Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off explained

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 the Nugget Casino Resort.[1]

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.[3]

The event is the main attraction for Sparks, and is mentioned in travel guides[4] [5] [6] and barbecue books.[7]

Rib cook-off and other competitions

The rib cook-off takes place over six days in Victorian Square in Sparks, Nevada; six blocks of Victorian Avenue are closed to traffic during the event for the cook-off competitors and other vendors to stage their booths. Aside from the actual cook-off, ribs are sold to the general public. In addition to the ribs there is a small arts and crafts fair and a few children's rides. 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] It was calculated that the 2006 event produced "1.4 million bones' worth of pork ribs."[9]

Top prize for the judged event is $19,500. There is also a "people's choice award" and an award for best sauce.[10]

The 32nd annual Rib Cook-off will take place 01–06 September 2021, as there'll be no cook-off in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be 23 competitors vying for upwards of $20,000 in prize money. The event includes a Rib Village, beer garden and live entertainment.[11]

Statistics

YearAttendance (estimated)Ribs cooked (lbs)Winner's home stateReferences
198930,000Texas[12]
1990
1991California
1992Texas
1993
1994
1995Arizona
1996Texas[13]
1997Texas[14]
1998Nevada[15]
1999Michigan[16]
2000Kentucky
2001300,000*126,000*Pennsylvania[17]
2002Kentucky[18]
2003Kentucky
2004300,000148,000Virginia
2005300,000*150,000*New Jersey[19] [20]
2006400,000Minnesota[21] [22]
2007500,000*200,000*Minnesota[23] [24]
2008500,000100,000Michigan
2009500,000200,000Ohio[25]
2010Michigan
2011California
2012Illinois
2013Minnesota
2014Ohio
2015Michigan
2016Indiana
2017Illinois
2018Montana
2019Montana
2020COVID-19 pandemic saw no winner.
Note: Statistics marked with an asterisk (*) are pre-event estimates.

Notes and References

  1. News: Michigan cooker wins Best in the West rib cook-off. September 2, 2008. San Francisco Chronicle. 2009-09-07.
  2. News: Ribs, Ribs, and More Ribs: The Biggest Barbecue Cook-Off in the West. Greenberg. Peter . Peter Greenberg. 2009-09-07.
  3. News: Sparks sets lineup for annual cook-off. Sonner. Scott. May 31, 2005. Las Vegas Review-Journal (AP). 2009-09-07.
  4. Book: Walpole , Jeanne Lauf . Insiders' Guide to Reno and Lake Tahoe . Globe Pequot . 2007 . 179–80 . 978-0-7627-4190-8.
  5. Book: Schulte-Peevers , Andrea . Sara Benson . California . Lonely Planet . 2006 . 356 . 978-1-74059-951-1.
  6. 101 Western Events . American Cowboy . 44 . January–February 2007 . 2009-10-28.
  7. Book: Cumbay , Traci . Tom Schneider . BBQ Sauces, Rubs & Marinades For Dummies . For Dummies . 2008 . 224 . 978-0-470-19914-5.
  8. News: Labor Day weekend means barbecue ribs in northern Nevada. Sooner. Scott. August 1, 2005. USA Today (AP). 2009-09-08.
  9. Book: Bruder , Jessica . Burning book: a visual history of Burning Man . Simon and Schuster . 2007 . 9 . 978-1-4169-2824-9.
  10. News: Local Company Among Rib Cookoff Winners. September 7, 2009. KOLO-TV. 2009-09-08.
  11. Web site: How to survive the 2019 Nugget Rib Cook-off. Reno Gazette Journal. 2019-08-27.
  12. News: The Super Bowl of Rib Roasts. Gardner. Tom. August 30, 2001. Luddington Daily News. A8. 2009-10-28.
  13. Web site: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Coyote. Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  14. Web site: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Joey's Texas Thunder. Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  15. News: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - BJ's Barbeque. Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  16. Web site: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details . Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  17. Web site: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Awesome Aussie. Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  18. Web site: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Texas Outlaw Barbecue. Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  19. News: Reno lets the good times roll. https://web.archive.org/web/20160128090732/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8930435/. dead. January 28, 2016. Leocha. Charles . Aug 17, 2005. NBC News. 2009-09-07.
  20. Web site: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off Cooker Details - Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ. Reno Ribs. 2009-10-28.
  21. News: Cooks give tips for making award-winning ribs at home. O'Malley. Jaclyn. September 5, 2009. Reno Gazette-Journal. 2009-09-07.
  22. News: Winning Ribs from Minnesota? Believe It . Dunne . Mike . September 5, 2006 . . 2009-09-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606213415/http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/dining/archives/003762.html . 2011-06-06 .
  23. Famous Dave's won both the 2006 and 2007 competitions
  24. News: Plenty of Ribs to Eat in Sparks. Harrington. Joe. August 29, 2007. KOLO-TV. 2009-09-07.
  25. News: Desperado takes Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off trophy after rough start. Hagar. Ray. September 8, 2009. Reno Gazette-Journal. 2009-09-08.

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