MMMM Ribs.....

Went to a rib fest this weekend.  If there is a better invention for how to spend a summer weekend evening, I sure dont know what it is.  When you step out of the car and first smell the ribs, its, I dunno, like a primal button has been pushed.  GIVE ME THAT GRILLED MEAT RIGHT THE **** NOW!  I dont think I knocked my wife out of the way as I lunged for the gate, but I wouldnt swear to that in court.

The funny part is that I can get ribs any night of any week.  And, I can get them in a nice restaurant, with a comfortable, air-conditioned atmosphere.  And I can drink a really cold beer in a real frosty mug, and probably pay less for the experience.  But theres just something about eating those rib-fest ribs out in the open, with a plastic cup of not-so-cold beer that just blows away any rib in any restaurant.

And how about that corn-on-the-cob on a stick?  Funnel cake or Elephant ear?  Decisions!

I love how all the rib stands have all their giant-ass trophies out in front of their stands.  I often wonder if anyone really makes their buying decisions based upon the number and size of the trophies placed in front of each stand.  And, they all have signs that say they won first prize at various events in various years.  Hmm, this one won 1st place in Pittsburgh in 2005, but this other one got 1st place in Charlotte that same year.  This one got 1st place in 2004 but 2nd in 2005 - is it heading downhill?  Will they place 3rd this year?

But, the best has got to be the french fry people.  Theyve got their business model down: Do one thing, and do it well.  The place I got my fries from sold the Bucket of Fries for $10.  It was a bucket about the size of a bucket of popcorn at the movies.  I didnt get one, but I really couldnt imagine anyone eating that many fries.  Has to be for a whole family, right?  What do you do when theres two fry carts to choose from?  No trophies to help out.  I usually look at the folks working in them, and try to decide who has the better French Fry vibe going on.  Its more of an art than a science, but I hope to get funding to conduct proper research.

Long live the rib-fest.  An orgy of food, fat, grease and beer.