BATTLE OF THE BBQs: HarborWalk restaurants steal the show at barbecue competition (PHOTOS)

The music was rockin’, the grills were smokin’ and the barbecue was plentiful during Saturday’s Blues, Brews and BBQ event at HarborWalk Village.

Events and Marketing Manager Whitney Lee told The Log this year’s event “blossomed” with 1,500 attendees, almost doubling in size from last year’s event.

The friendly cooking competition and craft beer tasting event featured local favorite’s Harry T's Lighthouse, The Fish House, Great Southern Café, McGuire's Irish Pub, Fish Out of Water, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, Poppy's Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill, Hard Rock Café, Emerald Grande, and LongHorn Steakhouse.

To see more photos from the event, CLICK HERE.

The eateries were competing to take home the top prize in five categories: best seafood barbecue, most unique barbecue, best traditional barbecue, best booth and people’s choice. Judges included Destin Mayor Sam Seevers and Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Executive Director Mark Bellinger.

While it didn’t make it past the judges table, Seevers told The Log her favorite item was the slow cooked, braised bbq and vinegar heavy cole slaw from Fish Out of Water.

“It was delicious,” she said.

The restaurants at HarborWalk Village cleaned up the awards during this year’s event, as The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint took home awards for best booth and best traditional barbecue. Poppy’s Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill collected the most unique award, while Harry T’s captured the people’s choice award for their barbecue shrimp. Great Southern Café took home the contest’s best seafood barbecue award for its shrimp and grits.

Putting on a successful event is not new to the team at HarborWalk and Jamie Hall of Sage Marketing said they have found the right ingredients to keep people coming back.

“Enthusiasm and friendly competition really make this event fun for everyone involved,” said Hall, who also serves on the board of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Big barbecue sampling, rich craft brew pub flavors, listening to amazing music with good friends … this is the simple recipe that keeps this event growing.”