One of the kookiest food events in Dallas, Meat Fight, returns to Dallas Nov. 10, 2024.
You'll find adults dressed in silly costumes. Wacky silent auction items like a dinner party for six people and six cats. A "meat midway" with State Fair-like games. And, most notably, Meat Fight offers barbecue fans 16 bites of smoked meat and four desserts made by talented Dallas chefs who probably haven't gotten enough sleep.
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Nearly two-dozen Dallas-area chefs stay up all night cooking for a cause.
This annual 21-and-up event raises money for multiple sclerosis, which affects 1 million people in the United States, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Meat Fight co-founders Alice and Mike Laussade started the event in 2010 in their backyard after Alice's brother was diagnosed with MS. They made it a public event in 2012. (Good thing: 900 festivalgoers, plus "Meat Santa," "Mrs. Meat Claus," and folks wearing pig and cow costumes will be running around this year at the venue.)
Meat Fight has raised more than $3 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, some which went to the purchase of bikes. Alice learned from her brother that people living with MS benefit from cardio workouts, so the "Meat Bikes" they give to people living with MS are used all over the country and in Canada at Bike MS events.
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Meat Fight also organizes exercise events like hikes at the Grand Canyon. And it pays for coaching, equipment and entry fees for half marathons, full marathons and half ironman events for people living with MS.
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You're checking your calendar, and I know: Dallas is full of food festivals in the fall. We've already said that Chefs for Farmers' main event on Nov. 3, 2024 and the new food fest SHEF from Nov. 8 to 10, 2024 are two bucket-list items for the season.
Meat Fight on Nov. 10, 2024 offers the chef talent of these other two, but with zanier zeal.
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Tickets to Meat Fight cost $110 for general admission or $175 for VIP. The pricier ticket gets attendees in one hour earlier, at 6 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2024. The most popular bites of barbecue can run out, which is why some folks shell out more cash.
Laussade's goal is to raise $250,000 in 2024. All ticket sales go to someone living with MS.
Those plugged in to the who's who of Dallas restaurants will recognize names on the Meat Fight list. Desserts come from La Casita Bakeshop, Haute Sweets Patisserie, Humble Pies and chef Maggie Huff, who works at Italian restaurant Lucia. The sides accompanying the barbecue are made by Resident Taqueria, Loro, LSA Burger, Fred's Texas Cafe and Culpepper Cattle Co. Beer will be served from Lakewood Brewing Co., Four Corners, Community, OHB and Vector Brewing.
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The folks smoking the meat come from restaurants like Goodwins, Parigi, Sister, Encina, Muchacho, Goodfriend, Zoli's, the Cowboys Club and more.
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Back to that dinner party for humans and cats: Petra and the Beast co-founder and chef Misti Norris is auctioning off a dinner for six people and their cats. Do the cats get fed? Yes: It's "multiple courses" for the humans and the animals.
In another amusing auction item, Laussade -- a Dallas journalist -- will write your obituary.
Although everybody will think they're a winner at the end of this boozy barbecue romp, there is, actually, a contest. Chef teams are competing to make the best brisket, ribs, sausage and fried chicken. Other accolades go to the folks who make the best mac and cheese, cole slaw and potato salad.
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Who could possibly pick these winners? Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn and WFAA meteorologist Pete Delkus are two of the 18 judges. Others include pitmasters from Goldee's, Heim, Hutchins, Cattleack, Panther City and more -- a stacked lineup.
Meat Fight is Nov. 10, 2024 and starts at 6 p.m. with a VIP ticket ($175 per person) or at 7 p.m. for general admission ($110 per person). It takes place at Dallas Youth Sports, 2524 W. Ledbetter Drive, Dallas.
For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on X at @sblaskovich.