Chefs fire up the competition

Captain Ron Dimpflmier grilling gigantic steaks on the Big Green Egg. ACE HARDWARE / COURTESY PHOTO

Get ready for an “egg-cellent” day to BBQ. The Sunshine Ace Hardware Big Green EGGfest will fire up Bonita Springs as barbecue-lovers and grill gurus collide with the help of Big Green Egg grills.

“There is no better way to serve the community than to serve them great food, while raising money for local charities,” said Scott Hamblen, the event organizer with Sunshine Ace Hardware.

The Big Green EGGfest will take place in Bonita Springs on Saturday, April 13, at Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds Street, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We get about 25 teams in total and had 500 people attend last year and expecting about 700 this year, we are always growing,” said Hamblen. “They cook anything from classic barbecue with beef and chicken wings to other unique things. We had someone last year make a dessert with Oreos, bananas and bacon.”

This event serves all-you-can-eat food samplings, beer, wine and seltzers on the lawn. People can also watch live grilling demonstrations while they try the food. The Big Green Egg is a ceramic barbecue that can be used to grill, smoke and bake.

Some chefs from last year’s Big Green EGGfest will return for the big cookout. COURTESY PHOTOs

Pit-masters fire-up their Big Green Eggs and scramble for the winning titles. Tasters get to vote for their favorites.

“They also win a trophy, too,” laughed Hamblen. “These are a lot of local teams, but we also get some that travel and return each year to show off their grilling ability. About 75% of our cookers and attenders are those recurring.”

Teams can be trained chefs, home cooks, restaurants and nonprofit groups. Awards include EGGhead Grill Master Pro, EGGhead Grill Master Amateur and People’s Choice.

Taster tickets are $20 and include entry, free sampling and three votes towards the People’s Choice Awards. VIP tickets are $50, which includes access to the VIP Pavilion with seating and an open bar. Children under the age of 11 do not require a ticket.

Cooking seminars using the Big Green Egg will be led by a trio of talented grill experts during the fest. They include locals Asif R. Syed and Shannon Morgan plus northern Floridian Ron Dimpfmaier.

The Big Green EGGfest takes place Saturday, April 13, at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. It raises thousands of dollars for local charities.

“We had to retire Asif Syed. He kept winning every year,” joked Hamblen.

Syed is known his appearance on the Food Network’s show, “Beat Bobby Flay,” along with other appearances on “Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Guy’s Grocery Games.”

After winning three years in a row, Syed decided to participate in the cooking demos. He said he looks forward to working with other grillers while supporting charities.

“I will be cooking a chicken dish, a spiced barbecue Indian style, including chili garlic, cinnamon, bay leaves, turmeric and paprika. I marinate the chicken in a Greek yogurt with cilantro before putting it on the grill,” said Syed. “You can keep doing stuff with the Egg. It is all about imagination. Cooking is a hobby and profession, and if you enjoy it, keep doing it.”

“The Green Egg can be tricky to use at first, but once you learn how to control the heat and temperature, it is amazing. I have gotten addicted to it. I bought one and bring it to my restaurant for parties. We have gotten lazy with the gas and electric, but the use of charcoal creates great flavors,” he said. Syed is the owner of Naples restaurant 21 Spices by Chef Asif.

Fifth annual Sunshine Ace Hardware Big Green EGGfest

Ron Dimpflmaier will also join the fun. He is a backyard grilling guy who believes anything can be cooked in a Big Green Egg. Another chef, Shannon Morgan, will take on open-flamed pizzas and vegetarian dishes.

“I volunteered to cook back in 2019 for this and never ever used a Green Egg before but thought, why not? Worst case, I burn the food, or it doesn’t turn out that great. But I ended up loving it and purchased one a month later and then bought a large egg that was even bigger,” said Morgan. “I like to show the different ways of using it. I make cookies, brownies, breads and pizzas on it.”

She joked she would join a team for the Big Green EGGfest in 2019 if she could cook vegetarian dishes. She won over the crowd with her carrot hot dog and vegetarian chili.

“A year later, after showing the flexible ways of using the Egg, I was asked by Big Green Egg to be an ambassador for them,” said Morgan. After taking a crack at the Egg, she now travels with the company for shows and in-person cooking presentations.

She will be preparing “cheese veggie stacks” during this year’s event, saying, “they’re not only delicious but really pretty to serve to guest. You get the flavor of the grill and I cook them on chardonnay soaked wood planks and use sliced vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes with mozzarella cheese. I love when people say, ‘you cooked that on the grill?’”

Ron Dimpflmaier, also known as Captain Ron, said it’s an honor to cook with the chefs at the event. “It is crazy to be working with trained professional and tv-known chefs. I began cooking in my backyard and my kids set-up an Instagram account for me and I now have over 38,000 followers and got sponsored by the Big Green Egg. I got one for my birthday a few years back and got hooked.”

Dimpflmier now owns over 30 grills in his backyard and joked that it looks like a grill graveyard. He loves feeding his neighbors.

“I will be grilling up my ‘caveman sear.’ I produce charcoal and steak rubs and use a full New York Strip and cut it into steaks and then put them directly onto the hot charcoal at the end. People are always shocked by that,” said Dimpflmaier.

Dimpflmier has been a judge and cook for a few years with the Big Green EGGfest and will be teaching how to make smoked crispy chicken wings with his secret sauce. He will also show how to make oysters and seafood on the Egg, and joked, “people really clam up as I cook them, just waiting for them to pop open!”

He continued with, “I love seeing families out there grilling together, including the kids. The best part of the event is just the camaraderie of the grilling community. Just learning from each other, cooking side-by-side, teaching people, and I just really love serving my food and letting people enjoy it. I love getting the ‘wow’ factor from them after the first bite.”

EGGfest is more than a food fest; it will raise money for local charities. Hamblen added, “we always pick local charities that help with children and the youth. We raised $25,000 last year and we have a goal to top that. We work with the Children’s Miracle Network all year round.”

“We originally created EGGfest to celebrate the end of season and enjoy some barbecue, but this event has become incredibly important for the charitable organizations it supports,” said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. “Since its inception, EGGfest has generated more than $100,000 to support local nonprofits, and we hope this year’s event will continue that legacy of support in our community.” ¦

In the KNOW

Fifth annual Sunshine Ace Hardware Big Green EGGfest

· When: Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

· Where: Riverside Park; 10450 Reynolds Street, Bonita Springs

· Price: $20 each. VIP $50 each. Children 11 and under, free.

· Info: sunshineace.com/big-green-eggfest-comes-to-bonita-springs-on-april-13/

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