Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off facts for kids
The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off is a super popular yearly event in Sparks, Nevada. It's a big competition where chefs cook amazing ribs. Specifically, they make "St. Louis-style" pork ribs. This exciting event happens every year around the Labor Day weekend. It has been going on since 1989 and is supported by the Nugget Casino Resort.
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A Taste of History: The Rib Cook-off Story
The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off started way back in 1989. It began with just six teams competing. Only a small group of people from the casino came to watch. At first, the ribs weren't cooked right there. They were just warmed up using special fuel. The very first winner was North Main Barbecue from Euless, Texas.
This event has grown a lot since then. It is now a huge attraction for Sparks, Nevada. You can even find it mentioned in travel guides and barbecue books!
What Happens at the Rib Cook-off?
The rib cook-off takes place over six days. It happens in Victorian Square in Sparks, Nevada. Several blocks of Victorian Avenue are closed off. This makes room for all the cooking teams and other sellers. Besides the main competition, you can buy lots of delicious ribs to eat.
There is also a small arts and crafts fair. Kids can enjoy a few fun rides too. In 2007, the event became super popular. Half a million people visited that year. It has attracted that many visitors every year since! They serve up to 100 tons of St. Louis-style ribs. In 2006, they cooked about "1.4 million bones' worth of pork ribs." That's a lot of ribs!
Awards and Prizes
The top prize for the winning chef is a big one. It's $19,500! There's also a "people's choice award." This award goes to the team that visitors like the most. Another prize is given for the best sauce.
The 32nd annual Rib Cook-off was held from September 1st to 6th, 2021. The 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, 23 teams competed for over $20,000 in prize money. The event also has a special "Rib Village." You can find a beer garden and live music entertainment there too.
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A vendor displaying their awards
