MadParkNews.com, covering New York City's Madison Square Park & Flatiron

Mailing list members already got a sneak peak at the winners of this year’s Best Food in the Neighborhood Awards, but for everyone else, we will announce one winner every day at 4pm. Remember, these awards are based on total votes by readers and are not chosen by MadParkNews.

Next up is Best Southern or BBQ in the Flatiron District?

The winner this year is Blue Smoke (116 East 27th Street b/w Park and Lex) , with Hill Country BBQ Market coming in second place, and Hill Country Chicken coming in 3rd place. You can’t go wrong with any of these spots!

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Signage is up for BBQue’s Smoke Shack and work is underway at 668 Sixth Avenue between 20th and 21st street on the Flatiron Chelsea border. According to Crain’s, BBQue Smoke Shack will offer BBQ to go for those looking for a quick lunch or dinner.

According to Crain’s, BBQue’s Smoke Shack is the concept of Joseph Cutolo, owner of a catering company in Queens.

More to come as we hear it!

The New York Times looked at the best veggie burgers in Manhattan, and the offering from the neighborhood’s Hillstone Restaurant (378 Park Avenue South at 27th Street) made the top of the list. (But as a faithful MadParkNews reader, you already knew about the Hillstone burger). The Blue Smoke quinoa-and-lentils burger and the Shake Shack [...]

This weekend the country’s best pitmasters take over Madison Square Park and cook up some amazing bbq. Walk stand to stand and sample ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, homemade sausage and more.

It’s free to roam around and $8 to try the stand’s food. Local favorites Hill Country, and Rack and Soul will be there, along with 15 other bbq masters from Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia and Illinois. Live music as well featuring Secret Country, Carolyn Wonderland, Bob Schneider, the Derailers, Charles Bradley, and Nick Curran & the Lowlifes.

It’s one of the best events in the city if you like BBQ and it runs from 11am-6pm both days. More info at http://www.bigapplebbq.org/