Guam BBQ Block Party draws 14K BBQ fans to Pleasure Island

Chef Peter Duenas pulls off a three-peat Ultimate Grill Master Champion win and Team Meskla wins trophies in each category: 1st place in Beef, 1st place in Chicken and 2nd place in Pork. (GVB)

TUMON, Guam—The Guam Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the winners of the 7th Annual Pleasure Island Guam BBQ Block Party BBQ Competition that took place on Saturday, July 6, 2019 in the heart of Pleasure Island, Tumon. This year, eight teams competed in three BBQ categories—chicken, pork and beef—to win $4,600 in cash prizes, and only one was crowned the Ultimate Grill Master Champion. That honor went to chef Peter Duenas, owner and team captain of Meskla CHamoru Fusion Bistro. Chef Duenas has kept this “King of the Que” title for three years in a row from 2017-2019. He was also the first chef to win this title back in 2013.

Serious CHamoru BBQ

The Micronesian Chefs Association (MCA) partnered with GVB to manage and judge the BBQ competition. In addition to chef Duenas from Meskla, past Ultimate Grill Master Champions returned to compete—chef Paula Kerner from Team Guam Community College (2016), and chef Buddy Orsini from Team Åsu Smokehouse (2014-2015) —along with Team Dusit Thani Guam Resort, Team Outrigger Guam Beach Resort, Team Dokgnos, Team Guam Barbecue Company (Tunu), and Team Sea Grill Restaurant.
Specially designed, made-in-Guam trophies and $4,600 in prize money were handed out to the top three teams in three meat categories of pork, chicken and beef. GVB congratulates the winning teams:

Pork

1st Place – Team Outrigger Guam Beach Resort
2nd Place – Team Meskla
3rd Place – Team Guam Community College

Chicken

1st Place – Team Meskla
2nd Place – Team Guam Barbecue Company (Tunu)
3rd Place – Team Dokgnos

Beef

1st Place – Team Meskla
2nd Place – Team Guam Community College
3rd Place – Team Guam Barbecue Company (Tunu)

GVB vice president Bobby Alvarez said, “The 2019 Guam BBQ Block Party really brought people together to share in the Håfa Adai spirit. It was a BBQ party on a grand scale. When 14,000 people gather to share Guam’s BBQ, it is testimony that Guam’s chefs are doing things right, and we have some of the best BBQ in the world!”

MCA secretary Gordon Misuzawa said, “The eight teams have been with the competition for all seven years, and they are the best of the best. The BBQ Block Party is a great event for Guam, and next year, we look to have some foreign competitors.”
Misuzawa noted that the teams started at 2:30pm prepping their grills, and by 6pm the judges began receiving entries for the first category. He said this year’s entries included new flavor blends that the judges haven’t tasted in past entries. Judges scored each entry based on appearance, tenderness and texture, and taste. The team from Deloitte & Touche LLP tallied the scores to determine the winners.

Family fun

Philippine musician J. Martin opened the program with energizing renditions of pop favorites. As the sun set on Tumon Bay, ukulele musician from Singapore, 14-year-old Evan De Silva performed popular classic rock and blues. Guam bands Fat Tofu and Left Turn Right performed back-to-back acts and kept the crowd lively. Guam’s 4for4 closed the night with upbeat CHamoru, island style, rhythm and blues and rock favorites.

Special thanks

GVB would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event, from competitors and vendors to event host Andy Wheeler and performers. GVB extends an un dangkulo na si yu’os ma’åse’ to the Visitor Safety Officers, Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department and the Department of Public Works for keeping everyone safe. GVB is also grateful for the valuable support from the community and the event sponsors — Pleasure Island Presenting Sponsors T Galleria by DFS, The Plaza Shopping Center, Outrigger Guam Beach Resort, and Dusit Thani Guam Resort; Non-alcoholic Beverage Sponsors Pepsi Guam Bottling and Monster Energy Drinks; Alcohol Beverage Sponsor Miller Lite; with special thanks to KUAM communications, Triple J Five Star Wholesale, Micronesian Chefs Association, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Philippine Airlines.


About the event

The Guam BBQ Block Party is an annual GVB signature event that closes San Vitores Road in Pleasure Island, between T Galleria by DFS and The Plaza Shopping Center, for a pedestrian-only event, offering Guam’s biggest BBQ competition, live entertainment, activities for the family, food and beverage vendors, shopping, and more. (PR)