Lake Bluff Ribfest 2013

What do you get when you cross seventeen world-class local barbecue teams, one great cause and a whole lot of napkins? Lake Bluff’s annual RibFest, of course! The freewill donation event – with money going to Beef4Hunger – raised over $3,300 this year at their event, which was held on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Barbecue lovers young and old lined up at the booths of the seventeen participants to sample their menus. Patrons could then purchase votes – at $1 each – to go toward their favorite winning the coveted “People’s Choice Award” (With the money going toward Beef4Hunger). This year’s People’s Choice Award was fiercely contested with the winner, Stickey Fingers, raising $499 for their individual team to win the award.

The Grand Champion of this bragging rights competition is rewarded with a larger than life trophy and First place, blue ribbon. Second through fifth place teams all receive ribbons as does the People's Choice Recipient. In addition, showmanship recognition is given to that team that best decorates their cooking space.

Big Pig Little Pig (Team Workman) was named the Grand Champion of the judge’s voting, winning for the third time. The other top five finishers were

2nd - Smokey Bones (Team Mattson)

3rd - Boofhead (Team Rhodes)

4th - Aeroswine (Team Hoobler)

5th – Vegan Nots (Team Welles)

The Showmanship Award is given to the team that best shows their barbecue and team spirit by decorating their cooking space. The 2013 award was given to Wholly Smokes.

While the awe-inspiring assortment of meat is definitely a plus for patrons of the event, it’s also about coming out and being together with the community. But one thing was definitely clear with the Lake Bluff RibFest – with seventeen teams and seventeen very different menus, there was definitely something for everyone.