Grillstock 2016 The Mayhem Continues www.foodfestivalfinder.co.uk /blogs/201606/grillstock-2016-mayhem-continues

Looking for a cultural weekend? (BBQ is a culture I assure you) then get down to Bristol Harbourside next weekendfor the UK’s biggest BBQ and music festival in its home city. It’s hard to imagine that the city has any Grillstockvirgins left but if you’re out there, there are still some tickets left. Headlining this year’s event will be Scottish indierockers The Fratellis, along with a line-up that includes The Levellers, Cuban Brothers and if that wasn’t enough TheStranglers will also be gracing the stage along with many other acts including Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Bandand adding a bit of Latino spice will be those nacho-nibbling Mexicans, The Mariachi’s to provide the perfectsoundtrack to this harbourside hoe down. As I mentioned before this is a BBQ and music festival with BBQ being atthe fore front and the main star of the weekend. At the very heart of Grillstock’s is the ‘King of the Grill’, a US-stylelow ‘n’ slow all out BBQ battle stretching across the weekend with a huge 30 teams firing up their grills to fight it outfor the crown and the chance to compete in the World Food Championships in Las Vegas.

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More Gruelling than the London Marathon, is the challenge of Grillstock’s eating competitions. The weekend will seethe fiery challenge of dining on the hottest chillis on the planet, contestants wolfing down as many hot dogs as theycan in just five minutes in the French’s Mustard hot dog eating competition and brave souls chowing down onbuckets of smokin’ hot chicken wings in the Frank’s RedHot wing eating challenge, the festival has been over ranwith competitiors this year, so choose your champion and cheer them on to victory.

If watching a grown man throw 150 hot dogs down his neck in five minutes wasn’t enough of an education you canalways watch the professionals and enjoy the Weber team giving presentations and outlining techniques includinggrilling, roasting, smoking and baking using their range of gas and charcoal barbecues; sessions over the weekendinclude the perfect ribeye steak, smoked chicken pizza, the ultimate fiery donut burger, ribs with a honey bourbonglaze and toffee baton with pecans. You’ll never BBQ the same way again.

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Obviously though Grillstock wouldn’t be Grillstock without the opportunity to sample some of the best BBQ tradersand their superb meaty treats. From the hog fries, pork carnitas and chicken wraps of French’s Street Food tobrisket, baby back ribs and pulled pork served by Hays Smokehouse, a taste bud treat awaits at every turn. Forthose who want to round off the meaty magnificence with something sweet Pop-up Pancakes will be offering somesweet fillings. Hobbs House toasties will also be on sale along with 100% Hereford beef burgers from festivalcompetition winners Beefy Boys. Ivor’s Ice Cream and Jimmy’s Iced Coffee will offer something to savour after yourmain course.

And if you’re feeling thirsty Grillstock’s lead beer for this year’s festival is Budweiser Budvar, showcasing its new,Tankove Pivo, which will be delivered direct to Bristol from its hallowed cellars in the Czech Republic. Due to its 102days’ brewing and conditioning time, Budweiser Budvar is an excellent pairing with the slow-cooked meat served atthe festival. This beer will be served alongside a range of other Budweiser Budvar award-winning lagers andGrillstock’s very own pale ale but it isn’t just about beer an dale here as the Beefsteak Club are joining forces withGrillstock to bring some of the best Argentinean wines to serve up at this year’s festival.

Launched in the UK 18 months ago, Beefsteak Club was created specifically for meat lovers, recognising that thosewho like a good steak are often equally enthusiastic about their wine. The Beefsteak team will be bringing twoArgentinean Malbecs to this year’s Grillstock Festival, helping Bristol’s BBQ fans appreciate the wine grown at thefoothills of the Andes in a country known for producing some of the best steaks in the world.

All in all this year’s festival is not to be missed and there’s a lot more going on than can fit here so slip on a Cubanheeled cowboy boot, grab your hat and pack your appetite, trust me you’ll thanks us for steering you (get it?) in theright direction.

(Grillstock is held on the 2nd and 3rd July on Bristol’s Harbourside. Tickets are now sold out for Saturdayand the weekend. Sunday tickets are still available online here.)

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