There are few places one might be less likely to run into a vegetarian than the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, the annual outdoor festival of all things 'cue that runs next weekend in Madison Square Park, Manhattan.
The event - now in its sixth year - gathers all the grandmasters of barbecue for a massive meaty confab. The heavy hitters serve up pulled pork, beef brisket, whole hog, and of course ribs (St Louis style, Texas-style, Kansas City-style, baby back, beef) include some of America's finest: Blue Smoke of New York, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q out of Decatur, Alabama, The Salt Lick BBQ up from Driftwood, Texas, to name but a few.
These pitmasters set up their stalls in a vast circle on the perimeter of the park, each serving his or her speciality. Customers queue - and you can expect to wait in line for a good while with more than 100,000 burger-hungry souls expected to turn up - $8 in hand, to buy their favorite dishes. Country and soul groups perform on a purpose-built stage for the finger-lickin' masses. And there are demonstrations and seminars, such as "What is it About Men and Meat and Midnight and a Pit?" and "How to Build a Better Barbecue Burger".
It's crowded all right and gluttonous and more than a bit frantic. After all, meat lovers are a passionate lot and it's a rare thing to have the world's best barbeque at one's greasy, sauce-stained fingertips.
· Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Madison Square Park June 7–8, noon-6pm, admission free
