The 2nd annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival was held over the weekend and drew plenty of hungry festival goers including M, K and myself. Last year, the chili and BBQ competitions were split, one on each day but this time, we got a chance to try everything on the same day.



First things first, traded money for coins. $10 for 4 coins or $20 for 10 coins. Each sample cost 1 coin and I couldn't wait to get started! Participating restaurants included The Blarney Stone, Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar, Steamworks, Cork & Fin, Hastings Warehouse, The Charles Bar, Bismarck, The Lamplighter Pub, TUC Craft Kitchen, Deacon’s Corner, Pekinpah and Whet. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived around 4ish, some of the restaurants had already run out of food!

M chose to start with chili at Cork & Fin. Pretty good!

And I decided to try their Jamaican styled wings. Little spicy for my taste but I'm a wimp.

The Blarney Stone was serving up a beef brisket that everyone was lining up for so I decided to try that.



 I liked the Hastings Warehouse wings the best!


Had the fall off the bone delicious rib with coleslaw from Deacon’s Corner!



 K tried the ribs from The Charles but they weren't nearly as fall-off-the-bone.


Steamworks chili looked amazing so I had to get it. I wasn't disappointed either. It was M and my favourite. Delicious and chunky chili topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions served with tortilla chips. Yum!


K also tried the wings from Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar and she liked these the best.

 Live music was playing throughout the event.

 The event raised money for Athletics 4 Kids.

There were raffles and 50/50 ticket draws. Someone who won earlier won again and she donated the money back! So generous!

 Jason Garrison from the Vancouver Canucks was there supporting the cause.


In the end, TUC Craft Kitchen, won the Best Chili and also named the new Grand Champion of the BBQ & Chili Festival. The Blarney Stone took the prize for Best Brisket and the Lamplighter Pub won for Best Ribs.