you’ve got my attention! Also, because of the stroke. Please do not have one bc of me. I like giving gifts to my friends, but that would not be one of them. <3
dang, your big apple barbeque pass looks like a cosmopolitan take on the texas flag!
love the pictures of the pie. I just ate and am hungry again!
Also love the picture of the serious man massaging some serious brisket.
In Texas, all the folks serving you food would weigh 40 pounds more.
Haha thanks! There were a few pitmasters from Texas there but I forgot who. Alls I know is that as soon as we got there, I badgered everyone about ‘needing’ to buy the Salt Lick bbq sauce you sent me before. Finally, at the end, I was able to get my hands on the last bottle. Yesssss!
I made Marc bbq chicken with it and he is now addicted as well. So thank you for being our pusher. ;)