Staff Blog
Hava NaGrilla Kosher Barbecue Contest coming up June 7
posted by Drew Lazor
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Hava NaGrilla (Holy Moses I love that name!) is a kosher barbecue contest organized by the Golden Slipper Club non-profit, which runs a kids’ day camp, a college scholarship fund, a senior citizens’ home in Bala Cynwyd, among other charitable ventures.
Scheduled for Sunday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Willow Grove Day Camp, the competition is the first of its kind in the Philadelphia area. Golden Slipper’s Howard Levin says it was inspired by a similar competition held in Memphis, which has been running for 21 years. “If you are Jewish and keep kosher on any level, you can’t go to or compete at [barbecue cookoffs],” says Levin of the reasoning behind the fundraiser.
The stipulations are very straightforward — all meat must be kosher (they’re working with an educator to ensure everything’s up to snuff) and no milk products or bacon may be used. There are currently 16 teams signed up to compete in one, some or all of the four competitive categories — beans, brisket, beef ribs and chicken. Judges will include chef Derek Davis, meterologist Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz, Sixers play-by-play man Marc Zumoff and more.
Other slightly less meaty Hava NaGrilla activities will include a three-on-three b-ball tourney, a kosher pickle eating contest and a moon bounce for the kids. Tix are $5 a head or $20 a family, and can be purchased online or at the door the day of the event.
