The sixth, annual Porkapalooza BBQ Festival took place from June 15–16, 2019 on the Edmonton Expo Centre grounds, featuring a 44-team BBQ competition, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), along with food, drink and entertainment for the thousands of public guests that attended.
“This year’s Porkapalooza was another success,” said Mark Bosworth, Chair, Porkapalooza BBQ Festival Society. “We are Canada’s largest BBQ festival by number of competition teams, and we are Canada’s most unique BBQ festival for the interactive components we include for our visitors. As a result, public awareness of BBQ culture continues to grow in western Canada and beyond. I would like to thank everyone who supports our event.”
The 2019 Porkapalooza Grand Champion (awarded to the team with the best overall score) is SmellaQue of Calgary, Alberta. Along with their first-place Chicken, fourth-placed Pork Shoulder and fifth-place Pork Ribs, SmellaQue took home over $3,000 in cash prizes, along with a year’s supply of creamer potatoes, courtesy of The Little Potato Company. The Reserve Champion (second place overall) is Prairie Smoke & Spice BBQ of Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan. Last year, these two teams occupied each other’s respective position.
“Our team is thrilled to win Porkapalooza. This weekend was a special moment for us, as our first-ever BBQ competition was Porkapalooza’s inaugural year [2014], and we have been back annually ever since,” said Janice Smella, pit master, SmellaQue. “We are proud to be an Alberta-based team and are truly amazed with the support provided by all of the festival’s partners. There is nothing better than a weekend of enthusiastic cooks and celebration of BBQ goodness!”
All teams placing first to tenth in every KCBS-required category (Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder, Chicken, Beef Brisket) and ancillary, optional category (Chef’s Choice, Kids’ Challenge) received customized Epicurean cutting board trophies. View the full competition results.
Porkapalooza is organized by the Porkapalooza BBQ Festival Society, a non-profit organization, with generous financial support from Alberta Pork and other sponsors. Alberta Pork represents the province’s registered hog producers before government, industry partners, media, the general public and other interest groups.
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