Photo Courtesy, Famous Dave Anderson - WILD CARD served on a Silver Platter by Isaac Gummo (Big Daddy's BBQ)
SAN JOSE, CA (BBQ CRITIC) - Three years-ago Isaac Gummo started competing in BBQ competitions. "I won my very first rib competition and never looked back," said Gummo.
Today he competed at the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series in San Jose, CA.
Though Gummo has never competed in a World Food Championships (WFC) sanctioned event before, he took home his share of the $5000 purse by winning the Grand Champion!
It all started with cooking steaks on a WEBER with his dad in the backyard for family and friends. Gummo said, "I'm inspired by my wife first and foremost, and then friends who turned family." Gummo has advanced way beyond cooking steaks and today prepared Chicken, Ribs and the Wild Card on the Silver Platter.
Today he competed at the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series in San Jose, CA.
Though Gummo has never competed in a World Food Championships (WFC) sanctioned event before, he took home his share of the $5000 purse by winning the Grand Champion!
It all started with cooking steaks on a WEBER with his dad in the backyard for family and friends. Gummo said, "I'm inspired by my wife first and foremost, and then friends who turned family." Gummo has advanced way beyond cooking steaks and today prepared Chicken, Ribs and the Wild Card on the Silver Platter.
THE CHICKEN
"I chose chicken drumsticks for my turn in," said Gummo. " I went with a sweet and savory barbecue sauce flavor. I smoke them on my TRAEGER pellet grill and felt I had a very strong cook."
I have seen drumsticks advance quite a bit over the years in competitions. In the early days, I remember very mediocre turn ins, and now cooks are taking drumsticks to a much higher level. Gummo's 2nd place win was fantastic!
I have seen drumsticks advance quite a bit over the years in competitions. In the early days, I remember very mediocre turn ins, and now cooks are taking drumsticks to a much higher level. Gummo's 2nd place win was fantastic!
TOP 3 CHICKEN WINNERS
1 Lopez Carlos (Los Mexi"Q"tioners)
2 Gummo Isaac (Big daddy’s bbq 89)
3 Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ)
1 Lopez Carlos (Los Mexi"Q"tioners)
2 Gummo Isaac (Big daddy’s bbq 89)
3 Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ)
THE RIBS
How fitting Gummo won his very first rib competition three years ago, and now he just won 1st place ribs at his first Famous Dave's All Star BBQ Series!.
Gummo reveals his tools of the trade: "I smoked my ribs on my GATEWAY drum smoker. Fueled my fire with JEALOUS DEVIL lump charcoal (using apple and hickory wood chunks). I season and glaze with the one and only HEATH RILES rubs and sauces."
"I felt my ribs had the perfect char, bone pull, and smoke flavor," added Gummo. "It was an all-around great cook!"
Certainly good enough for first place. You are making me jealous as a devil I could not be at this contest to taste those ribs. Congrats on this win!
Gummo reveals his tools of the trade: "I smoked my ribs on my GATEWAY drum smoker. Fueled my fire with JEALOUS DEVIL lump charcoal (using apple and hickory wood chunks). I season and glaze with the one and only HEATH RILES rubs and sauces."
"I felt my ribs had the perfect char, bone pull, and smoke flavor," added Gummo. "It was an all-around great cook!"
Certainly good enough for first place. You are making me jealous as a devil I could not be at this contest to taste those ribs. Congrats on this win!
TOP 3 RIB WINNERS
1 Gummo Isaac (Big daddy’s bbq 89)
2 Allen Carlton (Bone Sauce n Harmony)
3 Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ)
1 Gummo Isaac (Big daddy’s bbq 89)
2 Allen Carlton (Bone Sauce n Harmony)
3 Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ)
THE SILVER PLATTER
(WILD CARD)
This time Gummo cooked on his TRAEGER PRO 34 and served his food on a SILVER PLATTER. "My Wild Card entry was a Churro Cheesecake topped with cream cheese, whipped cream, fresh strawberries and a homemade caramel drizzle."
"We felt the judges would be tired of sampling different meats so we went a different route and chose dessert," said Gummo.
Sounds like a good strategy. I often look for ice cream immediately after judging a BBQ competition. Last year I judged amazing Wild Card entries ranging from desserts to very delicious meats. I believe WFC judges will judge fairly no matter what is presented to them. In this case, Gummo won! CONGRATS!
Sounds like a good strategy. I often look for ice cream immediately after judging a BBQ competition. Last year I judged amazing Wild Card entries ranging from desserts to very delicious meats. I believe WFC judges will judge fairly no matter what is presented to them. In this case, Gummo won! CONGRATS!
TOP 3 WILD CARD WINNERS
1 Gummo Isaac (Big daddy’s bbq 89)
2 Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ)
3 Lopez Carlos (Los Mexi"Q"tioners)
1 Gummo Isaac (Big daddy’s bbq 89)
2 Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ)
3 Lopez Carlos (Los Mexi"Q"tioners)
THE GOLDEN TICKET
Congrats to Pang Ryan (Old Greenwood BBQ) for winning the RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION. Pang and Gummo both receive a GOLDEN TICKET to the WFC Barbecue Championships in Indianapolis, IN (Nov 8-12, 2024). Good luck to all!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Gummo did back to back competitions this weekend and that was a challenge and yet he endured it. What a feeling it is when you put all the hard work into cooking a competition and you end up the Grand Champion. BAM!
This exposure allowed Gummo to get to know a lot of people in his city. He is very pleased with this well-organized event. will "almost definitely attend the competition again."
"I would like to thank Famous Dave Anderson and his whole staff for putting together an awesome competition," Gummo said. "It gives me and my barbecue team to possibly attend the World Food Championships."
This exposure allowed Gummo to get to know a lot of people in his city. He is very pleased with this well-organized event. will "almost definitely attend the competition again."
"I would like to thank Famous Dave Anderson and his whole staff for putting together an awesome competition," Gummo said. "It gives me and my barbecue team to possibly attend the World Food Championships."
That said, I would like to thank Famous Dave Anderson (Founder of Famous Dave's) and Mike McCloud (Founder of World Food Championships) for having the vision to put together an event that encourages a climate of creativity, and the ability to win larger prizes in this Food Sport. WFC is growing more and more each year and I encourage cooks and judges to get involved now.
When Famous Dave's of America and the World Food Championships partnered together to create the annual Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series, it was a marriage made in BBQ Heaven!
When Famous Dave's of America and the World Food Championships partnered together to create the annual Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series, it was a marriage made in BBQ Heaven!
(Left to Right) Famous Dave Anderson and Mike McCloud. (Photo courtesy, Famous Dave Anderson)
Interviewing the Grand Champions of the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series is inspiring, indeed. Gets me more and more excited to judge another All-Star competition.
This Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series event is BBQ CRITIC APPROVED!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
This Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series event is BBQ CRITIC APPROVED!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
WATCH LATRYGUY - Alex Cottrell covers San Jose comp!
Used with Permission. Thank you Alex Cottrell! - BBQ CRITIC
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