The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off is an annual rib cook-off in Sparks, Nevada. The competition involves St. Louis-style pork ribs. The event is held at Victorian Square in Sparks and has taken place annually over the Labor Day weekend since 1989; it is sponsored by the Nugget Casino Resort.[1]
The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off began in 1989, with six entries and a small group of casino customers. The initial event did not involve cooking the ribs on-site, but rather reheating them with cans of Sterno fuel.[2] The inaugural winner was North Main Barbecue from Euless, Texas.[2][3]
The event is the main attraction for Sparks, and is mentioned in travel guides[4][5][6] and barbecue books.[7]
The rib cook-off takes place over six days in Victorian Square in Sparks, Nevada; six blocks of Victorian Avenue are closed to traffic during the event for the cook-off competitors and other vendors to stage their booths. Aside from the actual cook-off, ribs are sold to the general public. In addition to the ribs there is a small arts and crafts fair and a few children's rides. In 2007 the event, for the first time, drew half a million visitors, and has done so every following year, serving up to 100 tons of St. Louis-style ribs.[8][9] It was calculated that the 2006 event produced "1.4 million bones' worth of pork ribs."[10]
Top prize for the judged event is $19,500. There is also a "people's choice award" and an award for best sauce.[11]
The 32nd annual Rib Cook-off will take place 01–06 September 2021, as there'll be no cook-off in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be 23 competitors vying for upwards of $20,000 in prize money. The event includes a Rib Village, beer garden and live entertainment.[12]
Year | Attendance (estimated) | Ribs cooked (lbs) | Winner's home state | References |
1989 | 30,000 | Texas | [3][13] | |
1990 | ||||
1991 | California | |||
1992 | Texas | |||
1993 | ||||
1994 | ||||
1995 | Arizona | |||
1996 | Texas | [14] | ||
1997 | Texas | [15] | ||
1998 | Nevada | [16] | ||
1999 | Michigan | [17] | ||
2000 | Kentucky | [13] | ||
2001 | 300,000* | 126,000* | Pennsylvania | [13][18] |
2002 | Kentucky | [19] | ||
2003 | Kentucky | [19] | ||
2004 | 300,000 | 148,000 | Virginia | [3] |
2005 | 300,000* | 150,000* | New Jersey | [20][21] |
2006 | 400,000 | Minnesota | [9][22] | |
2007 | 500,000* | 200,000* | Minnesota | [9][23][24] |
2008 | 500,000 | 100,000 | Michigan | [1][2] |
2009 | 500,000 | 200,000 | Ohio | [25] |
2010 | Michigan | |||
2011 | California | |||
2012 | Illinois | |||
2013 | Minnesota | |||
2014 | Ohio | |||
2015 | Michigan | |||
2016 | Indiana | |||
2017 | Illinois | |||
2018 | Montana | |||
2019 | Montana | |||
2020 | COVID-19 pandemic saw no winner. |
Note: Statistics marked with an asterisk (*) are pre-event estimates.