The inaugural Fire It Up! BBQ Competition was held on Saturday, August 13th, 2016 at the African American Firefighter Museum at Old Fire Station 30 on South Central Avenue. The idea of the event was simple – sample tasty BBQ grilled by firefighters and other open flame cooking masters. But of course there was also a beer garden, live music, tasty dessert, and tours of the museum.
The judges for this event were all top notch. They included: Michael Walsh, an independent food blogger with 1.4 million readers; Pasadena firefighter and chef Danae La Trobe; Jim Kanemaki, an award-winning chef and instructor at Los Angeles Trade Tech College; and the LAFD’s own Richard Fields, a 2014 “Chopped Champion” from the Food Network show.
A very serious cadre of LAFD chefs showed up for the showdown. Bringing years of BBQ experience was FF/PM Jayson Johnson of FS 101-C, who always says, “I’m not a chef or pitmaster . . . just a fireman who likes to burn.” Also fired up and ready to compete was Cruz Macias from FS 87-B. Cruz was the winner of LA Times Firehouse Cook Off in 2013, was featured on the TV Show “On the Menu” and is the author of the “Fireman Favorites” cookbook. Another competitor ready for a flavor showdown was Mark Curry, Captain II at FS 29. He has earned quite a reputation in an apron, including 2015 “Best Entree” (BBQ Babyback Ribs) – at Hope for Firefighters, 2012 LA Times “Best Firehouse Chef” and 2013 winner of “Guy’s Grocery Games” on the Food Network ($16,000 prize for the LAFRA Widows and Orphans Fund)
A team with the name “Pushing Through the Smoke” was pretty serious about what they brought to the competition. This was the energetic crew from Firefighters First Credit Union. They were throwin’ down with some pulled pork sliders on Hawaiian rolls and delicious homemade coleslaw.
The hands down winner of this first ever competition was FF/PM Mike Finger from FS 88-B. Mike smokes his meats – this time it was pulled pork and brisket – for up to 72 hours in the Stump’s Smoker that was specially made in Centerville, Georgia.
“I don’t compete,” says the unassuming Finger, “I cook. I mostly do promo and retirement dinners at the firehouse.”
But let’s not forget that Mike is the genius behind Fire Station 88’s pulled pork recipe that won the Hope for Firefighters competition four years running.
“Cooking” at the Fire It Up! competition was a Finger family affair. Mike was joined by his wife Sheron, and his parents Roland and Darlene came in all the way from Pine Valley, Utah to lend a hand. Son Jake, along with his cousins Ethan and Jackson Durfee, also signed on for their first BBQ competition.
This was a wonderful first-time event at the beautifully restored museum. Along with the best BBQ around, it was great to see the community come together to the benefit of the Fire Family Foundation.
“We were so grateful for this opportunity to participate in such a fun event,” said Sheron Finger. “Great memories were made. This will be a day that we will never forget!”