I just love that name, it says it all.

This past Friday night I went to Meatopia at Jack London Square in Oakland. Meatopia was all about, well, meat. It’s an annual event held in New York City, but this year they held one out here and It was the kick off event for the eat ‘real festival.

They had quite the line up of chefs preparing masterful dishes of meat. And the best part, it was all you could eat!.

There were nine dishes to enjoy and enjoy them, I did.

Harry Stewart – Great American BBQ – Alameda, California

Harry served up his famous Dino Beef Ribs. You really have to try these, the meat is always juicy and tender. If you’re one of the lucky ones, he’ll toss you a bone, literally. There’s nothing like gnawing on giant beef bone.

Kim Alter – Haven – Oakland, California

Duck Boudin Noir – this was a masterpiece. Oh where to start… the boudin was made with duck breast, duck leg, and pig’s blood. Along side of the boudin was Frisee, Duck Confit, Cracklings, Croutons, Duck Vinaigrette, and a surprise on the bottom – duck liver mousse. A lot was going on with this plate and it all worked.

I really enjoyed watching this get plated, Chef Alter made sure that the first plate looked like the last plate.

Charlie Hollowell – Pizzaiolo – Oakland, California

Meatballs! These weren’t your ordinary meatballs, no sir. They were made of pork, some bread, and toasted pine nuts. They were light in texture and honestly I had to remind myself that I was just getting started at Meatopia and could come back for more later.

Nicole Brisson – Carnevino – Las Vegas, Nevada

Mario Batalis’ Carne Crudo – If you’ve read my posting about Heritage Fire, then you know how much I love raw chopped beef and this was no exception. I really don’t remember how many of these I had, I’m only now recovering from my meat coma.

Rick Hackett – Bocanova – Oakland, California

Marinated Pork Ribs with Tomatillo White Chocolate Sauce. I just love how the sauce almost looks like a fog bank rolling in to the Bay Area. Yes, I know, fog isn’t green.

Doug Keiles – Ribs Within – Hillsborough, New Jersey

Smoked Lamb Shoulder over Bok Choy Ragu with a Lamb Wine Reduction Sauce.

Chris Lilly – Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que – Decatur, Alabama

Bacon and Beer BLTS with Homemade Orange Blossom Honey Mustard and Duke’s Mayo. This was the best BLT I’ve had in a while. Guess he had to bring his own mayo because Duke’s is only available back east….although I suppose you could buy it online.

Nick Pihakis – Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q

Pork & Grits with Hog Lovin’ Sauce. Now that’s how you serve a Southern Classic at Meatopia. They were pulling the pork straight off the pig, it looked rather carnivorous.

Chris Phelps & Zak Walters – Salt’s Cure – West Hollywood, California

Barbecue Chicken with Peach Chutney. There were some nice spices on that chicken and  the peach just brought it over the top. All too often I’ll have chicken that is dry, but this was moist and tender. Yeah, I had a few pieces.

That was it for Meatopia. If they do it again next year, I’m there!