RIBFEST 2008 ~ DAY 3

DAY 3
After a day trip to the beach and other adventures, we knew we were coming back to Ribfest for supper. Amanda had now joined the boys, but no Starbuck like last year. After grabbing a table, it was a bit of a fight to scrounge up 4 chairs, but we did it.

BOSS HOG

Both Rick and I went here this year. I was eager to meet Tom D, the owner who contacted me a few months ago about suicide wing sauce. Saturday was super busy, and I quickly met Tom in person in the midst of pouring bbq sauce, controlling a fire, and cooking ribs. Boss Hog won last year's People's Choice award, and it certainly was my #1 for traditional sauce.

RICK: "Sweet, with a tang to it"
BRAD: "Nice sweet sauce, good smokey meat"
WK: "Great BBQ flavour, smokey, sweet"

Check out their website HERE. Thanks Tom for the great ribs!


FIRE ISLAND

This was my other favourite rib place last year, because one of their sauces, Suicide, was more akin to my wings than to ribs. Still haven't tried their mild or honey garlic, and I'll be honest, I don't want to deviate from suicide. There is a fruity flavour that probably comes from the fact that its apple wood smoked.



WK: "Spicy, 3rd Degree with a slightly fruity flavour. . . apple?"
BRAD: "Fruity hot sauce vs salty meat . . . almost a Caribbean jerk sauce"
RICK: "3rd Degree overwhelmingly"


CAPRI PIZZA

Amanda's choice, only because she doesn't eat meat (she is an Amandatarian). Her square cheese pizza looked good.
AMANDA: "Really good - cheesy!"


DI's FRESH CUT FRIES

Rick and I got an order of this later on walking through Carny-land. There were several chip trucks, but Rick had a calling to go here. The fries were great as 'fresh cut', tasty, with great salt and malt vinegar. And ketchup, can't forget that. Only problem, my 3 seasonings only made it to the top, leaving the bottom not as good.



RIBFEST CONCLUSIONS

Overall, what a great weekend. Good ribs, good friends. But here are a few comments for the future:

• More chairs and tables!!! So many people, so few places to sit and eat.
• Composting was a great idea
• No more karaoke entertainment
• Leave your dogs at home
• Thursday is a great day to go, small crowds means smaller lines, more tables
• Go with a half-rack. A full rack is just too much
• It's expensive, but its for charity

Rib-Fest 2008 Winners

BEST RIBS
1st Place - Ribs Royale
2nd Place - Fire Island
3rd Place - Tony Roma's

BEST SAUCE
1st Place - Ribs Royale
2nd Place - Crabby's BBQ
3rd Place - Blazing BBQ

PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Boss Hog

BEST BOOTH
Pistol Pete

VOLUNTEERS' CHOICE
Tony Roma's

ORGANIZERS' CHOICE
Crazy Canuck

DAY 1 ~ DAY 2 ~ MORE PHOTOS