Hogs for the Cause comes around each spring, but the cause itself never sleeps. Many of the teams that make this unique New Orleans charity food event tick are active year round, cooking barbecue and raising money to support families contending with childhood brain cancer
On Sunday, five Hogs for the Cause teams will come together for a special event benefiting the charity and with a different kind of barbecue competition with beer pairings.
Zach Strief, the former New Orleans Saints lineman, is a partner in Port Orleans Brewing Co. in Uptown New Orleans.
Windy City BBQ Beatdown takes places at Port Orleans Brewing Co. (4124 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-266-2332). The Uptown craft brewery co-owned by retired Saints player Zach Strief. A Saints theme is built into the title – it happens as the Saints play the Bears in Chicago.
Five teams - March of the Pigs, Team Fleur de Que, Pork Funk All-Stars, Irish Brew Bar-b-que and Sweet Swine o’ Mine – will cook in the brewery's side yard.
Beer flows at Port Orleans Brewing Company in New Orleans.
Instead of the straight-ahead barbecue these teams compete with at Hogs for the Cause, for this Beatdown they’ll prepare smoked meat dishes meant to pair with specific Port Orleans beers. They'll make two dishes, selling entrees for $8 and smaller items for $5. All team food proceeds and a portion of taproom sales go to Hogs for the Cause.
“The idea is to do something different, and let our people get a little creative with it,” said Andrew Shuford, captain of March of the Pigs. “I think it’ll give people a lot of interesting things to try through the game day.”
The public can sample and pair on a pay-as-you-go basis, and a panel of judges will pick winners.
The event begins at 11 a.m. for some pre-gaming ahead of the Saints/Bears kickoff at 3:25 p.m. Judges will announce winners at halftime, and the party continues through game.
Admission is free, and Port Orleans Brewing Co. (like the other local brewery taprooms) is open to all ages.
Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
4124 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-266-2332
