Don’t miss the Celebrity Pitmaster BBQ Showcase in McAlester this September. The event will be held in the parking lot of Choctaw Casino with tents and tables for guests. Pitmasters Brad Leighninger, Tyler Anderson, Matt Groark, Tabb Singleton and Choctaw Casino & Resort chefs will prepare BBQ with their own individual twists and interact with guests throughout the evening.

The event is dine-around style, meaning guests will receive a tasting of different food at each chef’s tent, as well as their choice of water or soda. Alcohol will be available to purchase separately. Tickets can be purchased inside Choctaw Casino McAlester at Trophy’s Bar & Grill or bought day-of at the gate.

Leighninger is a competitive pitmaster and owner of two restaurants and a catering company. He was the 2021 Jack Daniels World Champion and the 2021 Memphis in May Pork Shoulder World Champion. His team also won Kansas City Barbecue Society’s Team of the Year in 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Anderson is a lauded restaurateur in Connecticut with four successful restaurants. He’s been nominated for James Beard Best Chef Northeast seven times and competed on Top Chef, Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, as well as making it to the finale of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl.

Groark is known as “The Meat Teacher” on social media, where he has millions of followers. He’s the owner of Groark boys BBQ and competed on the second season of Gordon Ramsey’s Next Level Chef.

Singleton is a local chef and owner of Phatt Tabb’s BBQ in Idabel where he grew up. He went on to study under Chef Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans before returning to Idabel and opening the successful BBQ joint. He’s also competed on, and won, Food Network’s Chopped and Destination America Deep Fry Masters.