“Famous Dave” Anderson of barbecue fame is coming back to San Jose to scout out more good ‘cue.
The founder of the restaurant chain that bears his name will be in town this Saturday, May 25, to find worthy local pit teams for his Nationwide All-Star BBQ Championship Series, and five local teams are vying for the available spots.
The contest, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside Famous Dave’s at The Plant shopping center on Curtner Avenue, is free and open to the public. Sampling will start at 11, and the People’s Choice voting on barbecue chicken wings will begin at 1:30 p.m.
“Barbecue is really America’s food,” and competitions like this have always led to innovation in the restaurant industry, said Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s, in announcing the inaugural local contest last year.
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“Giving local pitmasters the opportunity to share a family BBQ recipe and the craft they’ve handed down for generations is what BBQ is all about and what makes it interesting. That’s why this is such a passion project of mine. Every community has local legends who are known in the community, love what they do and we want to celebrate their uniqueness and skill.”
At stake is a $5,000 prize purse and a trip to Indianapolis in November for the nationals, in partnership with the World Food Championships. Three teams will advance: the Grand Champion, the Reserve Champion and the winner of the People’s Choice contest.
The Bay Area teams competing Saturday will be Los Mexi”Q”tioners, OD BBQ, Old Greenwood BBQ, Big Daddy’s BBQ 89 and Bone Sauce N Harmony.
Last year, Ryan Pang’s Old Greenwood BBQ and Carlos Lopez’s Los Mexi”Q”tioners went to the nationals. A team from Rio Hondo, Texas, called Al Lino captured the title.
Anderson grew up eating barbecue with his father on the south side of Chicago and opened his first restaurant in Wisconsin in 1994. A Native American of Choctaw and Ojibwe heritage, he’s a former assistant secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is also noted for his philanthropy and work with at-risk youth.
There are more than 100 Famous Dave’s restaurants nationwide, mostly operated by franchisees. In Northern California, besides San Jose, there are locations in Alameda at Alameda Landing and at Hayward’s Southland Mall. Takeout options are available in Fairfield, Modesto and elsewhere.
Details: 61 Curtner Ave., San Jose; www.famousdaves.com