Grill masters from Texas, Tennessee and all over Oklahoma will arrive in Tulsa this Labor Day weekend to compete for a cash prize in the seventh annual Step Up to the Grill on Greenwood barbecue competition.
The two-day celebration of Black barbecue will take place at B.S. Roberts Park alongside a car show, cash prizes and food vendors. Events kick off at 10 a.m. and run through 10 p.m. Sept. 6-7.
“This year’s celebration is about taking it back to where it all began and bringing families, businesses, barbecue lovers, car and bike enthusiasts, and the greater Tulsa community together for an unforgettable Labor Day weekend,” Jesse Foster, founder of Step Up to the Grill, said in a statement.
Foster is also the owner of Ray’s BBQ & Catering and the Step Up Now Foundation. He first organized the competition in 2019 as a passion project. It has since grown in scale, attracting sponsors and more grill masters to Tulsa.
“My passion is barbecue, and I just came up with the idea. I wanted us to have something (where we’d be) able to compete against each other and test our skills and grow and get better,” Foster told The Eagle.
In its first year, only nine chefs participated. That number has grown to 21 competitors, with an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 people expected this year. He chose 21 chefs specifically to honor the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, attendees can purchase a $15 ticket to try food from the 21 grill masters in what’s called the people’s choice awards.
Taste testers will write down their favorite chef. The winner gets a $500 prize.
In an act of charity, Foster said a third of each ticket sold will go directly to Geronn Tunley whose wife, Robin, is currently battling cancer. The two are the owners of Tunley’s Barbecue based out of north Tulsa.
On Monday, the challenge continues for the chefs as 15 judges will grade them on their brisket, chicken and ribs.
For each category, chefs will receive a score out of 10 based on tenderness, taste and presentation. Chefs must present their food at the judges table within a certain timeframe or else they will be disqualified. The top five winners of each category will receive a cash prize ranging from $500 for first place to $50 each for fourth and fifth.
A car and bike show is also set for Monday. Foster said he doesn’t know what kind of cars will be featured, but they will be provided by Patriots Auto Group.
Local artist J Friday is scheduled to perform as a musical guest during the weekend, and Sweet Lisa’s Cafe, a soul food restaurant on Black Wall Street, will be honored with a Black excellence award.
Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.
