For four years Damien Gilbert has given Ribfest a saucy thumbs up.
Gilbert joined hundreds of fellow local meat lovers Friday afternoon to begin indulging in a three-day rib bender at the OLG Casino Thunder Bay parking lot for the Waterfront District’s fifth annual Ribfest.
“I think it’s nice,” Gilbert said.
“Everyone comes around and gets to eat a lot of meat together, and it’s good that it brings a lot of local businesses together on top of the touring rib companies that come in.”
Ribfest originated in 2012 when organizers brought in four ribbers, Jack the Ribber, Route 55, Ribs Royale and Sweet Smoked BBQ from Southern Ontario to compete for the best ribs.
For Gilbert, the first day is too early to tell which ribber would win his heart for this year’s festival, but he was eager to be generous and try everyone’s just to allow him to give his honest opinion on who has the best ribs.
“I’ve been leaning toward Jack the Ribber,” he said.
“You know he has never let me down yet, and it’s always quality, they are nice and tender and the sauce has definitely got a flavour of its own.”
Gilbert added that it’s all about the quality of meat, it should be tender and falling off the bone.
For 15 years Jack Sakellis has been travelling Ontario and perfecting his barbecue slathered award winning ribs.
“It’s really up to the taste,” Sakellis said standing in front the Jack the Ribber table, which held more than 20 Ribfest awards.
“You start with quality first, second it’s what you use and third cook slowly.”
For nice and tender ribs, Sakellis said bring a case of beer and prepare to sit next to the smoker for four hours.
Sakellis said depending on the weather he expects to serve more than 2,000 people throughout the weekend.
Organizers said Ribfest is set for another big weekend as they are expecting to host more than 30,000 people.
The annual festival isn’t just a celebration of meat. Organizers are also hoping to raise more than $30,000 throughout the weekend for the Our Kids Count organization.
