ilani BBQ Fest in June 2023: a day of smoked meats at ilani Casino Resort in southwest Washington, with cooking demos from Jet Tila and Aaron May on the main stage.
The festival grounds
The festival took over the parking lot next to the casino, with a big tent, vendor booths and a covered stage. From the walkway above you could see the whole layout and the lines at the barbecue stands.
The barbecue
We worked our way through brisket with pickled red onions and hot sauce, a glazed pork belly burnt end, ribs, coleslaw and a tray of pulled pork with a few barbecue sauces on the side.
Aaron May on the main stage
Aaron May ran a demo on the main stage and signed autographs afterwards.
Jet Tila’s cooking demo
Jet Tila took the stage in an apron and worked the crowd, walking the edge of the stage and talking to people in the front rows.
Tips for ilani food festivals
- Get there early. Lines at the most popular barbecue stands get long by mid-afternoon.
- Find out the stage schedule when you arrive, so you can get a good spot for the demo you want.
- ilani is right off I-5, about 30 minutes north of Portland.
Originally posted on Instagram.
We went back in February 2024 for ilani Brewfest, with cooking demos from Antonia Lofaso and Gregory Gourdet.