Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off
The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off is an annual rib cook-off in Sparks, Nevada. The competition involves St. Louis-style pork ribs. The event is held at Victorian Square in Sparks and has taken place annually over the Labor Day weekend since 1989; it is sponsored by John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort.[1]
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[edit] History
The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off began in 1989, with six entries and a small group of casino customers. The initial event did not involve cooking the ribs on-site, but rather reheating them with cans of Sterno fuel.[2] The inaugural winner was North Main Barbecue from Euless, Texas.[2][3]
The event is the main attraction for Sparks, and is mentioned in travel guides[4][5][6] and barbecue books.[7]
[edit] Rib cook-off and other competitions
The rib cook-off takes place over six days in Victorian Square in Sparks, Nevada; traffic is prevented from entering the street over six blocks. Aside from the actual cook-off, ribs are sold to the general public. In 2007 the event, for the first time, drew half a million visitors, and has done so every following year, serving up to 100 tons of St. Louis-style ribs.[8][9] It was calculated that the 2006 event produced "1.4 million bones' worth of pork ribs."[10]
Top prize for the judged event is $7,500. There is also a "people's choice award" and an award for best sauce.[11]
[edit] Statistics
| Year | Attendance (estimated) | Ribs cooked (lbs) | Winner's home state | References |
| 1989 | 30,000 | Texas | [3][12] | |
| 1990 | ||||
| 1991 | ||||
| 1992 | ||||
| 1993 | ||||
| 1994 | ||||
| 1995 | ||||
| 1996 | Texas | [13] | ||
| 1997 | Texas | [14] | ||
| 1998 | Nevada | [15] | ||
| 1999 | Michigan | [16] | ||
| 2000 | Kentucky | [12] | ||
| 2001 | 300,000* | 126,000* | Pennsylvania | [12][17] |
| 2002 | Kentucky | [18] | ||
| 2003 | Kentucky | [18] | ||
| 2004 | 300,000 | 148,000 | Texas | [3] |
| 2005 | 300,000* | 150,000* | New Jersey | [19][20] |
| 2006 | 400,000 | Minnesota | [9][21] | |
| 2007 | 500,000* | 200,000* | Minnesota | [9][22][23] |
| 2008 | 500,000 | 100,000 | Michigan | [1][2] |
| 2009 | 500,000 | 200,000 | Ohio | [24] |
Note: Statistics marked with an asterisk (*) are pre-event estimates.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Michigan cooker wins Best in the West rib cook-off". San Francisco Chronicle. September 2, 2008. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/02/state/n064609D35.DTL. Retrieved 2009-09-07.[dead link]
- ^ a b c Greenberg, Peter. "Ribs, Ribs, and More Ribs: The Biggest Barbecue Cook-Off in the West". Peter Greenberg. http://www.petergreenberg.com/2008/09/08/ribs-ribs-and-more-ribs-the-biggest-barbecue-cook-off-in-the-west/. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ a b c Sonner, Scott (May 31, 2005). "Sparks sets lineup for annual cook-off". Las Vegas Review-Journal (AP). http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/May-31-Tue-2005/news/26608544.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ Walpole, Jeanne Lauf (2007). Insiders' Guide to Reno and Lake Tahoe. Globe Pequot. pp. 179–80. ISBN 9780762741908. http://books.google.com/books?id=Fgaxdath7asC&pg=PA179.
- ^ Schulte-Peevers, Andrea; Sara Benson (2006). California. Lonely Planet. p. 356. ISBN 9781740599511. http://books.google.com/books?id=JWIXkyhp1bYC&pg=PA356.
- ^ "101 Western Events". American Cowboy: 44. January–February 2007. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZuoCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Cumbay, Traci; Tom Schneider (2008). BBQ Sauces, Rubs & Marinades For Dummies. For Dummies. p. 224. ISBN 9780470199145. http://books.google.com/books?id=gXSpHeiH5s4C&pg=PA224.
- ^ Sooner, Scott (August 1, 2005). "Labor Day weekend means barbecue ribs in northern Nevada". USA Today (AP). http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2005-08-01-nevada-barbecue_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ a b c O'Malley, Jaclyn (SEPTEMBER 5, 2009). "Cooks give tips for making award-winning ribs at home". Reno Gazette-Journal. http://www.rgj.com/article/20090905/NEWS/909050323/1321. Retrieved 2009-09-07.[dead link]
- ^ Bruder, Jessica (2007). Burning book: a visual history of Burning Man. Simon and Schuster. p. 9. ISBN 9781416928249. http://books.google.com/books?id=A2jZduD1W6cC&pg=RA1-PA9.
- ^ "Local Company Among Rib Cookoff Winners". KOLO-TV. September 7, 2009. http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/57665982.html. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ a b c Gardner, Tom (August 30, 2001). "The Super Bowl of Rib Roasts". Luddington Daily News. pp. A8. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9aQNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-k8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6905,6857407&dq=nugget-rib-cook-off+winners&hl=en. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Coyote". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/30/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Joey's Texas Thunder". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/21/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - BJ's Barbeque". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/2/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/4/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Awesome Aussie". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/1/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ a b "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Texas Outlaw Barbecue". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/25/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Leocha, Charles (Aug 17, 2005). "Reno lets the good times roll". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8930435/. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ". Reno Ribs. http://renoribs.com/cookers/details/5/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Dunne, Mike (September 5, 2006). "Winning Ribs from Minnesota? Believe It". The Sacramento Bee. http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/dining/archives/003762.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ Famous Dave's won both the 2006 and 2007 competitions
- ^ Harrington, Joe (August 29, 2007). "Plenty of Ribs to Eat in Sparks". KOLO-TV. http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/9464897.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ Hagar, Ray (September 8, 2009). "Desperado takes Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off trophy after rough start". Reno Gazette-Journal. http://www.rgj.com/article/20090908/NEWS/909080335/1321/news. Retrieved 2009-09-08.[dead link]
