Meet ‘Famous Dave’ at San Jose competition and score some free barbecue

The barbecue legend “Famous Dave” Anderson is coming to San Jose.

The founder of the restaurant chain of the same name will be in town on Saturday, Aug. 12, to find a worthy local pit team for his Nationwide All-Star BBQ Championship Series, and five local teams are competing for the spot.

The contest, which will take place outside Famous Dave’s at The Plant shopping center on Curtner Avenue from noon to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public. However, you’ll want to arrive early for sampling because the first 200 attendees will receive free ‘cue.

“BBQ is really America’s food,” and competitions like this have always led to innovation in the restaurant industry, said Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s, in announcing the contest. “Giving local pitmasters the chance to share a family BBQ recipe and the craft they’ve passed down for generations is what BBQ is all about and what keeps it interesting.” That’s why this is such a labor of love for me. Every community has local legends who are well-known in the community, enjoy what they do, and we want to recognize and celebrate their individuality and skill.”

A $5,000 prize purse and two “golden tickets” to the nationals in Dallas this fall, in collaboration with the World Food Championships, are at stake.

Ironhead Barbeque (Kurt Mueller); Los Mexi”Q”tioners (Carlos Lopez); Phil the Grill (Phil Johnson); Old Greenwood BBQ (Ryan Pang); and Pops BBQ (Tomeako Honesto) are the Bay Area teams competing.

At 3:30 p.m., the winner will be announced.

Anderson grew up on Chicago’s south side eating barbecue with his father and opened his first restaurant in Wisconsin in 1994. He is a Native American of Choctaw and Ojibwe ancestry who served as an assistant secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He is also well-known for his philanthropy and work with at-risk youth.

There are 117 Famous Dave’s restaurants in the United States, with the majority of them run by franchisees. Aside from San Jose, there are locations in Alameda at Alameda Landing and Hayward’s Southland Mall in Northern California. Fairfield and Modesto both have takeout options.