Rib King NYC™ went to Staten Island on Saturday, May 28, 2022: the open meadow at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, an all-you-can-eat Memorial Day weekend picnic with tables from the Sauce King NYC makers, Hard Cider Alley, a jamón station, pickles from Rick’s Picks, vegetables from the Snug Harbor Heritage Farm grilled by former Blue Hill chef Trevor Kunk, and ten-plus grilling stations. A brief midday shower did nothing to the lines.
The crown went to Joe Musngi of SmoKing of Meats (@smokingofmeats) of New Jersey for his St. Louis candied ribs, one month after he had won Brisket King NYC 2022 with his Filipino-Texas barbecue. Bark Barbecue (@bark_barbecue) of Queens took second and Blue Smoke (@bluesmokenyc) (Bret Lunsford) took third.
The 2022 awards
- Rib King NYC™ Champion: Joe Musngi, SmoKing of Meats, St. Louis candied ribs
- Second place: Bark Barbecue
- Third place: Blue Smoke, Bret Lunsford
- Most Innovative: Zabb PuTawn (@zabbputawn), lemongrass Filipino rib
- Brought the Sauce: Darlene Lawrence, Sands Jerk Hut (@official_sandsjerkhut), maple jerk sauce
- Smokey Robinson Award (deepest smoke): Sean Keever, Big Guns BBQ (@boomboombbq)
Who cooked
Also at the grills: Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats (@smoke_sweats) in his first Rib King, Chef Jesse Jones, Matt Fisher of Queens Custom Barbecue (@queenscustombarbecue), Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs (@holycityhog) with shrimp and grits and pork sliders, Jase’s BBQ (@jasebbq), and the Friends of Firefighters (@friendsoffirefighters) crew. Sauces from Coney Island Saucery, Bayou Gotham and Rocket Fuel Foods; ciders from Brooklyn Cider House, Aval, Original Sin, Romilly and Austin Eastciders; a welcome cocktail from Upstate Vodka; beer from Flagship Brewing. Sponsors included Prairie Fresh and Kikuichi.
Results and field from NYC BBQ Weekly, June 3, 2022 (Sean Keever, who competed) and the Rib King NYC 2022 preview; photos by Sean Ludwig.