Monday, April 21, 2025
The National BBQ Festival will be heading to Eisenhower Park for the first time ever, from June 13 to 15, and leading the Nassau County team will be chef Kenny Ware, of Backyard Barbeque in Freeport.
The savory festival will bring top pitmasters, sizzling flavors and a weekend of family-friendly fun to the county.
Barbecue teams will put their skills to the test at the festival, with competitions heating up over two days, with a $100,000 prize pool at stake. On June 13, chefs will battle for the best wings, steak, meatballs and even Long Island iced teas. The stakes get even higher on June 14, as the focus shifts to whole hog, brisket, ribs, pork and chicken, with top pitmasters vying for barbecue supremacy.
The event’s scheduling was made possible by Nassau County Tourism & Promotions’ agency, RRDA, a full-service content and marketing group.
Ware, president of the Black Restaurant Coalition, comprising individuals who manage restaurants throughout New York City, the tri-state area, and beyond, gave attendees at a news conference on March 3 in Mineola a taste of what’s to come with a flavorful sampling of his signature dishes.
Ware, who grew up in Roosevelt and is a Johnson & Wales University graduate with classical French culinary training, has worked in high-end and Michelin-star restaurants across New York City and other states.
“I started cooking, just as a hobby,” Ware said in an interview last week with the Herald. “Then I went to culinary school, worked with restaurants around New York City and different states. I was working for over 15 years in culinary arts.
“I just always loved cooking,” Ware added. “I love and enjoy it. I love watching people enjoy my food, and feeding them.”
He also said that in his vast experience in the industry, he learned, “You got to be organized. You got to be able to deal with adversity whenever it hits you, and you got to stay consistent.”
Backyard Barbeque, at 300 Woodcleft Ave., on the Nautical Mile, is Ware’s first restaurant, where he is head chef as well as owner.
His father, a retired sanitation worker with a penchant for cooking in his own right, originally purchased and established the BBQ-specialized eatery pre-pandemic. When the pandemic arrived, he moved to sell the location, but Ware had another idea.
“That’s when, me and my partner, we purchased it from my dad,” Ware said. “The rest is history — for four years now.”
Some of Ware’s signature dishes at Backyard Barbeque, which emphasizes farm to table and locally sourced ingredients, are beef brisket, pork ribs, collard green and cheese empanadas.
Going from classical French cuisine to barbecue, Ware said, was a “big switch,” because “barbecue is a whole different cuisine.”
“But it’s still some of the same techniques,” he added.
Ware said he was gratified to come back home and set up shop near to where he used to live.
“(It was pretty cool) to come back home and let people from Roosevelt and the surrounding communities know that somebody from their neighborhood can do this and be well-diversified in their portfolio,” Ware said.
In addition, as of four months ago, Ware also owns a grab-and-go cafeteria in the Nassau County Supreme Court building in Mineola, called “Backyard on the Go.”
And as for Ware being chosen as leader of the Nassau County barbecue team, he said, “It just feels good to be able to represent Long Island and Nassau County on this big stage.
“A special thanks to Visit Nassau County and (RRDA),” he added.
“They’ve been working directly with me, you know, to help bring awareness to small businesses and Nassau County specifically.”
“Bringing the National BBQ Festival to Nassau County is more than just an event —it’s a celebration of great food, great music, and this incredible community,” Jaime Hollander, RRDA’s managing director, said in a news release. “As locals, we take immense pride in showcasing the best of Nassau County alongside the country’s top pitmasters, competitive BBQ teams, and brands. This will be an unforgettable weekend, and we can’t wait to welcome BBQ lovers, competitors, and festival-goers.”
Tickets are available for purchase at NationalBBQFest.com, which is also where one can learn more about the upcoming festival.
