Last Saturday was a chilly one for us Texans, so if you opted to stay in — or more likely, were fully immersed in Dallas’ March Madness festivities — here’s a recap of Sonny Bryan’s inaugural barbecue competition, featuring a handful of local celebrities, held April 5:
Chefs Dean Fearing, JP Mancha, Kent Rathbun (executive chef of Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen,) and Tre Wilcox each created a one-of-a-kind barbecue dish using Sonny Bryan’s signature barbecue sauce for the purpose of raising money for a nonprofit of their choice.
Sonny Bryan’s CEO Brent Harman, Dean Fearing, JP Mancha, Clarice Tinsley, Tre Wilcox, Kent Rathbun: Bruce S Chandler photography
Rather than having their barbecue creations judged by three highly critical judges (a la Food Network’s television show, Chopped,) The judging was left to the spectators, who each picked their favorite dish and voted accordingly. Each vote added a $20 donation to the chef’s chosen charity.
Here’s what each celebrity chef cooked up for the judges:
- Dean Fearing’s delicious barbecued short rib enchiladas supported the North Texas Food Bank.
- Kent Rathbun smoked up applewood smoked bacon wrapped quail breast with ancho chili-cilantro barbecue sauce and grilled sweet corn-cotija salad to support the March of Dimes.
- Tre Wilcox wowed with barbecue Texas shrimp with corn polenta and spicy chow chow, with voes benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Dallas.
- JP Mancha’s pulled pork slider with onion marmalade and kimchi slaw on a brioche bun was the homerun, earning the most votes, plus an additional $5,000 check for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children from Sonny Bryan’s for being the winning dish.
Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse CEO Brent Harman was on hand to present the check to Peggy Meyer, Director of Community Relations/Public Relations for the hospital. Fox News anchor and Preston Hollow’s Clarice Tinsley served as emcee.
Peggy Meyer of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children receives check from Sonny Bryan’s CEO Brent Harman: Bruce S Chandler Photography
