By Dathan Kazsuk
Let me tell you—if you throw “BBQ” and “Bubbly” into the same event title, you better believe I’ll be there with an empty stomach and a desire for something sparkling. For the most part, the BBQ & Bubbly event at Fenton in Cary delivered exactly that—sunshine, barbecue and just enough effervescent pours to keep everyone buzzing.
First off, props to the organizers for handing out swag bags to the first 500 guests. It featured a couple of small bottles of sparkling wine tucked inside. It was the kind of welcome gift that makes standing in line under a blazing Carolina sun feel a little more glamorous.
And about those lines … yes, the wine lines were long and at times, I couldn’t tell which line people were in—but when there are 20 different sparkling wines to try, curated by Raleigh Wine Shop and LouElla Wine in Durham, you wait.
And wait we did. At times, it felt like some folks thought they were in the cozy confines of their neighborhood tasting room—belly up to the bar, working their way down the list like it was a private flight. Meanwhile, the rest of us were in line, wondering if we’d make it to the front before the bubbles ran dry. We managed to sample maybe half the offerings before the flutes started blurring and a few bottles started vanishing altogether.
Music-wise, Al Strong brought the cool with a live jazz set that gave the afternoon some much-needed soul. There was also a DJ spinning hits that leaned a little too hard into the millennial playlist.
But the biggest highlight—aside from the slow-cooked brisket—was the mini masterclasses. Adrian Miller, aka the “Soul Food Scholar” and two-time James Beard Award winner, held a crowd with his BBQ insights like a preacher at the altar of smoke. I even brought my copy of Black Smoke, hoping for a signature—only to realize I left it at home like a rookie.
Then there was André Hueston Mack, the effortlessly cool sommelier and host of Bon Appétit’s “World of Wine,” leading a sparkling wine tasting that blended wine nerdiness with real charisma.
The food vendors were a who’s who of Triangle barbecue—Sam Jones BBQ, Longleaf Swine, The Butcher’s Market, Dampf Good BBQ, Union Special Bread and even Changing Tide Oyster Co. brought a taste of the sea to the smoker party. Between plates and bubbles, we grabbed some local beer pours from Bond Brothers, Trophy Brewing and Brewery Bhavana to cleanse the palate.
But here’s the (dry) rub—some of the heavy hitters (Corner Boys BBQ, Sam Jones and MasterChef Junior contestant Emerson Pauley) were out of food before the event even wrapped. For an event built on food and wine, that’s a harsh bite of gristle. Nobody wants to be left holding a tasting glass and wondering what could’ve been.
That said, the crowd seemed happy, the weather was flawless, and for a first-time event, this one came out strong. With a few tweaks—like keeping the meats flowing—BBQ & Bubbly could cement itself as a must-attend tradition for food and wine lovers across the Triangle.
Just don’t forget to book your ticket early for this sell-out event.
