Last year, the former "Chew on this" reporters -- myself and Chad Yoder -- had a brilliant idea: We had a grandiose plan to rate all of the best barbecue in the city. We never had the chance to attack the project, mainly because of our lack of funds, but recently Mr. Opportunity knocked on my door when I was asked to serve as a judge in the local rib cook-off, which took place Aug. 6 and 7, allowing me to fulfill a life-long goal.
For the last four years, Walnut Street has been ground zero for the flavor bomb known as Muncie RibFest -- a competition placing local grillers, smokers and barbecueists in a no-holds-barred fight for rib supremacy. Along with 17 area restaurants, there was live music and craft vendors fighting for the attention of patrons.
Fourteen vendors made it into the competition. At around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, I was sequestered, along with my fellow judges, in the Downtown Development Office conference room. Beginning at 3 p.m., we ran a rib marathon that truly opened my eyes and taste buds to Muncie's best barbecue.
THE RIB RUNDOWN
Dick's Bodacious Bar-BQ
WINNER -- Appearance
The rib meat itself was a little tough and did not have much flavor; however, the sauce that came with it helped make up for the lack of flavor, saving these ribs from pork purgatory. Worth a try.
Mauck's Meat Co.
The rib meat was very tender and had a delicious, slightly smoky taste that was further accented by an absolutely delicious sauce. Mauck's also sells a mean pork tenderloin sandwich that is hard to pass up.
Vince's Restaurant
One of my highest ranking entries -- the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the sauce has a sweet-but-not-too-sweet taste that doesn't overpower the meat. One of the competition's best.
Taste of Texas
These ribs received high scores in both the meat and sauce categories. They are very good ribs, but there was one problem with them -- they were so tender that they were very difficult to hold on to, and they lost a few points on presentation ... but who really cares about that?
Old Memphis BBQ
Tasty meat, but the sauce was nearly non-existent ... maybe because that's the Memphis style. Also, not good-looking -- so not good-looking that I thought they'd taste weird, too. Fortunately, they didn't.
Pete's Duck Inn
Weird. Not ribs but "hog wings." The meat was awesome, and this would've probably gotten my highest rating, but they messed up the sauce -- I could taste ketchup and, to me, that does not say, "eat ribs, dude."
909 Grille
WINNER -- Sauce, Best Ribs
Last year's winner pulled out all the stops and made its ribs just as good this year. The meat was tender, flavorful and even looked very good, and the sauce did everything a sauce does -- adds a little flavor to savor.
Food on the Corner
The sauce, again, proves to be the life preserver for those who can't make ribs. The meat was terrible -- no flavor, really tough. Overall, these ribs were rock hard and unappetizing.
Damon's Grill
I really thought hard while judging this one because I couldn't taste it. The meat, while tender, reminded me of chewing through thick air. The sauce was sort of like hot snow. In a word ... nope!
Slater Hawkins Restaurant
Very, very tender! The meat on these ribs was delicious to the point where it would be good on its own ... and I would've preferred it like that because the sauce was just some sort of thick red paste.
Pitts Bar-B-Que
The meat received the only zero I gave out in the entire competition ... which really says something because all the rib makers had their faults. This, however, felt like chewing on shoe leather that had been doused in a sauce with some honey in it. Ick, man, ick.
Wagner's Ribs
Flavorful, but only to a point. The meat was tough, and I'm pretty sure I described the sauce as "glopped on, three-day-old gravy." If I can't chew it or even look at it, what does it matter how it tastes?
Cardinal Family Dining
My lowest score! Texture and appearance ranked high, but the sauce made the ribs almost taste past their prime.
Our Daily Bread
WINNER -- Meat Texture, Best Ribs
The ribs looked delicious and tasted delicious. Who would've thought? The meat was extremely tender and juicy, and the sauce had a hint of spice that I enjoyed thoroughly.
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