GRAND CHAMPION - AL & TIFFANY LINO (RIO SMOKE)
Las Vegas, NV (BBQCRITIC) - They say, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Well not at the 2023 Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series.
Pitmaster Al Lino (Rio Smoke) drove 1,500 miles from Rio Hondo, TX to compete at this May 23rd contest. Vegas may have been built on a desert, but it did not leave Lino high and dry. Rio Smoke won the Grand Champion and Lino will take home his winnings, including a Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships this Fall
Pitmaster Al Lino (Rio Smoke) drove 1,500 miles from Rio Hondo, TX to compete at this May 23rd contest. Vegas may have been built on a desert, but it did not leave Lino high and dry. Rio Smoke won the Grand Champion and Lino will take home his winnings, including a Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships this Fall
GRAND CHAMPION - Al and Tiffany Lino (Rio Smoke) This inaugural event makes for an exciting time in the world of BBQ. Famous Dave's of America (FDA) and World Food Championships (WFC) have teamed up to create a unique and creative BBQ competition which provides a pathway to WFC. The top two winners get a Golden Ticket to compete at the WFC 2023 Barbecue Championship in Dallas, TX (Nov 8-12).
A competitor could eventually make it to THE FINAL TABLE for a shot at the $100,000 prize. The WFC is the global leader in food sport (To learn more about WFC, please check out their website)
Celebrity Pitmaster, Sterling Smith (Loot N booty BBQ) advanced to The Final Table this year. That was quite an achievement. Smith also competed at the Vegas contest and landed 3rd Overall. Congratulations, Sterling Smith, on both accomplishments.
A competitor could eventually make it to THE FINAL TABLE for a shot at the $100,000 prize. The WFC is the global leader in food sport (To learn more about WFC, please check out their website)
Celebrity Pitmaster, Sterling Smith (Loot N booty BBQ) advanced to The Final Table this year. That was quite an achievement. Smith also competed at the Vegas contest and landed 3rd Overall. Congratulations, Sterling Smith, on both accomplishments.
3RD OVERALL - STERLING SMITH (Loot N booty BBQ)
 All-Star Promo |  Rack of Lamb |  Pork Ribs |  Chicken Wings |
Pitmaster Stephen Nieto (Stevo's BBQ) won the Reserve Grand and is taking home a trophy with $1,500 cash winnings and a Golden Ticket to the WFC. Nieto is from the Vegas area and his restaurant, Stevo's Smoke House Kitchen, is located in Henderson, NV. The company website has a tagline that reads, "Disabled Veteran Owned and Operated."
A passion for cooking began over 30 years ago for Nieto. When he joined the military, he travelled the world learning a variety of cuisines from different chefs. Unfortunately, later on he developed PTSD.
The Nevada BBQ Association quotes Nieto on their website, "PTSD got the best of me for a while, sleeping on the street, depression and such, but I got my mojo back, cooking for the base and being a part of Nevada Barbecue and competing," he said. "God is good to me."
Sounds like his wife, Veronica, is also good to him. The restaurant website quotes Nieto, "With my wife Veronica by my side, we bring a dream team of some of the best BBQ and all cuisine this side of the country."
Thank you for your service, Stephen Nieto, and congrats on your Reserve Grand Champion. May your business continue to be blessed with success. No matter what, you are a true champion of life itself
A passion for cooking began over 30 years ago for Nieto. When he joined the military, he travelled the world learning a variety of cuisines from different chefs. Unfortunately, later on he developed PTSD.
The Nevada BBQ Association quotes Nieto on their website, "PTSD got the best of me for a while, sleeping on the street, depression and such, but I got my mojo back, cooking for the base and being a part of Nevada Barbecue and competing," he said. "God is good to me."
Sounds like his wife, Veronica, is also good to him. The restaurant website quotes Nieto, "With my wife Veronica by my side, we bring a dream team of some of the best BBQ and all cuisine this side of the country."
Thank you for your service, Stephen Nieto, and congrats on your Reserve Grand Champion. May your business continue to be blessed with success. No matter what, you are a true champion of life itself
RESERVE GRAND - Stephen Nieto (Steveo's BBQ)
 CHICKEN ENTRY - Stevo's BBQ |  RIBS ENTRY - Stevo's BBQ |  WILDCARD - Stevo's BBQ |
 |  |
What's really cool is that all the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series contests are open to the general public. What can you expect? Ah, now we are getting to the fun part for the average BBQ fan. Not only will you get a chance to watch a Celebrity Pitmaster go head-to-head with other BBQ All-Stars, you can look forward to the following:
1) FREE BBQ WINGS (for first 200 attendees).
2) FREE Kurvball Original BBQ Whiskey Samples and swag.
3) Chance to win a FREE Gateway Drum Smoker.
4) Meet Famous Dave Anderson (only at select dates)
5) You can also grab more food right there at Famous Dave's!
1) FREE BBQ WINGS (for first 200 attendees).
2) FREE Kurvball Original BBQ Whiskey Samples and swag.
3) Chance to win a FREE Gateway Drum Smoker.
4) Meet Famous Dave Anderson (only at select dates)
5) You can also grab more food right there at Famous Dave's!
VIDEO CLIP
Here is a warm Las Vegas welcome from Mike McCloud (President & CEO, WFC) and Famous Dave himself , both showing their excitement for this series..
WFC SANCTIONED
WFC utilizes their own proprietary "Licensed to E.A.T." judging methodology, a system that encourages pitmasters to be inventive. This gives cooks the opportunity to really wow the judges. Grand Champion winner, Al Lino and his wife Tiffany, accomplished this in a major way.
Rio Smoke took 1st Place in all categories: CHICKEN, RIBS, and WILDCARD.
That WILDCARD category really has me intrigued as a KCBS Master BBQ judge. I just became a certified WFC "Licensed to E.A.T." Judge this year and will be judging the Sioux City, IA contest this July 22nd. It will be my first WFC sanctioned event, so it will be refreshing to experience something new. I will reflect my thoughts on the WFC judging process in a future column..
In a recent interview with BBQ CRITIC, Al Lino discussed his WILDCARD entry, "We were very excited for the WILDCARD. It really gave us the opportunity to express ourselves and show our capabilities. We prepared a frenched rack of lamb for the judges."
The WILDCARD is anything the team wants to cook and is presented to the judges on a Silver Platter while the cook verbally describes what they created and what to expect. "I had contemplated back and forth for weeks on what to say," said Lino. "I knew I had to be true and keep the judges intrigued; I did just that."
I'm thinking this Silver Platter presentation (and the cook's pitch to the judges) would make a BBQ judge feel like royalty, along with a great sense of responsibility to be as focused and fair as possible, That's the way every judge should operate at a contest, regardless of the sanctioning body. I believe they do.
Rio Smoke took 1st Place in all categories: CHICKEN, RIBS, and WILDCARD.
That WILDCARD category really has me intrigued as a KCBS Master BBQ judge. I just became a certified WFC "Licensed to E.A.T." Judge this year and will be judging the Sioux City, IA contest this July 22nd. It will be my first WFC sanctioned event, so it will be refreshing to experience something new. I will reflect my thoughts on the WFC judging process in a future column..
In a recent interview with BBQ CRITIC, Al Lino discussed his WILDCARD entry, "We were very excited for the WILDCARD. It really gave us the opportunity to express ourselves and show our capabilities. We prepared a frenched rack of lamb for the judges."
The WILDCARD is anything the team wants to cook and is presented to the judges on a Silver Platter while the cook verbally describes what they created and what to expect. "I had contemplated back and forth for weeks on what to say," said Lino. "I knew I had to be true and keep the judges intrigued; I did just that."
I'm thinking this Silver Platter presentation (and the cook's pitch to the judges) would make a BBQ judge feel like royalty, along with a great sense of responsibility to be as focused and fair as possible, That's the way every judge should operate at a contest, regardless of the sanctioning body. I believe they do.
BBQ Judges patiently wait for food turn-ins including Famous Dave Anderson himself (far left)
LINO'S "WILDCARD" PITCH TO THE JUDGES
“My name is Al Lino. I’m from Rio Hondo, Texas. My wife and I own a restaurant/catering business. We have a Valentine's event that we have hosted for the past three years and this dish continues to surpass expectations, so I would like to present it to you. The rack is post oak smoked that really compliments the gamey flavor, and is seasoned with our own blend of spices. Since we drove over 1,500 miles, we wanted to bring Texas to the plate so we created a BBQ sauce that consisted of in-season blackberries, pomegranate and ancho chili."
Al Lino (RIO SMOKE): Frenched rack of Lamb - 1st Place
 RIO SMOKE |  RIO SMOKE |  RIO SMOKE |  The Valentine's dish mentioned in Lino's pitch to the judges. |
Very impressive platter, Al Lino. Cooks always have a way of making this stuff look easy, don't they? Well it's far from easy. Lino said, "We felt very confident with our other turn ins even though we were two thousand feet higher than back home. Our drum smokers were running a little behind schedule, but luckily the wife kept my head on straight and didn’t let it distract us."
 Lino's 1st Place RIBS |  Lino's 1st Place CHICKEN |
Lino said this event "ran like a well oiled machine, which made it very competitor friendly." Famous Dave himself came around and greeted every team. "He was very humble and talked about the old days when he use to compete. He also wanted to buy my lamb recipe," said Lino smiling. "Very nice gentlemen."
 |  |  |
Al and his wife, Tiffany, got into competing to help their BBQ & catering business - RIO SMOKE CATERING CO. Winning this contest meant the world to them and they hope it will continue. . Lino said, "A year and a half ago we started to compete and it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. This sport will really test your pride. Either you quit or keep grinding till you are a world champion!"
Lino believes that hard work, planning and execution will bring blessings from above. "We believe everything happens in His time. If we would have tried to go and compete in this series without the preparation and dedication we showed, He wouldn’t of allowed it. We believe that way in our business as well. We are going to make the Texas Top List for BBQ restaurants, but all in His time. Strive, drive and faith!"
Rio Smoke is leaving Las Vegas with a Grand Champion trophy; $2,500 in cash and a GOLDEN TICKET to the 2023 WFC Barbecue Championship. Congratulations! The long drive to Las Vegas was a gamble, but it paid off.
Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series is off to a good start!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series is off to a good start!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
Editors Note:
This is the first competition review of the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series. BBQ Critic will be covering all contests in this series, so please watch for additional stories and news on the BBQ CRITIC Facebook page and website. I will be in person to cover the events at Addison, IL (July 8th), Sioux City, IA (July 22nd) and Minnetonka, MN (August 19th).
I would really appreciate readers sharing my reviews on your social media accounts and help spread the word about this new competition series. This is a really cool concept for Famous Dave's of America, and having the World Food Championships as the sanctioning body for this series is icing on the cake!
We encourage you to attend an event near you and take part in the fun activates. CLICK HERE for a list of locations and dates.
Thanks!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
I would really appreciate readers sharing my reviews on your social media accounts and help spread the word about this new competition series. This is a really cool concept for Famous Dave's of America, and having the World Food Championships as the sanctioning body for this series is icing on the cake!
We encourage you to attend an event near you and take part in the fun activates. CLICK HERE for a list of locations and dates.
Thanks!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
RSS Feed
