Jammin’, Eat Cue’ Dominate Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
Charlene Gilliam is a heart and soul D.C. woman who was having a good time at the 33rd Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle on Pennsylvania Avenue NW on June 21.
While many attended the two-day event to partake of the numerous nationwide barbecue options that restaurateurs and pitmasters had to offer, that’s not the reason she paid to come on June 21.
“I love go-go and when I heard that the Barbecue Battle was going to have go-go bands playing, I had to come,” said Gilliam, 63.
Gilliam said she really got down when Too Much Talent Band played the go-go rendition of the country and western classic “Sweet Home Alabama,” dancing and jamming along to the performance.
“I am not big on barbecue,” she told The Informer, “I just came to hear the music.”
It was the Barbecue Battle’s reputation for offering customers good food that brought Edonia Thomas and Xavier Hicks from Virginia to the District for the event, for the first time.
Thomas and Hicks were waiting in the long line at the Taste of Giant Sampling Pavilion that featured small samples of food from different restaurants and vendors.
“I am waiting to taste some good food hopefully,” Thomas, a 26-year-old Alexandria resident, said. “I do wish there were fewer people in this line, but it is moving quite nicely. I am enjoying myself here.”
Hicks agreed with Thomas.
“I wanted to try some good food,” the 26-year-old from Fredericksburg said. “I would like to try some oxtail before I leave. I never had that before and I heard it is good. Besides, it is something different.”
Partying at the Barbecue Battle
Gilliam was among the thousands of people who came to the barbecue and music display that took place from 3rd to 7th Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Despite the near-100-degree weather, people braved the weather to purchase food, visit vendor tents and listen to various genres of music.
The go-go tent, encompassing the Pepsi Lay Art to Go-Go Stage, was where Gilliam posted that day. The set-up was located on 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in a small patch of land aptly named “Go-Go Park” for the event.
The tent had people sitting in chairs with some people standing around it listening and gently swaying to the music of such musical talents as the Junkyard Band, Big Tony & Trouble Funk and Be’la Dona.
Immediately to the left of where the concert was taking place was The Arts to Go-Go Village, where tents of artists and District government agencies highlighting the artistic talents of Washingtonians were located.
Kristina Noell, the executive director of the Anacostia BID, helped to create the go-go village.
“There is a lot of artistic talent in Anacostia, and we wanted people who attended the Barbecue Battle to know that,” Noell told The Informer.
The District’s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) played an integral role in landing the musical talent said Director LaToya Foster. While Gilliam appreciated the entertainment, she did have a gripe with the go-go setup.
“I wish they had more space for people to dance,” Foster said.
The Food Experience
Many Washingtonians know Teddy Carpenter as a locally based standup comedian whose jokes and stories have people rolling in laughter. However, at the Barbecue Battle on June 21, Carpenter was in a serious mood as he supervised his pop-up business, Black Betty’s BBQ.
People were waiting in line to order cuisine such as brisket, brisket sandwiches, beef ribs, lamb chops, oxtails, barbecue wings, potato salad and coleslaw.
Carpenter’s employees worked at a near-frantic pace as they sought to get customers their orders in a timely manner. Despite the workload, Carpenter was pleased at being at the Barbecue Battle.
“We are happy to be here,” he said. “We have done some of the larger festivals such as the World Pride, H Street and Cannabis Festival. When we participate in these events, it is the roll of the dice. For example, we invested $18,000 in this event, but it is my hope that we turn that $18,000 into $50,000.”
By participating in the Barbecue Battle, Carpenter said he is giving back in his own way.
“I am employing about 18 people to help run this tent and this is about serving good food to the people,” he said.
Next to the food pavilion was the Giant Fresh Ideas Demonstration Stage that featured chefs and food experts. A popular presenter was Chef Wenford Simpson who delights his customers and large following at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill and the Highland Ballroom in New York City.
For his food demonstration, Simpson prepared a curry stew detailing the ingredients and cooking techniques. After the preparation, Simpson and an assistant handed out samples for the audience.
However, Simpson had more than the cuisine to offer.
“Guys, believe in your dreams, don’t give up,” he said. “I rose from poverty to employ 196 people. If I can do it, you can too.”
As dusk settled in, Gilliam looked forward to the performance of Junkyard Band. When asked whether she will come to the Barbecue Battle next year, she said “definitely.”
“Hey, I may even try some barbecue,” she said with a mischievous smile.
