Twenty-six teams from New York to Baltimore participated in the Best BBQ Chef Competition at New London Waterfront Park last weekend, competing in four categories: chicken, ribs, pork (shoulder or butt) and brisket. The Grand Champion, ZBQ, of Cumberland, R.I., earned the highest overall combined score.

The winners in each category are: Smokin' Hoggz BBQ of Oceanside, New York, chicken; Ack-Que of New Canaan, ribs; ZBQ, pork; Myron Mixon Smokers of Waterford, brisket.

Official Kansas City Barbecue Society judges evaluated the entries, and state Rep. Ernest Hewett served as a guest judge.