It was a hot weekend in Detroit, and not just because of the weather. Things got heated at Hour Detroit’s 2025 GrillFest Presented by Flood Law, hosted on Aug. 17 at Eastern Market, boasting a sold-out showcase of grilled food from some of metro Detroit’s hottest restaurants, plus plenty of refreshing beverages and marketplace goodies from local vendors.
Big Flavors from the Best Bites Competition
The highlight was a GrillFest first: the Best Bite Competition — a chance for metro-Detroit chefs to go toe-to-toe and earn the title of grill master. With 10 competing restaurants, the competition was stiff, as the 500 guests had 16 different dishes to choose from, each filled with unique flavors and bold ingredients.
There can only be one winner though, and this year the people awarded Birmingham’s La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar the gold medal. Their Colorado Lamb Chop, topped with cherry peppers, roasted garlic, a Port Wine Balsamic Reduction, and fresh rosemary came accompanied by grilled asparagus and truffle potato puree.
Taking home the silver medal, Ann Arbor’s The Dixboro Project offered up their take on grilled duck wings served with BBQ baked beans and a harissa aioli.
Detroit’s Sahara Mediterranean Kitchen rounded out the podium in third with a Chicken Shish Tikka, their version of the classic skewered meat dish.
The winners were congratulated on stage by Hour Detroit’s Publisher Jason Hosko, who had this to say about the second year of GrillFest.
“This year’s Best Bite Competition was a true crowd favorite,” says Hosko. “Our guests voted with their ballots, and the winners reflect the flavors that resonated most. Still, every competitor should be proud because the competition was fierce, and the dishes were outstanding across the board. I can’t wait to see what next year brings!”
Cooling Off For A Cause
No summer BBQ is complete without something cold to drink, and there was no shortage of options for guests to try. In addition to receiving 12 tickets to grilled bites, each GrillFest guest received 12 drink tickets, giving guests a chance to sample libations from local producers like Youngblood Vineyard, Stumblebum Beer & Taphouse, or try new offerings from favorites like High Noon, Surfside Vodka, and Little Saints.
Each ticket purchased helped support COTS Detroit and their goal to eliminate homelessness and poverty in the community.
One-Stop Shop
As guests sipped and ate, they shopped more than a dozen stalls filled with everything from organic soaps and permanent jewelry to gourmet relish and premium BBQ sauce. They even got to meet a Detroit-based Tupperware Lady. Each vendor had a unique background and story to tell, and Hour Detroit’s 2025 GrillFest brought them all together to connect with guests.
It’s never too early to start getting excited for next year, so keep an eye out for updates on GrillFest 2026!
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