Meatopia, The World-Famous Meat Festival's Backstory

Meatopia, with events at both the New York City Wine & Food and South Beach Wine & Food festivals, is widely regarded as one of the most carnivorous feasts in the world, where chefs and pitmasters cook entire pigs, cows, and goats over open fires. But do you know where Meatopia got its start? We spoke to Charles Grund Jr., executive chef and pitmaster of Hill Country Barbecue, at the New York City event at Pier 92 on West 55^th Street. Hill Country Barbecue participates in the Meatopia feasts every year in New York and at South Beach.

Meatopia began modestly in 2004 as a birthday party for Josh Ozersky, the late James Beard award-winning food writer.

"Before Meatopia was the giant feast it is today, it was just Josh's birthday with two or three restaurants," Grund told us. "All he did was ask for us to come out and celebrate. It was just meat and booze, and look at it now."

For Meatopia's 11^th annual celebration in New York City, smoke from dozens of grills filled the air as a crowd of guests mingled and munched on creative pork and beef dishes from 30 purveyors. Meatopia founder Josh Ozersky died earlier this year after a seizure, and he was remembered fondly by both guests and chefs at the event.

"Ozersky was a brilliant writer who was very knowledgeable about food and New York City," Grund said. "I don't think people gave him enough credit for his brilliance in writing. He was a great guy."