FSJ Eats with Ed: The (bitter) beef brisket sandwich battle of 2026

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Hi folks. No, please don’t readjust your computer screens. We have not done this in a while.

As a foodie, some of the most fun I have had in my years up in northeast B.C. along the Alaska Highway is sampling some of the finest fare the region has to offer, hence our title: FSJ Eats With Ed.

However, with the life of a local journalist taking me in several different directions (including to Indigenous events and even to talk about kittens), there hasn’t been much time to share the latest eats in the area.

But then along came July, and with that, my favourite community event: the Fort St. John Ribfest.

Ribfest is a summertime tradition across Canada, where locals enjoy bold Texas-style barbecue for days at a time.

However, in this part of the country, Ribfest is actually relatively new. To put it into perspective, the first Ribfest in Fort St. John didn’t occur until 2023, as part of the Western Canada Ribfest Tour.

While I have indulged in beef ribs that look like dinosaur bones in the past, this year, I decided to take a new approach: the beef brisket sandwich.

At its best, brisket is a primal cut of meat from a steer, usually from the breast or lower chest of the animal. With a little time in a smoker, some spices and some patience, beef brisket is one of the tastiest parts of beef you can find.

With my complimentary meal and some money in hand, I decided to take a best-first approach to see which of the three vendors who made the trip to the north came out on top.

BILLY BONES BBQ:

I began my journey through Centennial Park with a stop at a favourite among Ribfest enthusiasts: Billy Bones BBQ.

It is impressive to see the entire list of awards this place has won during its trips across Canada, including judges’ choice awards for best ribs and sauce at locations as far west as Whitecourt and as far east as Gaspé, Quebec, and New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

My complimentary meal came with a sandwich, coleslaw, and beans. This entry definitely had juice, and the sauce was flavourful throughout.  While the sides weren’t as full as previous years, the sandwich definitely packed a punch with the spice. Overall score: 4.5 out of five stars.

BUCKEYE BBQ:

While the intention of Ribfest is to consume some of the tastiest meat possible, I was a little discriminatory of Buckeye BBQ, thanks to my college sports allegiances (I’m a Michigan Wolverines fan, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are their biggest rival).

However, my loyalty to my team was taken aside (or was it) when I tried the beef brisket sandwich offered by this truck.

This sandwich was so juicy. Too juicy, with not enough spice. Maybe it’s my college bias here, but too salty and so wet that the bread broke apart. Overall Score: three out of five stars.

BLAZIN’ BBQ:

My final stop during my Ribfest tour of 2026 was Blazin’ BBQ. And as the old adage goes: save the best for last.

While not as decorated as some of the other trucks, the crew at this truck won back-to-back titles for best sauce at the previous Ribfests in Fort St. John.

And it doesn’t stop there: this place has won best ribs and best sauce titles throughout Western Canada, including in Lloydminster, Grande Prairie and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Like the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, this sandwich was just right: Perfect smoke, perfect spice, and even a nice barbecue sauce to complement the abundance of flavours throughout. Overall Score: five out of five stars (and I think that might have been my first perfect score!)

By the end of Saturday evening, July 11, my waistband was expanded, my belly stuffed and my experience at Ribfest in Fort St. John was nothing short of enjoyable.

Well, Ribfest folks, until next year!