New York City meat lovers have much to pick over this week by way of food-focussed events. You can chow down on Sarah Simmons-style chicken wings, attend a massive pitmaster hoedown at Madison Square Park, or join the cult of beefsteak. We present our food event picks for this week:

BBQ Blowout

Finger on the Pulse’s BBQ Blowout is back Tuesday to serve up a another round of skillfully seasoned BBQ prepared by a guest chef with a curated side of tunes. For this edition, which doubles as a going away party for FotP co-founder Darin Bresnitz, Sarah Simmons has been invited to (wo)man the grill. Founder of the culinary salon City Grit, Simmons is also chef/owner of Birds & Bubbles and in 2014 she was named one of the top 50 chefs in New York City by FOOD & WINE magazine. Her menu for Tuesday includes chicken wings and sides. As for the music, reps from Domino Records and Sweet Pete are tag teaming on decks. A plate of food sets you back a tidy $10 and includes a complimentary Brooklyn Brewery beer and Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Event details:
Tuesday, June 9
Seatings at 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Good Co., 10 Hope Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tickets are $10. Purchase them here.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

World-renowned pitmasters and barbecue enthusiasts descend on Madison Square Park and its surrounding streets this weekend for the for an event that brings the soul of BBQ to New York City, the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Now in its 13th year, the two-day fete delivers authentic pit-style food, live music and a heaping helping of southern charm. Scott Robert of The Salt Lick BBQ, Mike “The Legend” Mills of 17th Street Barbecue, and newcomer Tim Love of The Woodshed Smokehouse in Dallas are among the 17 ‘cue meisters who are part of the proceedings.  They’ll be serving up such menu items as beef brisket, pulled whole hog sandwiches, and baby back ribs. The event’s soundtrack includes indie folk-pop, bluegrass and country courtesy of Jonny Fritz, Shook Twins, Nikki Lane and more. Admission to the block party is free and the food is pay-as-you-go. There is a VIP option called the BigPiggin’ Pass, with it you can meet the pitmasters, don’t have to wait on lines, are treated to an all-you-can-eat catered buffet with libations, and have access to a shaded area and air conditioned restrooms.

For those who want to get in a smoked meat state of mind before the weekend festivities, Hill Country Barbecue Market is holding a special edition of their Brisket Sessions series on Thursday. It will feature pitmasters who are cooking at the big show this weekend including Mike Mills, Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller Barbecue, Samuel Jones of Skylight Inn, Billy Durney of Hometown Barbecue, and Charles Grund Jr. of Hill Country Barbecue Market. Dan Roth of LinkedIn is slated to moderate the discussion which will cover the state of regional barbecue in America today. Tickets are $5.
Event details:
The Brisket Sessions
Thursday, June 11
7pm
Hill Country, 30 W. 26th St. New York, NY, 10010
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased here.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
Saturday, June 13 & Sunday, June 14
11am-6pm
Madison Square Park & surrounding streets
Event is free, pay-as-you-go. VIP BigPiggin’ Pass is $275 and available for purchase here.

Brooklyn Beefsteak

Brooklyn Beefsteak, April 2014 at The Bell House.
Photo by Mindy Bond

Silverware is a big no-no and playing with your food is encouraged at this glorious cult-like steak and beerfest. Guests don aprons and sit at long tables awaiting trays filled with delicious pieces of meat sitting on crusty slices of bread. You’re expected to grab what you can. The meat is for consuming, while the bread can be used to create a structure. The tallest structures built are celebrated. And, did we mention the free-flowing Brooklyn Brewery beer? That definitely dials ups the rowdy factor. Hillbilly proto-rockers SIT & DIE! (Susquehanna Tool & Die Company) perform throughout and there are also some meat-eating competitions played. Tickets are cheaper if you come in groups of 4 or 2.
Events details:
Sunday, June 14
Two seatings: 1pm-4pm & 5pm-8pm
The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11215
Tickets: Groups of 4, $48/per person, Groups of 2, $52/per person, Stag $55. Purchase ’em here.