The Rib Off and Photo Contest

I wasn't really invited to be a part of this neighborhood rib off, but when charismatically coerced, my pals caved and invited me along to be a judge. It was a great event, too: complete with score sheets, pencils or pens, pop and adult beverages, excellent salads and side dishes and color-flagged toothpicks for scoring identification without revealing identities of the barbequologists.



I'd heard about this thing for about three years and was smitten with the idea that five families would actually carry through with the prep of six racks of ribs, a grill and the committment to a yearly event and a trophy, no less!



Sauces were not withheld from the tasting spoon - well, not all of the barbequologists were withholding, save the host - but discussions about ingredients abounded as did the use of briquets, soaked wood chips and your back yard staple, the gas grill. There really was no standard on preparation...well, okay maybe fire and basting brushes for saucing.



The Food and Wine magazine photo contest submission was made as a result of this event and now I'm sitting here with my BBQ sauced fingers crossed...