OBX Taste of the Beach a Tasty Treat

Bluewater Grill & Raw Bar at the BBQ, Wings Showdown.
Bluewater Grill & Raw Bar at the BBQ, Wings Showdown.

We’ve had a lot to say about the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach and now that it’s here and gone, it’s time for a recap.

There is no perfect way to describe everything that happens over the four days of the event—there is just too much happening. Tapas crawls…we were partial to the Kitty Hawk Friday night crawl that featured Russo’s Bistro & Bar, Ocean Boulevard and Coastal Provisions. But that was just one of many.

Wine tasting? Impossible to choose, although Sanctuary vineyards did an amazing job pairing wines with food at a number of events.

So that leaves us with the two major events, the Wings & BBQ Showdown and the Grand Tasting & Bartenders Bubbly Bash, both at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head.

Our tip if going to either event next year is do not eat breakfast. In fact, maybe restrict caloric intake the day before as well.

The Saturday Showdown featured some great wings, fantastic eastern North Carolina barbecue and melt in your mouth ribs. Tough call on our favorite. We really liked what Coastal Cravings did with their ribs, but the competition was close there was no clear favorite.

Fantastic music by Jonny Waters and Company.

Sunday was as the Grand Tasting and it was grand.

If there was ever any question about the expertise of Outer Banks chefs this one event should put all doubts to rest. There was a wonderful fresh rockfish over a sweet potato soufflé. The Carolina Crab Cocktail Coastal Cravings was serving up was really good. And the list goes on and on.

And of course there were the Champagne cocktails, which were also wonderful.

Tough call all around, so we’ll take the graceful way out and not call out a winner.

Soul One was the music. Loved it.

Summer’s coming! If you have not made your Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates reservations, do it soon for best selection.

BBQ & Wings-A Joe Lamb, Jr. Favorite Event

Serving up BBQ, ribs and wings at the 2017 Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates BBQ & Wings Showdown.
Serving up BBQ, ribs and wings at the 2017 Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates BBQ & Wings Showdown.

Our Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates BBQ & Wings has the distinction of being our favorite event in the Taste of the Beach, one of our favorite Outer Banks happenings.

Near perfect weather greeted everyone at the Showdown.
Near perfect weather greeted everyone at the Showdown.

Yes the Chowder Cook-off is a lot of fun and the Grand Tasting puts some of the finest chefs anywhere together in one room, but it’s hard to imagine anything more quintessentially North Carolina that barbecue and wings.

And this year the weather gods really smiled on us.

It as nice, too, because the everyone who showed up could take their ribs, barbecue and wings out to the picnic area we had set up and enjoy a perfect Outer Banks spring day.

With Jonny Waters & Company back for a third year pushing out some great country and blues tunes, this seemed about as close to perfection as it gets.

Jonny Waters on drums beating out the rhythm to Santana's “Oye Coma Va."
Jonny Waters on drums beating out the rhythm to Santana’s “Oye Coma Va.”

We’re always cautious about reviewing the food we’re sampling except to say it was all wonderful. That, of course, is the safe way to go—we might think the sliders at Blue Water Grill were the best, but not everyone would agree.

The judges picked Pamlico Jack’s as the best pork BBQ and the People’s Choice award went to Frogman’s BBQ.

The one selection that we agree with and seemed to be fairly universal were the ribs from Simply Southern, just across the Wright Brothers Bridge in Currituck. Big, juicy, succulent smoked ribs. Fantastic.

We had a lot of fun, but it is a lot of work and our Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates crew really stepped up. We also could not have done this with out the help of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau who sponsored the event with us.

Winners

A tough job, but someone has to do it. At the judge's table.
A tough job, but someone has to do it. At the judge’s table.

Judges Award for Best Pork BBQ – Pamlico Jack’s

Judges Award for Best Ribs – Simply Southern Kitchen

Judges Award for Best Wings – Cafe Lachine

People’s Choice Award for Best BBQ – Frogman’s BBQ

People’s Choice Award for Best Ribs – Simply Southern Kitchen

People’s Choice Award fir Best Wings – New York Pizza Pub

2016 BBQ & Wings Showdown Culinary Magic

Serving bbq and ribs at Sooey's.
Serving bbq, ribs, and wings at Sooey’s.

There is a lot to like and not a thing to dislike about the Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates BBQ & Wings Showdown. The concept is simple—invite 16 Outer Banks restaurants to whip up their finest barbecue, ribs and chicken wing recipes and throw in some great music from Jonny Waters & Company.

It also helps to move the event from the parking lot at Sea Ranch Resort to the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head, include some great weather and, Voila (!)—a perfect way to spend a few hours on a Friday afternoon.

Part of the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach, the BBQ & Wings Showdown really stepped it up a notch this year. More great food to sample and a larger space with plenty of parking all added up to a fantastic experience.

If there is a complaint it is that even a nibble of food samples from 16 booths is enough to add 12 pounds of weight in three hours; nonetheless, the effort had to be made.

The results are in, and like anything having to do with taste, it is a bit subjective, but it’s tough to disagree with anything on the list.

There’s not enough space to review everything we tried, but there’s no disagreement here for the People’s Choice award for best ribs—incredibly meaty, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

Judges Awards:

Best BBQ – High Cotton

Best Ribs – TIE – Jolly Roger and Sooey’s BBQ

Best Wings – Jolly Roger

People’s Choice:

Best BBQ – High Cotton

Best Ribs – Aqua Restaurant

Best Wings – Lucky 12 Tavern

Participating Restaurants

AQUA: BBQ & Ribs

Lucky 12: BBQ, Ribs & Wings

Roadside Grill: BBQ

The Blue Point: Ribs & Wings

Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar: BBQ

Café Pamlico: BBQ & Wings

Beachside Bistro: BBQ

SaltyDawg Smokehouse: BBQ, Ribs & Wings

Sooey’s BBQ: BBQ, Ribs & Wings

High Cotton: BBQ & Wings

Pigman’s Barbeque: BBQ, Ribs & Wings

Cravings: Wings

Chilli Peppers Coast Grill: Wings

Jolly Roger: Ribs & Wings

Frogman’s Barbecue: BBQ

Outback Steakhouse: Ribs