Ribbers from across Canada will satisfy taste buds with savoury sauces and tender meat this weekend at the St. Albert Rotary RibFest. The drive-thru event runs at St. Albert Centre Mall parking lot June 9 to 11, from 11 am to 7 pm daily.
Over 3,500 cars are expected, as award-winning crews from Billy Bones and Blazin Barbecue return, with new addition Buckeye BBQ.
Festival organizers raised over $40,000 last year and are hoping to up that total to $60,000 this year. Fundraising efforts go to the Rotary Club, which supports local projects and charities.
"My father was an original ribber in Canada in the 1980s,” said Andrew Reinhardt, a Billy Bones team member. "We've carried on the tradition of being one of North America's top teams since then.”
The secret to cooking tender ribs?
“Cooking low and slow is obviously vital,” Reinhardt said. In addition, while other teams opt to use propane and charcoal, Billy Bones uses cherrywood, which gives off a smoky, sweet taste.
This year's menu items include full rack dinners (with beans and coleslaw) for $35, pulled pork sandwiches for $17, and two-meat dinners for $60. Along with the ribs, 50/50 tickets can be purchased for $10 per ticket, along with a prize raffle for a Traeger smoker and two meat packages, also $10 per ticket.
As part of the Western Canada RibFest Tour, rib enthusiasts can also enter an online auction of items including an electric bike, children's play centre, and other summer garden items. See the St. Albert Rotary Facebook page for more.
