A Pair of International Pitmasters Have Been Announced For Meatstock

Following the first protein-heavy vendor announcement, dedicated meat festival Meatstock has now name-dropped a couple of international pitmasters set to run barbecue classes and to showoff their skill behind the grill.

Moerlando 'Big Moe' Cason will be flying in direct from the 'barbecue belt' itself. The Iowa native entered his first barbecue competition over a decade ago and has since taken part in upwards of 130 competitions as well as appeared as a finalist and judge on barbecue reality series BBQ Pitmasters.

Australia's Hillbilly Wes Griffiths — a man with the words BARBECUE tattooed across his knuckles — will jump the ditch for the event. After training knee-deep in barbecue sauce with some of the best low 'n' slow establishments in Austin, Texas, Griffiths set up his own interpretation in Sydney: Bovine and Swine Barbecue Co.

The pair join: Mt Maunganui catering company Big Smoke BBQ Co, Ponsonby pit smokers Miss Moonshines, low 'n' slow food truck Dixie Barbecue, US-style barbecue eatery Morepork BBQ, Argentinian street food vendors Che Lucio BBQ, sausage aficionados Black Stag Deli, Aloisio Brazilian BBQ and cheese grillers Guerrilla Grill.

Part expo, part music festival, Meatstock made its debut on Valentines Day in Sydney last year, attracting more than 10,000 meatheads. The Auckland edition will feature things like a gladiator-style barbecue cook-off, a show down where talented butchers show off their knifemanship on animal framework, and a cut throat barber competition for some reason.

Meatstock takes place at ASB Showgrounds from February 26 - 27, 2017. For more information visit the Meatstock website.