Europe’s Largest BBQ Festival, The Big Grill, takes over the leafy suburbs of South Dublin this weekend and if we had one piece of advice for you it would be to *GO HUNGRY*.
The festival allows you to smell, taste, discover and learn about all kinds of BBQing grilling, smoking, meats and delicacies from around the globe and takes place in Herbert Park from Thurs 16 to Sun 19 August.
We’ve broken down the full lineup here, and highlighted some of the most unique attractions here.
Now we’ve compiled a list of not-to-be-missed dishes, demos and acts to complete your Big Grill hitlist.
Stand-Out Dishes according to Nick Solares
Red Pepper Lamb “Tomahawk” – Yosma
Jack May of Yosma in London is serving up a red pepper lamb “tomahawk” — a ribchop with the short rib left attached creating a long, majestic looking bone. Served with a creamy beetroot tzatziki, pickled cabbage, and fresh herbs to counter the richness of the lamb.
When? Thursday, Friday
Culinary Mash Up – Smokestak
Dave Carter from the white hot barbecue joint Smokestak in London is cooking up a culinary mash up featuring Texas style brisket in a taco shell with baby cucumber and spiked with the bird’s eye chilis popular throughout South East Asia.
When? Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Texas Style Beef Short Rib – Hometown Barbecue
Pitmaster Billy Durney of Hometown Barbecue is serving a perfect rendition of the Texas style beef short rib but using locals Irish beef. Rubbed simply in salt and pepper and smoked for long hours over oak the result is a smoky punch and a supremely beefy flavor. Don’t you dare ask for sauce!
When? Saturday
Beef Plate Ribs Asado Stule – Churrascada
Pitmaster Mario Portella of Churrascada, Brazil is cooking beef plate ribs asado style over a ground fire. The low and slow meat is served in classic Brazilian style with farofa, the toasted flour mixture that is an essential part of the cuisine.
When? Thursday, Friday
Don’t-Miss Demos
Fire By Friction
What? You can’t celebrate all things BBQ without going back to basics. This Bush Craft demo is all about the oldest and most primitive way of making fire, rubbing sticks together. This is where it all started – and will earn you major kudos on your next camping trip.
Where? Bush Craft
When? Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday @18:45
Meat Life w/ Nick Solares
What? Nick Solares is a food writer, photographer, TV presenter, and an expert and thought leader on meat-eating. Meat Life is a show dedicated to the exploration and celebration of meat eating and the modern carnivore lifestyle – something we can absolutely get on board with.
Where? Baste Camp
When? Saturday @ 2:30pm & 6:45
Billycan Cheese Stake – Living Wilderness
Where? Bush Craft
When? Saturday & Sunday, 2pm
Must-See Acts
DJ BBQ
What? No one does beats and BBQ quite like the host DJ BBQ head of ‘catertainment’. Fully spandexed he’ll be manning the decks, the stage, the festival as well as cooking up a fire laden feast. As well as his banging Main Stage gigs, DJ BBQ will be doing food demos throughout the weekend at Baste Camp.
Where? Main Stage
When? Friday @ 8pm & Sunday @ 7:45pm
Hot Wing and Chilli Eating Challenges
What? The wildly popular crowd pleaser – the Hot Wing and Chilli Eating Challenges are back, bigger and better than ever.
Where? Main Stage
When? Chili Pepper Challenge – Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sunday @ 7pm
Hot Wing Challenge – Saturday & Sunday @ 4pm
Fancy yourself as a playa? You can apply to take part here.
Ajo Arkestra
What? Ájo Arkestra is an ‘Afrofuturistic’ Multicultural group of musicians from the four corners of the world, formerly known as “Dublin Afrobeat Ensemble”.
Expect a mix of Afrobeat, Funk, Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Soul and Dub, playing a blend of free flow Afrobeat rythms and heavy dance-floor Afro funk.
These guys have played Body and Soul, Electric Picnic, Life Festival, Mela Festival Belfast, Cork Jazz Festival and countless live venues such as the Button Factory and the Grand Social in Dublin.
When? Sunday @ 5pm
Where? Main Stage
For full timetables and tickets heat to The Big Grill website and make sure to check out The Big Grill out on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.