Backyard Barbecuers Battle for Bragging Rights at Glen Ellyn BBQ Cook-Off

Despite an early downpour and murky skies, the second annual Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off turned out to be a sweet and smoky success. 

"I'm floored," said event spokesman Tom Koprowski, a Glen Ellyn resident who goes by the nickname of "Pig Daddy." "It exceeded my expectations. I mean, wow, what a huge turnout."

The 700 block of Willis St., from Crescent Ct. to Riford Rd., was packed Saturday with barbecue enthusiasts both young and old, amateur and professional, from Glen Ellyn and beyond. Thirty-one teams fired up their grills to compete for trophies (and bragging rights) in the categories of Best Dish and Best Ribs. Hundreds of spectators turned out to sample the entries, mingle with family and friends, and enjoy the music of blues and soul artist Amy Kelly and The Bill Ande Band. 

The first-place trophy in the Best Dish category went to Jim Quinn of Marseilles, who beat 18 other competitors with his Adobo-Marinated Shrimp Taco with Avocado Salsa. In the Best Ribs category, the top prize went to the team of Chris and Greg Bogyo, two brothers from Western Springs, who topped 25 other entries with their Chicago-style baby back ribs. Second-place trophies were awarded to Rich Clifford from Des Plaines for his Peachy Pork Tenderloin, and to the team of Mike Ouellette and Brandon Klise from Wheaton for their ribs. Ribbons were also awarded for third, fourth and fifth place in each category.

A three-judge panel tasted and scored each entry on the basis of appearance, taste and tenderness. Judges at this year's event included: Matthew Whiteford, a Kansas City Barbecue Society certified judge and Jim Beam's national barbecue pit master; John Reed and David J. Kramer, College of DuPage culinary arts instructors; Steve Haddon, district manager for Lou Malnati's Pizzeria; John Costa, a Kansas City Barbecue Society certified judge; and Village President Mark Pfefferman.

"[The competitors] have outdone themselves, and topped last year," said Pfefferman, who also judged the event last year. "And what great variety. I thought it was neat that you had everything from bread to steak and everything in between."

All net proceeds from the cook-off went to Bridge Communities, a Glen Ellyn-based grassroots charity that helps local homeless families in transition. Bridge Communities also received a $35 donation from Cooper Feinberg, 6, and Charlie Denenberg, 8, who sold lemonade and cookies at the cook-off to help raise money for the charity.

The event was very much a community effort. Many volunteers wearing T-shirts that read "Bar-B-Crew" helped out at the event, and some local businesses participated in the event, including Wine Styles, Towntees and Soukup's Hardware & Appliances.

"Our posters, our T-shirts, our logo—everything was done by Glen Ellyn residents for the most part, and that's what makes this event great," Koprowski said. "It was a cooperative effort." 

Koprowski said their committee is already thinking ahead to next year. They hope to double the number of teams competing and to turn the event into a full-blown festival, perhaps at Lake Ellyn or in the heart of downtown Glen Ellyn. They're also thinking about making the cook-off a professional-level event, but they don't want to lose the backyard barbecuers in the process.

"I think what makes us special is the backyard barbecue theme," Koprowski said. "I think that's what sells us, to be honest with you."