Ribs at Famous Dave's Legendary Pit BBQ at Nugget Rib Cook-off

At the 2010 Nugget Rib Cook-off, there were 25 vendors selling ribs, and an untold number of others, selling such fine fare as fried zucchini, onion rings, kettle corn, beer, and lots more good eats and drinks. Which place to choose - every vendor produces delicious ribs - so what sets one vendor apart from another? I was attracted to Famous Dave's display for a couple of reasons:

* I've enjoyed fine barbecue at one of their restaurants in Las Vegas
* They were producing lots of smoke as they were cooking ribs

Photo: It's crowded on this Saturday afternoon, as I snap a photo of Famous Dave's false front, which advertises everything that the sell, including his wonderful ribs.

Saturday, September 4, 2010, late in the afternoon found me wandering the friendly acres of the 2010 Nugget Rib Cook-off, and I was in "rib overload," as I watched the many pitmasters at work, doing the things that pitmasters do best: Cook delicious ribs under the blue Nevada sky. I was attracted to Dave's operation, as it was large, attractive, and the grill was producing lots of smoke.

Although Famous Dave's operates a national chain of sit-down barbecue restaurants, the barbecue team hasn't neglected their primary focus: To produce great barbecue. I usually avoid barbecue chain restaurants, especially the sit-down variety, as pure barbecue is informal, and best eaten under the friendly skies, but Dave produces quality barbecue, and trust me, it's a lot of fun to eat at one of their restaurants. See this link for a review of one of their Las Vegas outlets. Famous Dave's has a crew of traveling pitmasters called the "Rib Team." Each year, they travel the barbecue circuit from coast to coast to throw their hat into the ring at various rib fest competitions, such as the Nugget Rib Cook-off. Over the years, Dave's barbecue team has won over 400 awards, with top honors, such as "Best Ribs in America" and "Best BBQ."

Photo: She's placing racks of ribs on the preparation table, ready to be rubbed with Dave's rub, and later, placed in the smoker and the grill.

Photo: Dave's seasoning is sifted onto many racks of ribs, before they're placed in the smoker, and later, the grill.

Like every operation at the Nugget Rib Cook-off, Dave has his kitchen, smoker, grill, and everything else in the open, so you can watch your ribs cooking on the grill, and watch the staff at work. The slabs of ribs come packed in large boxes, and the ribs are unloaded from a box, a few racks at a time, on to a stainless steel table, where they are seasoned with Dave's rub, which is available for sale, on-site. I watched two staff members season rack after rack of ribs by dumping Famous Dave's seasoning on to the ribs, and rubbing the seasoning into the ribs, by hand, covered in food service protective gloves. Even barbecue doesn't transcend Nevada's strict health codes... After the ribs are seasoned, they are placed into a smoker, and are allowed to smoke for many hours. After the ribs have finished smoking, they are placed on the grill, seared, and liberally mopped with Dave's barbecue sauce, until they're ready to sieve. After the ribs are removed from the grill, they're taken into the open kitchen where they're cut into various portions by staff members. Like I said, all of this is in the open, so you can watch the life cycle of a fantastic dinner of ribs, from conception to birth.

Photo: Oh yes!!! Racks of ribs, seasoned, and ready for the smoker, and finally, the grill.

Photo: The rib preparation table in action, as ribs are rubbed with Dave's famous rub, before the racks of ribs are placed into the smoker, and a few hours later, grilled to perfection.

Photo: The smoked ribs are now being grilled over a smoky fire, on a propane-fired grill.

You are able to watch the staff members in action, preparing ribs, cutting up ribs, and making side dishes. I won't go into detail, but if you're in the mood for ribs - after all, you attended a rib cook-off, didn't you? - you can treat yourself to a shredded pork or chicken breast sandwich, and Wilbur beans, coleslaw and cornbread on the side. You can purchase bottles of Dave's rubs, barbecue sauce, and even a cookbook containing many of Dave's recipes. You can't go wrong at Famous Dave's.

Photo: I pose for the photograher, with my dinner of ribs, coleslaw and beans.

Photo: Here it is, my dinner of a half rack of ribs, beans, coleslaw and a piece of cornbread. Good eats!

I took the easy route and ordered a dinner in a styrafoam box, consisting of a half rack of ribs, sides of Wilbur beans, coleslaw and a piece of cornbread. At $17.00, it wasn't cheap, but it was filling, it tasted great, and it gave me the pleasure of enjoying another sample of Famous Dave's delicious barbecue.

Photo: I snap this photo of this rib eatin' couple, who seem to be enjoying each other's company and the ribs they just purchased at Famous Dave's.

Famous Dave's is located on the south side of Victorian Ave., about a hundred feet east of 10th Street, near the intersection of 10th Street and Victorian Ave., at the Nugget Rib Cook-off, in Sparks, Nevada.

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