Big Apple Barbecue 2010

Why is it that grilling goes hand in hand with overindulging- you've taken down 2 burgers and somehow find yourself stuffing a hot dog in your mouth? My theory- grills are a hot commodity for those of us banned from having one (save for the lucky few, nearly everyone I know in Manhattan). Whenever the hard-to-come-by plate of grilled food makes an appearance it becomes a natural reaction to pack in as much as our stomachs allow.

The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, held for eight consecutive years in Madison Square Park, is grilling, smoking, charring, and overindulging at its finest. Legendary pitmasters from all over the country gather for one weekend in June, bringing their different barbecue styles and techniques to Manhattan. My husband and I met friends late Saturday afternoon, proceeded to hit up one small section of the party, and still managed to eat more than our fair share. We told ourselves it was overindulgence for a greener New York- proceeds from the event went to the Madison Square Park Conservancy, the organization responsible for maintaining the park.

The FastPass- an essential for the Big Apple Barbecue. The holder and one guest are guaranteed exclusive access to express lines for the duration of the event

The reason we come back year after year, Ed Mitchell's The Pit

Ed Mitchell's smokers, heavy with whole hogs

Blackjack BBQ's pulled pork shoulder and coleslaw

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q sold homemade sausage with pimento cheese and saltines

Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn's barbecue mutton and burgoo

St. Louis style ribs from Pappy's Smokehouse

Wildwood Barbeque is a local favorite in Manhattan

Pulled pork shoulder and coleslaw from Ubon's Barbeque of Yazoo

This guy found himself on top of a tree with a gaggle of onlookers- possibly drunk with barbecue