The 2008 Ottawa International Invitational Chicken-Rib Cook-Off

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Ya ya ya.I know this happened three weeks ago, but I still had to add a few thoughts about this year’s ribfest.I moved to Ottawa 11 years ago, and every year at the end of June, I am looking forward not only to the end of the parliamantary session, but more importantly to the International Chicken and Rib cook-off, held on Sparks Street.

Folks often don’t realize that east of Bank St., there are more bbq shacks. And usually not as busy. Carmello’s patio is big, and they invited you kindly to enjoy your ribs as long as your purchase a beverage.  It is the case for most patio on Sparks Street, kudos to Carmello’s and Brixton’s especially, but for some reason the people at the Centretown Tavern (the trendy-ish waterhole attached to the not-so trendy Yesterday’s) are stubbornly refusing to join the fiesta and are turning ribfesters away.  We were six enjoying a beer there, and we left when we realized we couldn’t eat the tasty bbq treats there. Not very smart, and not good for business.  Shame.On a funny note, Jazz’oo Cafe’s daily special on the Friday was ribs.  Interesting timing.

———–

Kilgore: Smell that? You smell that?

Lance: What?

Kilgore: BBQ, son. Nothing in the world smells like that. [kneels]

Kilgore: I love the smell of BBQ in the morning. You know, one time we had a pig roasting, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn’t find one of ‘em, not one stinkin’ bone. The smell, you know that sweet smell, the whole pig. Smelled like… victory.

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This year, I had the opportunity to try – in chronological order :
Uncle Sam’s, Silver Bullet, Camp 31, Gator BBQ, Crabby’s.

Camp 31

Now, I wouldn’t want to upstage the stellar judges (btw, you must see the performance of Sandy Sharkey of BOB-FM), but here are my choices:

BEST RIBS:
Gator BBQ had baby back ribs, which were cooked to perfection, even though we went on Saturday morning as most of them bbq folks are still waking up.

Gator BBQ

A little citrus tangy taste to the sauce, I enjoyed them at Carmello’s with a pint of lager. Great combination.

BEST CHICKEN:
I’ve got to go with Gator BBQ again.  The crew from Florida’s chicken was tender, juicy, tasty, with none of the dryness that sometimes plague the birds at the BBQ shacks.

BEST SAUCE:
Silver Bullet, no questions asked.  Spicy, very nice heat, not too thick, it was certainly one of the highlight of this year’s cook-off.

Silver Bullet

It was particulary great with the pulled pork, as the meat absorbed the flavor very well.  Not bad on the ribs as well.

BEST PULLED PORK:
Silver Bullet, I think mostly because of the sauce, but also the tenderness of the meat.  Unlike Camp 31′s pork, which was really oily and had no distinct flavor to it, the Bullet’s hit the target with their slow cooked piggy meat.  No dryness to it at all, and very well pulled in small chunks as opposed to sloppy big dry pieces we could find at other locations.

BEST DEAL:
The familly deal at  Crabby’s.   For 40$, you got half a chicken, full rack of ribs, a pound of pulled pork, two servings each of cole slaw and beans, and a bottle of sauce.  Sweeeeet.

Crabby's

Wild Wing Top 25

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Restaurant
Jan 1, 2000
The Waffle
2 Comments

  1. Medium – Also known as American.
    There is nothing like a classic flavor – there mix of hot sauce just does it for me.

  2. Dirty Bird – Creole Mustard & Lime Ricky Sauce
    The creole mustard goes very well with the lime-flavoured spicy sauce.  And it does look like the bird just pooped.

    Spaghetti Western

  3. Spaghetti Western – Medium with Parmesan and Italian herbs
    This actually tastes like spagehetti!  The parmesan is a nice touch, and the herbs gives a great and fresh finish.
  4. Flew the Coop – A mix of their Lime Ricky Sauce and Diana’s original BBQ.
    This one has a nice kick to it – a traditional BBQ flavour with a nice tangy kick from the lime sauce.
  5. Daisy Duke – BBQ, Medium and Taco flavour
    This one is surprisngly good – the taco flavour gives a new twist on a classic taste without being overpowering.

    Island Girl

  6. Dirty Cowboy – Spicy Mustard and Teriyaki
    I wasn’t sure when I ordered them, but the teriyaki flavour was a great mix with the spicy mustard, making this wing a flavourful one with nice heat.
  7. Island Girl – Spicy Mustard and Jerk
    A nice combination – it smells stronger then it taste, as often is the case when jerk is involved.
  8. Bubba’s Backfire – BBQ & Frank’s Extra Hot
    Great kick, nice BBQ undertone.  10 is plenty, though.
  9. Farmer’s Daughter – BBQ, Medium and Wild Jerk.
    The jerk doesn’t make its presence felt too strongly.  It is kind of subdued and it works nicely.

  10. Catch Me If You Can – Maple and Frank’s Extra Red Hot.
    The maple and hot sauce mix works well, nice change from honey garlic.

  11. The Hot Dill – Spicy Mustard and Come Get Some
    I’ve got to admit I was pleasantly surprised.  The dill worked very well with the mustard.
  12. I am Canadian – Mild and Maple
    This was similar to Catch Me If You Can, but not as hot.  It did work well too, and is one of the most popular wing at Wild Wing.

  13. Caribbean Jerk – Jerk
    If you are looking for a tasty and classic jerk flavor, this one is for you. It really works well, and the fact that it is saucy will make this one more palatable for some.

  14. Red Hot & Blue – Renee’s Blue Cheese and Hot
    Where Blue by Barbie fails, Red Hot & Blue does it.
  15. Dusty Muckaroo – Honey Garlic and Frank’s Extra Red Hot.
    The balance is not quite right as the honey seemed overpowering.
  16. Hog Thaï – Spicy Mustard and Thai flavour
    Original, but doesn’t quite fly as a combination.
  17. Buckin’ Bronco – Medium and Lemon pepper
    This one could have been a little less saucy to do it.

    Some Beach

  18. Some Beach – Medium with Renée’s Caeser, Parmesan, Buttermilk Dill
    A strange combination.  Not something I enjoyed.  Garlic amateurs will like it.
  19. Blue by Barbie – BBQ with Blue cheese
    I suppose this is some kind of attempt to recreate the classic, but the blue cheese didn’t go at all with the heatless BBQ.
  20. Sweet Cheeks – Spicy Mustard and Honey Garlic
    I do like most of the spicy mustard combinations, but the honey garlic was killing any heat.
  21. Jamaican Me Crazy – Jerk and Pineapple Curry
    The jerk was as good and as strong as it should, but you could only taste traces of curry and certainly no pineapple.
  22. Awesome Honey – Honey Garlic and Honey Mustard
    This was very, very sweet.  If you like it sweet, this one’s for you.
  23. Hot Honey – Honey Garlic and Hot
    Honey, there was nothing hot about this.  A total bust.
  24. Thaï – Also known as Pad Thaï Nothing Thaï or even remotely asian-like about this wing.  It didn’t taste bad, but sweet with no sour, no hot pepers coming through, no peanut or curry aroma.
  25. Sour Cream and OnionSour Cream and Onion
    An interesting concept but disapointing result as this “chippy” flavor was too weak to actually do anything.  Almost tasted like plain fried chicken..