A local Astoria restaurant took home two awards this week at Backyard BBQ, one of the last events of the New York City Wine & Food Festival.
Butcher Bar, a small-scale barbecue restaurant located in the heart of Astoria, was one of many barbecue joints that took the opportunity to go against some of the city’s best pit-masters and barbecue chefs.
This inaugural event was hosted by Food Network chefs Bobby Flay (“Beat Bobby Flay,” “Iron Chef America”) and Michael Symon (“Iron Chef America,” “The Chew”). The public had the chance to vote on their favorite dishes for the people’s choice award, which went to Astoria’s Butcher Bar.
Butcher Bar founder and chef Matthew Katakis accepted the award, but after receiving the trophy was told to hold on as Bobby Flay announced the winner of the Coca-Cola BBQ challenge, which was voted on by a panel of professional chefs. This award also went to Butcher Bar.
As Chef Katakis accepted the $5,000 check, Bobby Flay literally dropped the mic to celebrate the success of Butcher Bar.
The dish that had the judges’ and public’s mouths watering was Butcher Bar’s “Meat Candy.” The dish consists of succulent, crispy pork, double-smoked beef burnt ends, homemade pickled cucumbers, a little bit of barbecue sauce and habanero sauce for an extra kick, and coleslaw on the side.
QNS has reached out to Chef Katakis for a comment.
