Tuesday, May 31, 2005  Spice It Up! Rib Festival Teaches Us
About Product Value  The Rib America Festival is a fun filled
family event featuring award winning BBQ and live entertainment
from national, regional and local talent. Each rib cooker
features their very own special cooking strategy and recipes
that make for a truly unique food festival experience.  My Dad
and I attend every year. And it's our tradition to sample a few
ribs from each of the cookers and ultimately choose our
favorite; after which we return home and pass out from meat
overload.  Now, amazing sauce, tender meat and spicy rib-rub
notwithstanding, I noticed a few environmental elements that
altered the perception of certain cookers' value.  1) Lines:
like my Dad always says, "Just because there's a long line, it
doesn't mean the ribs are good; and just because there's nobody
in line, it doesn't mean the ribs are bad." Case in Point: our
personal award for the past two years went to Dave's Good Ol'
Boys BBQ from New York. And for the last