Following the deliciously successful Jambalaya Throwdown staged earlier this year, French Quarter Bistro and LePan Catering agreed to battle it out once again—this time over who would be crowned the area’s king of barbecue classics.
Creating a scene similar to that found on Throwdown with Bobby Flay or on Travel Channel’s Food Wars, the local top-notch chefs of both teams, Mark Vanhorn of French Quarter Bistro and Mike Tavenner of LePan Catering, went head-to-head for three rave-worthy rounds, asking the selected judges and the attending public to vote for the most appetizing option of the two.
Laura Taylor and I of Phoenixville Dish were ecstatic to participate in the competition’s judging, alongside The Mercury’s Mike Weekley who details entertainment and more on his blog Weekly with Weekley.
Beginning with the side dish round of the contest, booming with two hearty bean bowls done specifically different, yet equally as impressive. While LePan crafted a meaty concoction of baked white, Northern and kidney beans that identified with the best of comfort food, with a calm taste that continued to sing spoonful- after-spoonful, French Quarter Bistro flooded the bowl with a flavorful, slow-cooked combination of sweet and savory small Boston beans that left a memorable zing to many patrons.
Soon, following round one, we sped into enjoying the battlers options for appetizers, which faced pieces of pulled chicken plopped on a toasted crustini and a memorable drizzle of jalapeno BBQ sauce against a favored menu selection from French Quarter—a smoked duck taco piled with cilantro, cheddar, jalapenos, tomatoes dosed with a heated chipotle BBQ sauce.
And, just when we thought we died and gone to smoked meat heaven (the impressive flavor of the chicken on round two will be forever imprinted in my meat-loving brain), the staff at French Quarter places the final pulled pork course in front of our always-hungry eyes and stomachs.
Already confident that Tavenner and Vanhorn knew their way around a meat smoker, myself and the two other judges adored the gourmet pulled pork sandwiches and believed that such dishes allowed the chefs to conclude the battle with a bang. While Judge Weekley raved over the mango coleslaw that came sided with LePan’s sweet and tangy pork found cozy on a toasted bun aside smoked chipotle, what I was most obsessed with was the 2 way BBQ pork sliders prepared by French Quarter Bistro.
As a platter gorgeous with a poppy seed mini-bun piled with pork that was drizzled with an admirable white BBQ sauce and another garlicky slider with bacon, chili pepper and candied caramelized onions, I admittedly could eat those bad boys until my last dying day.
Overall, we agreed that the Phoenixville area and beyond is lucky to have both competitors’ talents and tastes within our stomping grounds. But, being a battle to crown just one barbecue champ, we combed our notes to honestly announce a winner. But, either way, we’re all certain we can’t wait until we feast on the foods of LePan Catering and French Quarter Bistro again and again.
The results
Best Side Dish: French Quarter Bistro’s slow-cooked combination of sweet and savory small Boston beans
Best Appetizer: LePan Catering’s pulled chicken plopped on a toasted crustini and a memorable drizzle of jalapeno BBQ sauce
Best Pulled Pork: French Quarter Bistro’s 2 way BBQ pork sliders
Audience Vote:
Best Side Dish: French Quarter Bistro’s slow-cooked combination of sweet and savory small Boston beans
Best Appetizer: French Quarter Bistro’s smoked duck taco
Best Pulled Pork: French Quarter Bistro’s 2 way BBQ pork sliders
For more information on French Quarter Bistro, visit their official website at www.frenchquarterbistro.com. For further information on LePan Catering, visit www.lepancatering.com.
