The 2026 season for the Lithuanian master team “Kamado Bono” was extremely successful: three starts in international championships ended with Reserve Grand Champion titles. The latest was won last weekend in Sweden, at one of the largest BBQ championships in Europe. This result lifted the Lithuanians to 8th place in the European ranking table and for the first time – into the top ten strongest grill teams, according to a press release.
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Barbecue, for which a good recipe alone is not enough
Championships are held according to the rules of KCBS (“Kansas City Barbeque Society”) – the largest BBQ competition organization in the world. Teams compete in four main categories: chicken, pork, ribs, and beef brisket (brisket). Judges evaluate not only the taste of the dishes – presentation and meat texture are especially important. Details determine the result here, and a difference of just one point can significantly adjust positions in the final table.
“At first, we mistakenly thought that the most important thing was to cook the meat very deliciously and victory was guaranteed. Now, having gained more experience and knowledge, we understand that at the highest level absolutely everyone knows how to cook deliciously. Championships are won by those who can maintain the same high result, consistently repeating it even when conditions change and competing against the strongest grill masters,” says V. Amosov.
Teams competing for the highest positions in the European BBQ ranking visit from 4 to 10 competitions during the season, and there are about 20 major ones in Europe. Many professionals fight for titles for a decade or longer. That is exactly how long they have been improving their skills.
“You should not be afraid to make mistakes. Since the first championship, we have made hundreds of mistakes, but at the same time learned a lot, spending a huge number of hours by the grill. We noticed that you learn best when you ruin everything yourself. Why? Because it stimulates curiosity, you start asking why others can do it, but I can’t? What can I do better, differently? Now we feel confident because we know that in the championship we will be able to compete with the strongest,” says team member Vadimas.
In Sweden, everything was changed by one night
At the competition held in Sweden, 28 teams gathered, including many well-known European professional BBQ names. The two days of the championship became a test not only of technique but also of the ability to quickly analyze one’s mistakes.
On Saturday, the Lithuanians took fifth place in the ribs category, and in the other main categories, they stayed in the top ten. However, a mistake in preparing the beef brisket (brisket) pushed the team down in the overall standings. The situation was not saved even by the maximum judges’ score for dessert – 180 points, as the main fight took place in the four classic BBQ categories. After the first day, there was still nothing to celebrate.
After analyzing the mistakes and making a few changes, the next morning the “Kamado Bono” team started work at the grills at 4 a.m., because this time it was necessary to concentrate especially and properly cook the brisket. And they succeeded!
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The biggest achievement of the second day was first place in the ribs category, a victorious second place in the overall standings, and the Reserve Grand Champion title, which the team brought back to Lithuania.
“In such competitions, you clearly see how little sometimes separates an excellent result from an average one. You can be prepared, you can have a good recipe, but you have to repeat it very precisely – be able to control the temperature, carefully monitor the time, humidity, properly choose tools, including the grill, and many other small things. On the first day, we got a good reminder that professional competitions do not forgive mistakes. On the second day, we did what we have learned best over many years,” the grillers say.
Three championships – three highly valued RGC trophies
The result in Sweden became the third “Kamado Bono” Reserve Grand Champion title this year. The first was won in Poland. The second – in neighboring Estonia, at the same competition where the team’s championship history began five years ago. This year, the Lithuanians not only took second place in the overall standings there but also surpassed the rare 700-point mark.
In the professional BBQ world, the so-called “700 Club” marks a very high overall score – to achieve it, you need to collect high judges’ scores in all four main categories on the same day. The Lithuanians managed to do this.
Even before the Swedish championship, the “Kamado Bono” grill masters team was in the fourth decade in the European ranking among 85 teams. After the weekend, the Lithuanians rose and secured 8th place.
At the top of European professional BBQ, very strong teams from Belgium, Italy, the United Kingdom, Croatia, and Austria compete. From now on, Lithuania also joins this list.
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