The Soul Pitt - Bonita Lee Pen, Rib Cook Off.

Duke and Dutchess Ribs Cook-Off

2nd Annual "Duke and Dutchess" Ribs Cook-Off
by bonita lee penn, The Soul Pitt
September 15, 2007

Question: What would have a multitude of families from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and different neighborhoods smiling in agreement so early on a unusually cool Saturday morning? Answer: The smell of bar-b-que.

If you missed the "Duke and Dutchess" Rib Cook-Off sponsored by the Union Project on Saturday, September 22, 2007, you missed some of the most delicious, tasty bar-b-que ribs the Pittsburgh region has to offer. You also missed an enjoyable afternoon of meeting new friends and catching up with old friends. The affair was certainly a family orientated event, as it was a humorist sight watching the parents instructing their toddlers and young children on the proper way to eat a rib bone. By the number of faces, young and old, smeared with thick red sauce, it was clear that everyone was having a great time.

The hardest event of the afternoon was placed in the hands of the judges, or should I say in their mouths? The judges consisted of a lively combination of community leaders, Chris Fennimore, the famed chef from WQED television; Esther Bush, CEO of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Urban League; Pastor William H. Curtis of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church; Tony Mowod of WDUQ Jazz Radio, and myself, Bonita Lee Penn, Coordinator, The Soul Pitt.

Before sitting down to the business of tasting and judging, the judges spent time visiting each contestants grill area, observing their grilling techniques, soaking up the smells and marveling in the wonder of the wide-range of spices making up their secret sauce recipes. The observation part might had been the hardest job of being a judge, while everyone else was walking around with plates stacked high with ribs, greens, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, biscuits, cole slaw, and cool drinks, the judges job was to resist all temptation, even to taste a little bitty bit, was a no-no.

The chefs were an energized bunch, who were more than happy to stop sopping their secret sauces on the ribs to share with the judges the beginnings and the future plans for their businesses, but none shared the secret sauce recipes. There was also, a lot of good natured ribbing all down the row of chefs, shouting who was the best, and vocal invitations to the crowd to come taste the best and to remember to vote for them in the People's Choice Award.

It was time for the judging to begin as Hilary Brown, the Union Project Event Manager, guided the judges to the tasting table set up inside the main Hall. The table was filled with tools needed to perform the judging, such as a good supply of packaged wet clothes, large napkins, water, soda, and the most important tool of all, the judging sheet. The sheet consisted of numbers to represent each chefs and three categories for judging, 1) presentation, 2) taste and 3) originally.

Once the judges were situated, Hilary began delivering what seemed an endless platter of ribs, known only by numbers. Each judge received one bone from each chef, which added up to a rack of ribs. Personally, that's a lot of eating at one sitting, but thankfully after attempting to eat the first two rib samples to the bone, Ester Bush shared her technique with me, to only take two or three bites from each rib.

Between ribs, water, more ribs, more water, and noting our votes the Judges were ready to forward their results to the Union Project staff for tallying. At that time the judges, and the chefs relaxed outside with the rest of the community. Once the votes were processed and the winners were ready to be announced we all gathered back in the main Hall and you could feel anticipation filling the room.

Hilary announced the winners:
Peoples' Choice Award:
Kenny Strothers of Food For the Soul
Amatuer Award:
Glendell Collins
Professional Award:
Blaine Jefferson

This was a very good day, for the winning chefs, for the judges, and for the community. It was another successful community event sponsored by the Union Project. I'd like to thank my fellow Judges for the taking the time out of their busy schedules to sit down and do that hard job of tasting all those ribs. Big thanks to all the chefs who prepared the feast, and to all the neighbors who come out and to enjoy each other's company and good food.

I'd like to thank the staff at the Union Project, Maria Pranzo (Executive Director), Hilary Brown (Outreach & Events Manager), Carol Spencer (Business Manager) and all the other staff members and the Urban Fusion Cafe who participated in Rib-Off, for extending such a warm welcome and inviting me to participate as a Judge.

If you are in search of a location for your next professional, community or family event give a call to the Union Project on N. Negley Avenue. The Union Project provides a gathering space for artists, community organizations and people of faith, and also is home to the Urban Fusion Cafe & Catering of fresh baked goods and artfully prepared meals and catering services. Please click on the Union Project's website and read of all the wonderful events and venues they are offering to the Pittsburgh communities.

I look forward to next year's Rib-Off.

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