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 the Nugget Casino Resort.[1]

Pork ribs at the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off

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]

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][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 $19,500. There is also a "people's choice award" and an award for best sauce.[11]

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.[12]

Statistics
A vendor displaying their awards
Year Attendance (estimated) Ribs cooked (lbs) Winner's home state References
1989 30,000 Texas [3][13]
1990
1991 California
1992 Texas
1993
1994
1995 Arizona
1996 Texas [14]
1997 Texas [15]
1998 Nevada [16]
1999 Michigan [17]
2000 Kentucky [13]
2001 300,000* 126,000* Pennsylvania [13][18]
2002 Kentucky [19]
2003 Kentucky [19]
2004 300,000 148,000 Virginia [3]
2005 300,000* 150,000* New Jersey [20][21]
2006 400,000 Minnesota [9][22]
2007 500,000* 200,000* Minnesota [9][23][24]
2008 500,000 100,000 Michigan [1][2]
2009 500,000 200,000 Ohio [25]
2010 Michigan
2011 California
2012 Illinois
2013 Minnesota
2014 Ohio
2015 Michigan
2016 Indiana
2017 Illinois
2018 Montana
2019 Montana
2020 COVID-19 pandemic saw no winner.

Note: Statistics marked with an asterisk (*) are pre-event estimates.

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