Robust & Son Take BBQ Crown

Swarthmorean co-publisher and owner of waR3house3 Rob Borgstrom congratulates BBQ cook-off winner Chris Galbraith, of Robust & Son.

Congratulations to team Robust & Son which won the inaugural Swarthmorean Barbecue Cook-Off on Sunday, November 17, at waR3house3 in Swarthmore. The decision by the four-judge panel was unanimous.

Five teams of cooks braved the November chill to compete for the title and feed the hungry crowd, which came from as far away as West Chester. Trumpet player Adam “Flymo” Birch, formerly of the ska group the Specials, warmed up a crowd of about 80 left cold by the Eagles’ loss to the New England Patriots. “It was like a tailgate party with your whole community,” said cook-off co-host (and Swarthmorean co-publisher) Todd Strine. 

But the real draw was the food.

“We enjoyed the opportunity to get more involved in our community, showcase our passion for food, and benefit a great cause,” said Lauren Wansor Galbraith of Yale Avenue, Swarthmore. She and her husband Chris comprise Robust & Son. They prepared: pulled pork sliders with apple fennel slaw and homemade barbeque sauce, whiskey maple baked beans with bacon, and a classic chocolate chip cookie. “We tried to infuse a little New England flair into classic barbeque dishes,” Galbraith said.

Judges Marty Spiegel, Nathan Moore, and Jeffrey Boyle assess the BBQ entries. (Not pictured is judge Will Randall.) Photo by Greg Hoy.

Judges were barbecue enthusiasts Jeffrey Boyle, Will Randall (Hobbs Coffee), Nathan Moore (Occasionally Yours), and Swarthmore Mayor Marty Spiegel. Spiegel said, “The winning barbecue just had a really outstanding mix of flavors, but it was a really close competition.” The People’s Choice winner was Dan Shaw.

Robust & Son will be back, Galbraith said. “We look forward to hopefully defending the title next year!”