Pigs were flying during Windy City Smokeout’s Sunday Brunch.
Adam Richman – the charismatic host of NBC’s “Food Fighters” and former host of Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” – strolled around the three-day barbecue and country music festival’s brunch holding a platter of bacon and tongs. He handed bacon to some guests with tongs and flung bacon to others, including myself, without even asking while hosting the communal style meal.
“You want bacon,” said Richman as he tossed bacon onto my plate from about five feet away with impressive accuracy.
The third annual Windy City Smokeout once against took place at the parking lot at 560 W. Grand Ave in the Fulton River District neighborhood, only this year it took up nearly double the space. The festival is a collaborative effort between brothers R.J. and Jerrod Melman and Joe’s Bar co-owner Ed Warm, who run Bub City together. Richman said one of his agents is the brother of Windy City Smokeout collaborator and Bub City chef and partner Doug Psaltis.
Here’s a look at Windy City Smokeout’s music, memorable moments and, of course, the food, most of which did not go airborn.
Favorite performance
Windy City Smokeout saved the best for last. A sweaty Lee Brice closed out the festival Sunday with a memorable performance featuring enough hits and crowd interaction to keep the audience interested and singing along just about the whole way through. The pop song covers (including “Rude” by Magic!) were unexpected and a nice change of pace. Not as surprising: The on-stage marriage proposal during Brice’s “I Don’t Dance.” You could smell the proposal coming from a mile away the second you saw the couple walking on stage. Brice – who comes off as a regular dude — also brought soldiers, firefighters and policemen on stage at one point, where they were applauded and treated to a “USA!” chant, and he gave one fan in the crowd his black acoustic guitar midway through the show.
One band I’m going to listen to a lot more now after seeing them at Windy City Smokeout Saturday is Dan + Shay. Like I mentioned on Twitter, the duo reminds me of a younger Rascal Flatts. I just wished they would avoid some of the concert cliches like “This is the craziest show we’ve ever played.” And someone tell Dan Smyers you don’t need to say the name of the city you’re performing in twice per song. Other than that — fun show. Look forward to seeing them again at what I’m sure will also be “the craziest show” they’ve ever played.
Favorite food
I was set to give this honor to the baby back ribs at Pappy’s Smokehouse for the second year in a row, but that was before Myron Mixon’s whole-hog dinner, which required a separate ticket, Sunday evening. That hog — courtesy of the three-time barbecue world champion and judge on Destination America’s “BBQ Pitmasters” — was some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had. That’s not hyperbole. The meat’s various flavors were incredible. Other favorites of mine: Hogapalooza’s St. Louis smoke ribs and Lillie’s Q’s tri-tip.
On the record
“I think black was a bad choice.” – Chris Stapleton, who wore all black Sunday during his performance in the hot sun
“Where are my single people at? … Ya’ll are (out of luck) because this next song is a love song.” — Country music singer Chris Young, who performed Saturday
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“I make little franken-bites. I take a little bit of chicken off of some Gus’s (Fried Chicken), maybe put in a little bit of (The) Salt Lick burnt ends, hit it with a little bit of Bub City hot sauce, little bit of alcohol and an angioplasty and you’re good to go.” – Richman on his approach to eating at the fest
“You don’t want to get it off.” – Mixon’s response when I asked how to get the strong barbecue smell off your clothes
Complaint
It’s hard to complain about a festival with short food and drink lines and incredibly clean bathrooms, but if I had one gripe, it’s that some of the restaurants kept running out of out of certain food items. Doughnut Vault ran out of buttermilk doughnuts Saturday and Sunday and Pappy’s didn’t even sell the ribs everyone loves those days (#FirstWorldProblems). As for the $40 single day price of admission, I somewhat agree with those who say it was a bit pricey seeing how it didn’t include food or drinks. But those complaints seemed to mostly come from non-country fans who don’t take into account the music performances (and bathrooms!) included in the ticket.
By the numbers
30,000. Estimated attendance for the three-day festival, according to organizers. Windy City Smokeout drew 20,000 in 2014.
22. Hours it took Mixon to cook the pig used in his whole-hog dinner.
$85. Price of the women’s beaver felt hat cowboy hat — the most expensive cowboy hat for sale at the fest.
Sightings
Reality TV couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic, who co-own RPM Steak and RPM Italian with the Melmans and Psaltis, took in Sundy Best’s performance Sunday at Windy City Smokeout. … Chris Masterson (“Malcolm in the Middle”) was on hand at the fest all three days. … Fitz and the Tantrums’ singer Noelle Scaggs was there Sunday.
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