(BBQ CRITIC - INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que of America All-Star BBQ Series kicked off it's third season on May 3rd, 2025 in Indianapolis (sanctioned by the World Food Championships - WFC). I caught up with pitmaster Randall Bowman (Deep South Smokers) who won the Grand Champion.
WFC is the premier food sport competition globally and Bowman has been involved with this top notch organization since the beginning when it started in Vegas in 2012. He ran Kitchen Arena at the WFC for six years. participated in cooking demos, etc. Bowman has competed for over twenty-five years, and now takes on about five contests a year.
I talked with Bowman about his turn-ins at this contest and the exciting changes WFC made to make the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series stand out even more in the world of BBQ competitions. First up is chicken
WFC is the premier food sport competition globally and Bowman has been involved with this top notch organization since the beginning when it started in Vegas in 2012. He ran Kitchen Arena at the WFC for six years. participated in cooking demos, etc. Bowman has competed for over twenty-five years, and now takes on about five contests a year.
I talked with Bowman about his turn-ins at this contest and the exciting changes WFC made to make the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series stand out even more in the world of BBQ competitions. First up is chicken
CHICKEN
"We did chicken tacos. It was a BBQ chicken breast with homemade Pico de Gallo, within a avocado cilantro lime dressing on the inside," said Bowman.
Wait a minute. This chicken turn-in came on a silver platter? Last year, the chicken (and ribs) came to the judges in Styrofoam boxes like we see at most other BBQ contests. Only the Wild Card turn-in was presented on a silver platter.
When I judged the Famous Dave's event the previous two years, I must admit the chicken box entries were the usual carbon copy of drum sticks, wings, breasts or thighs we see at most contests. Not anymore!
WFC, the innovative leader in Food Sport, stepped up the creativity level for cooks by requiring all entries on a silver platter. This new vision unleashes the cook's creativity by allowing them the freedom to fuse together a unique flavor profile using various ingredients and the required meat.
Bowman said he focused on BBQ flavors. "We used BBQ rub on the guacamole spread and Pico de Gallo. The chicken was smoked. Rub and sauce layered on."
This entry looks fantastic and I think using chicken in tacos allows for a wide range of flavor profiles. The placement with peppers made the platter pop.
Bowman gave his thoughts on the Styrofoam box to silver platter change. "I really like the silver platters because I think it creates the ability to be much more creative. I am not taking away from anybody who is successful with the Styrofoam box. Those guys are very talented pitmasters," said Bowman.
This chicken platter earned him a 2nd place win.
Bowman concluded, "Can you imagine if you turned in chicken tacos in another sanctioned BBQ event? You'd get hammered!" Probably disqualified as well. Next up is RIBS....
Wait a minute. This chicken turn-in came on a silver platter? Last year, the chicken (and ribs) came to the judges in Styrofoam boxes like we see at most other BBQ contests. Only the Wild Card turn-in was presented on a silver platter.
When I judged the Famous Dave's event the previous two years, I must admit the chicken box entries were the usual carbon copy of drum sticks, wings, breasts or thighs we see at most contests. Not anymore!
WFC, the innovative leader in Food Sport, stepped up the creativity level for cooks by requiring all entries on a silver platter. This new vision unleashes the cook's creativity by allowing them the freedom to fuse together a unique flavor profile using various ingredients and the required meat.
Bowman said he focused on BBQ flavors. "We used BBQ rub on the guacamole spread and Pico de Gallo. The chicken was smoked. Rub and sauce layered on."
This entry looks fantastic and I think using chicken in tacos allows for a wide range of flavor profiles. The placement with peppers made the platter pop.
Bowman gave his thoughts on the Styrofoam box to silver platter change. "I really like the silver platters because I think it creates the ability to be much more creative. I am not taking away from anybody who is successful with the Styrofoam box. Those guys are very talented pitmasters," said Bowman.
This chicken platter earned him a 2nd place win.
Bowman concluded, "Can you imagine if you turned in chicken tacos in another sanctioned BBQ event? You'd get hammered!" Probably disqualified as well. Next up is RIBS....
RIBS
"Ribs were St Louis cut ribs," said Bowman. "We did not wrap and did not use an overly, overly sweet sauce."
Okay, now Bowman is cooking outside the usual competition box, perhaps because there is no longer a box involved.
Famous Dave Anderson was the true inspiration for his rib cook. He said Dave likes to leave the membrane on the back of ribs and go for the charbroiled flavor profile. Bowman recently read a Facebook post by Dave on how you can make great BBQ without wrapping the meat.
"He's 100 percent right," said Bowman. "That's just not what you find at a normal competition. It's a shame because the average guy at home doesn't wrap. So I thought well I am going to give Dave what he wants and see how it goes."
That's exactly what Bowman did...
"We did a hotter and faster cook because it was a short timeframe. We did no wrap ribs!"
No wrap ribs wrapped up a 2nd place win. Very nice! Next up, the WILD CARD...
Okay, now Bowman is cooking outside the usual competition box, perhaps because there is no longer a box involved.
Famous Dave Anderson was the true inspiration for his rib cook. He said Dave likes to leave the membrane on the back of ribs and go for the charbroiled flavor profile. Bowman recently read a Facebook post by Dave on how you can make great BBQ without wrapping the meat.
"He's 100 percent right," said Bowman. "That's just not what you find at a normal competition. It's a shame because the average guy at home doesn't wrap. So I thought well I am going to give Dave what he wants and see how it goes."
That's exactly what Bowman did...
"We did a hotter and faster cook because it was a short timeframe. We did no wrap ribs!"
No wrap ribs wrapped up a 2nd place win. Very nice! Next up, the WILD CARD...
WILD CARD
"I made a Praline Pecan Caramel Cheesecake. I made that because of the years of seeing these Famous Dave's contests and how they work. Something sweet at the end always does well. Cheesecake is pretty hot right now and has been the last two years."
Bowman is correct. Oh man, when I judged cheesecake at a Famous Dave's event, it was pure heaven. This is one mouth watering example of a cheesecake entry. Bowman's roots in Georgia inspired him to add the pecan element, and this cheesecake cook did not come without its challenges, though.
"Cheesecake on a smoker is not an easy ordeal." said Bowman. "Using a cooler to try to chill it, and those kinds of things, is definitely a challenge. It wasn't as good as I would have liked it to be. Not as good if I was in a commercial kitchen. But I was happy with it for sure."
Bowman's Wild Card cheesecake entry nailed a sweet 2nd place.
Bowman is correct. Oh man, when I judged cheesecake at a Famous Dave's event, it was pure heaven. This is one mouth watering example of a cheesecake entry. Bowman's roots in Georgia inspired him to add the pecan element, and this cheesecake cook did not come without its challenges, though.
"Cheesecake on a smoker is not an easy ordeal." said Bowman. "Using a cooler to try to chill it, and those kinds of things, is definitely a challenge. It wasn't as good as I would have liked it to be. Not as good if I was in a commercial kitchen. But I was happy with it for sure."
Bowman's Wild Card cheesecake entry nailed a sweet 2nd place.
GOLDEN TICKET
This was one consistent cook for Randall Bowman that earned him a GRAND CHAMPION! Congrats to Dave White for winning RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION & PEOPLE'S CHOICE! Grand and Reserve Champions of each contest will receive a waived entry Golden Ticket to the 2025 World Barbecue Championships in Indianapolis October 16 - 19, 2025.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When you give cooks the freedom to be inventive with their entries, you also excite the judges by giving them the thrill of trying something new and creative.
I spoke briefly with Famous Dave Anderson after he judged this contest and he said, "Judging the WFC is refreshing and you look forward to all the turn ins with eager anticipation!"
World Food Championships and the Famous Dave's of America All-Star BBQ Series excites both cooks and judges with a creative flair that signals both groups to come back again and again.
Bowman summed it up best: "I love World Food Championships and I always thought the concept was fabulous. Mike McCloud (coming from the BBQ competition world) took everything he learned and made it bigger and better."
I wholeheartedly agree, Randall Bowman. WFC and the Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que of America All-Star BBQ Series are BBQ CRITIC APPROVED!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
I spoke briefly with Famous Dave Anderson after he judged this contest and he said, "Judging the WFC is refreshing and you look forward to all the turn ins with eager anticipation!"
World Food Championships and the Famous Dave's of America All-Star BBQ Series excites both cooks and judges with a creative flair that signals both groups to come back again and again.
Bowman summed it up best: "I love World Food Championships and I always thought the concept was fabulous. Mike McCloud (coming from the BBQ competition world) took everything he learned and made it bigger and better."
I wholeheartedly agree, Randall Bowman. WFC and the Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que of America All-Star BBQ Series are BBQ CRITIC APPROVED!
Herb Kane
BBQ CRITIC
Mike McCloud (Founder, World Food Championships) and "Famous" Dave Anderson - Indianapolis, IN
WINNERS
For full list of winners, go here:
https://worldfoodchampionships.com/2025-FD01-indianapolis
https://worldfoodchampionships.com/2025-FD01-indianapolis
NEXT UP...
INTERVIEW with pitmaster Ryan Pang - Grand Champion at the Fresno, CA contest. Follow BBQ CRITIC on Facebook and watch for more stories on the Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series!
Plan to attend a Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series event near you. Click here for full schedule: https://worldfoodchampionships.com/allstars
Plan to attend a Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series event near you. Click here for full schedule: https://worldfoodchampionships.com/allstars
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