Oshawa Ribfest

Visiting the Oshawa Ribfest 2008

Oshawa, Ontario

by David "Sumoflam" Kravetz

September 6, 2008: Last weekend I went to Camp 31 with a number of the Japanese trainers from Toyota. Oliver, the manager, happened to just get back from a ribfest competition and told me that the last one for the season would be in Oshawa. So, today, I had Funakoshi-san and Oguri-san from Toyota join me and we headed out at 8:30 for Oshawa. We arrived there at about 11:00 AM in a slight drizzle. The place in a park on the shores of Lake Ontario and was set up like a carnival with rides, food, and most of all, a bunch of rib companies in competition for the best ribs.

Davor Zuder and some smokin' ribs!!

There are numerous ribfests around the US and Canada. This one was typical of these. At this event there were ten different "ribbers" competing for "best ribs", "best sauce" and "best chicken". Of this group, my favorite rib place was also there...Camp 31. Not only Camp 31, but its sister teams "Hawgs Gone Wild", Thirsty Cactus and Bibb's BBQ were also there. Bernie Gerl, owner and/or co-owner of these four teams is proud of his success in rib competitions...

Bernie checks on the ribs in the smoker; kisses one of his many trophies; Oguri and me with Bernie

Bernie owns the Thirsty Cactus restaurant in Dundas, Ontario near Hamilton. He is also the co-owner of Camp 31. He joined with Larry Murphy, from Brewton, Alabama, where the original Camp 31 was opened in an old sawmill.

Larry Murphy, founder of Camp 31 and proud of it!!

Larry is "Alabama's Finest" ribman...he knows his ribs and has competed all over North America.

Just a couple of the big trophies from Camp 31 and Hawgs Gone Wild

My first experiences with Camp 31 (and many of my over 40 visits since Feb. 2) are documented on my Camp 31 page. My first few visits I had the opportunity to meet the store manager, Oliver Zuder, who is originally from Bosnia/Herzegovina, but now lives in Ontario. He is an accomplished cook, a certified truck driver and a downright great guy. On the road he is the captain of the Hawgs Gone Wild BBQ team. And they consistently are winners.

Oliver Zuder shows off one of his teams' many trophies

Oliver is always smiling...he looks over the ribs on the grill and checks them in the smoker

Each of the teams stay together throughout the summer for all of the competitions. They set up shop with large banners that celebrate their winnings and even a few fun bits of commentary. The photos tell it all....

Some of the banners....and sayings..HA Grills Gone Wild!!!

Bibb's BBQ and Camp 31 setups

Hawg's Gone Wild!!

But, the best part of this competition is the food! Barbecued pork ribs, beef ribs, pulled pork and chicken.

RIBS!!!

And more ribs.....

And chicken....

...pulled pork and MORE RIBS BABY!!

Of course, the grilling and smoking are good, but we all know that the sauce brings home the bacon....

Saucy!!

Another key is the preparation...from starting with the raw meat, spicing it up, sticking it in the smoker and then throwing it on the grill....

Ribs getting ready for the cooker

Spicin' up the ribs

The next step is smokin' them in the smoker...

Drippin' and juicy in the smoker...where that great flavor gets its start

From the smoker, the ribs are ready for the grill. At the ribfest everyone uses wood fired grills. Hot and smoky and the smells waft through the air all around the park...

Grilling them ribs....

...using the tools of the trade

Hot and ready...

...for a good slathering of savory, succulent mouth-watering sauce!!

But, the very best part of the ribfest?? EATING the ribs!!!

Lining up for the ribs...everyone's mouths are watering!!

Cutting the cooked ribs for the crowd

Prepping Beef Ribs at the Thirsty Cactus booth

Oguri and Funakoshi have joined me at Camp 31 on a number of occasions, but they were in heaven on this fine Saturday afternoon, savoring every big juicy bite of their beef ribs.