Sauce King NYC - Not Your Average Sauce Competition

Announcing Sauce King NYC™ 2022

An International Sauce Competition

Now Accepting Submissions for 2022!

Read the full 2022 Entry Rules & Submission Details

About Sauce King NYC™

Sauce King NYC™ is an international competition to determine the best barbecue sauces, hot sauces, marinades and more. A panel of expert judges from the NYC food, chef, and media community will taste each sauce, and select exclusive winners in each category who stand out for their bold flavors, excellent ingredients, and delicious taste.

After 10 years hosting food festivals and barbecue events like Brisket King NYC, Rib King NYC, Bowl of ‘Zole, and Pig Island NYC, Food Karma launched Sauce King NYC™ in 2020.

We are now accepting submissions for the 2022 competition.
Registrations must be received by August 20th. Judging will take place in September, and awards will be announced the first week of October. Read more about the hot sauce competition details.

This is not your average sauce competition. It’s not about finding the hottest sauce that will blow your head off. Sauce King NYC™ is about showcasing the wide range of top quality, all natural, barbecue sauces, hot sauces, and beyond that are perfect for backyard barbecue, grilling, and home cooking. We will be accepting a wide range of submissions – with the opportunity for people to submit their own categories.

Each year we collaborate with Taste of the Bronx, Slow Money NYC, and Food Karma projects for a special Metro NYC sauce awards category.

Sauce King NYC™ is now in it’s 3rd year and the competition is heating up!

Sign-up to the Food Karma Projects Newsletter:

2021 Award Winners – Sauce King NYC™

Thank you to everyone who entered our second annual Sauce King NYC competition in 2021. Congratulations to all of the winners – pick up a bottle of some of our favorites and support these great brands.
Full List of 2021 Sauce King NYC Award Winners

2020 Award Winners – Sauce King NYC™

Food Karma is excited to launch first annual Sauce King NYC™ competition. After 10 years hosting food festivals and barbecue events like Brisket King NYC, Rib King NYC, Bowl of ‘Zole, and Pig Island NYC, we are excited for this new event.
Full List of 2020 Sauce King NYC Award Winners

ENTER YOUR SAUCE

Sauces may be delivered or dropped off at the East Village location on your email receipt after your register and pay.

Sauces need to be received by August 20th, 2022.

Email Jimmy at foodkarma@gmail.com for any questions

Read about the first annual Sauce King awards in The Smoke Sheet, NYC BBQ, and Total Food Service(p. 88, p. 56).

Shoutout To the Sauce King NYC Judges

Ori Zohar, Burlap and Barrel

Will Price, Gear Patrol

Jaymee Sire, Food + Travel Blogger

Alyssa Levine, Totally Forked

Matt Bruck, Eaters Drinkers

Anthony Ramirez, Taste of The Bronx

Martin Johnson, Westside Market Pantry and Beer Buyer

Leiti Hsu, Journy

Nick Bandourveris, Film Producer and Epicurean

Duane Joseph, Friend of Food Karma Projects

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Our grand prize is sponsored by Big Green Egg.

Category prizes are sponsored by Porter Road, Prime 6, and Kikuichi Cutlery.

Plus a big thank you to Taste of The Bronx, Burlap & Barrel and Slow Money NYC.

Submit your sauce, marinade or condiment between now and send it before August 20th, 2022. The awards aim to promote top sauces in a wide range of categories. Category winners and awards will be announced in October.

ENTER YOUR SAUCE

Sign-up to the Food Karma Projects Newsletter:

We welcome submissions from a wide range of categories in the world of sauce – the sky is the limit!

Categories

Best Overall BBQ Sauce (Submissions may include: Kansas City BBQ Sauce, Carolina BBQ Sauce, Whiskey or Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Red Chili BBQ Sauce, Spicy BBQ Sauce, White BBQ Sauce or others)

Best Innovative BBQ Sauce (Submissions may include fruit based BBQ sauces, or other non-traditional categories)

Best Everything Sauce (Sauces that can be eaten with a wide range of food)

Best Hot Sauce (Submission may include traditional hot sauce, sriracha, and more)

Best International Sauce

Best Marinade

Best Grill Sauce

Best Condiment

You can also suggest your own category upon submission!

How to Submit Your Sauce to Win

Go to our “Enter a Sauce” page between now and August 20th, 2022
Register and pay based on the number of products you are submitting
Ship your sauce(s) to be judged by Sauce King NYC’s™ panel of expert judges

Media

NYC BBQ: Introducing Sauce King NYC, New York’s First Virtual Sauce Competition

“With food events canceled in New York City this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now’s a perfect time for virtual events to step up and provide some entertainment until things get back to normal.Enter Sauce King NYC… Sauce King will encourage sauce makers who specialize in BBQ sauce, hot sauce, marinades, condiments, and more to enter their sauces to be judged and given awards by top food media personalities.

From Food Karma: Sauce King NYC Judge Ori Zohar on Spicing Up Your Spice Cabinet

Food Karma’s Communications Director, talked with Sauce King NYC judge Ori Zohar. Ori is the co-founder of Burlap & Barrel, a single origin spice company working to build new international food supply chains that are equitable, transparent and traceable. Dylan asked Ori about what this mission looks like in practice, how home cooks can better utilize their spice cabinet, and what he’ll be tasting for as a Sauce King NYC judge. Read more.