Inside the 2025 Iron Chef BBQ Challenge
This year’s Iron Chef–Style BBQ Competition was one for the books! It was a day filled with smoky aromas, laughter, teamwork, and a shared love of community and country. Hosted by Towns4Troops and proudly held at Long Lot Farm Brewery, the event brought together teams, vendors, and supporters for a full day of friendly competition and purpose-driven fun.
The day kicked off bright and early as our incredible volunteers arrived at 8:30 a.m. to start setting up. Before the real work began, we shared a hearty breakfast together, a small but meaningful moment to fuel up and connect before the excitement ahead. With coffee in hand and smiles all around, we set up our merchandise tables, check-in area, and decorations, transforming the brewery grounds into a festive BBQ battleground. Vendors began arriving soon after, and our teams rolled in with smokers, grills, and secret ingredients in tow.
Before the flames were lit, we gathered everyone together for a team meeting, going over the competition rules and schedule. Once everyone was ready, we jumped right into the tasting round, one of the day’s most anticipated moments! Each team was tasked with serving up 200 individual tasting samples for attendees to enjoy, giving everyone a chance to experience their creativity and skill up close.
- Long Lot Farm Brewery: Pork and venison chili stuffed inside a cornbread cup
- Harriman Engine Company No. 1: Bacon wrapped apple slices
- Clear Path: Double smoked pulled pork taco
- Correction Officers Benevolent Association: Cinnamon apple nachos with a variety of homemade caramel sauces.
- Lakeside Fire Rescue: Firecracker beef cups
When all the samples had been devoured and the votes tallied, the People’s Choice Award went to the Correction Officers Benevolent Association! A huge congratulations to their team for winning over the crowd!
The Main Event
Next came the official Iron Chef–style challenge. Each team stepped up to select their cuts of meat, but there was a twist! Thanks to the $1,200 raised by the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, they earned the right to choose first!
- Long Lot Farm Brewery: Ground Beef
- Harriman Engine Company No. 1: Pork Chops
- Clear Path: Ribeye
- Correction Officers Benevolent Association: Skirt Steak
- Lakeside Fire Rescue: NY Strip
After selecting their proteins, the teams faced their next surprise: the mystery side dish challenge. To reveal their hidden ingredient, each team had to dig through a barrel of dirt, literally, to uncover what they’d be cooking with.
Then it was time to fire up the grills and get cooking! The aroma of smoked meats and sizzling sides filled the air as the teams chopped, stirred, and plated their dishes under pressure, all while keeping the crowd entertained and engaged!
Presentation and Judging
When time was up, each team presented a show dish to our panel of judges, complete with creative plating and a full presentation. From flavor to presentation, every dish showcased the talent and teamwork that make this event so special.
- Long Lot Farm Brewery: Rustic meatloaf topped with garlic truffle mashed potatoes, served alongside an eggplant skewer with maple bourbon glaze. Finished with blueberry cobbler and White Russian ice cream from OC Ice Cream.
- Harriman Engine Company No. 1: (A tribute to heat and courage) Tender, flame-grilled pork kabobs served with persimmons, mashed sweet potatoes, and a medley of vegetables and corn.
- Clear Path: Open-faced grilled ribeye sandwich on a chili-toasted baguette with chili crisp aioli, truffle cheese spread, and roasted corn-tomatillo salad, served with charred fingerling potatoes.
- Correction Officers Benevolent Association: Skirt steak stuffed with mushrooms, spinach, and cheese, topped with smoked chimichurri. Served with pan-seared Brussels sprouts with bacon, purple cauliflower, and celeriac purée with diced lobster. Finished with butter-poached lobster tail and chimichurri compound butter.
- Lakeside Fire Rescue: NY Strip served with a vegetable medley and sautéed shrimp, finished with a rich pan sauce.
After a tough round of deliberation, our judges reached their decision, and for the second year in a row, Clear Path took home the top honors!
Closing Remarks
Beyond the competition, the Iron Chef BBQ was about more than just food. It was about community, camaraderie, and giving back. Every team, vendor, volunteer, and guest played a part in supporting our mission to honor and uplift our troops.
From early morning setup to the final round of applause, the day was a reminder of what can happen when good people come together for a great cause.
We’re already looking forward to next year, and we can’t wait to see who rises to the challenge next time!
Check out our highlight reel for a behind-the-scenes look at the day:
Towns4Troops 