Bone In A Box

[kwas68]

No this isn’t a subject for the Woodpile!
I entered a local rib contest and the rules state that we are to submit a single rib in a 9” x 9” box. Garnish is allowed. Any recommendations?

 

[riblette]

OR

 

[The_Kapn]

No this isn’t a subject for the Woodpile!
I entered a local rib contest and the rules state that we are to submit a single rib in a 9” x 9” box. Garnish is allowed. Any recommendations?

Now that is WEIRD. :-D

If it is open garnish, I would add a lot of color and fruits/veggies that go well with pork.
Pineapple and Basil comes to mind.
Lots of others I am sure.

I am lost-- I wish you well.

TIM

 

[Sawdustguy]

Wow, now that is a tuff contest. I would surround it with some shavings of the wood you smoked it with accompanied by fruit that accompanies pork well. Ah, but what the heck do I know.

 

[Matt_A]

One rib???? OMG, that's a lot of pressure... I HOPE that it's only one judge, or that they're REALLY GOOD Friends!! (noooo, I don't want to even think about that!)

 

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

Well, I would give them a Hollywood cut rib at least.

Do they specify what kind of rib? Can it be beef? What are the criteria upon which it will be judged? Who will judge it?

 

[Matt_A]

Hollywood cut would give the judge(s) a lot more to see. Keep the garnish simple, don't let it over shadow your beautiful double-wide rib!

 

[bmanMA]

Is Hollywood cut the same as Cadillac?

 

[chambersuac]

I'm not a very seasoned competitor, but ONE rib??? Are you sure? Not one rib per judge? Sounds weird. Good luck with your contest and let us know how ya do.

 

[Matt_A]

Holywood cut, I've also heard Iowa Cut, KC cut.... basically you remove every second bone so the remaining bones have large sidecars of meat on each side. two bones worth of meat on one rib.

 

[comfrank]

Check with the organizer. Maybe they meant one slab ???

--frank in Wilson, NY

 

[The Cosmic Pig]

One rib???? OMG, that's a lot of pressure... I HOPE that it's only one judge, or that they're REALLY GOOD Friends!! (noooo, I don't want to even think about that!)

I would just like to add... "ewwww!!!"

 

[beerguy]

I agree with comfrank above. i cant type for chit, maybe its an error.

 

[kwas68]

The rule states: Each contestant MUST submit at least one (1) separated rib in three (3) separate containers.

Only KCBS garnishes are allowed.

Not sure how I'm going to pull this off.

 

[Matt_A]

kwas68, I guess there will be three judges... Cook a couple racks, choose the best three ribs. Look for straightness of bone, meatiness, great glaze, etc. Then, being careful to make a straight, clean cut, slice through the rack as close as you can to the two ribs on either side of the perfect rib. This will give a nice chunk of meat on each side of the rib. You might consider a dense parsley bed and orient the rib from front to back. That way when the table captain (if there is one) tilts the box for the judges to see, the rib won't want to roll on its side.

I did notice that it says "at least one" it's not unheard of to put more meat in the box than required. That is, if you have enough gorgeous ribs to put two per box.

 

[ssbbqguy]

More than one if you're proud of them. I'd do three on a small bed of parsley, mini green. Highlight the meat and see what happens. Steve.

 

[plethoraofpinatas]

The rule states: Each contestant MUST submit at least one (1) separated rib in three (3) separate containers.

Only KCBS garnishes are allowed.

Not sure how I'm going to pull this off.

Sorry, but what's the problem here? Instead of one clamshell with a bunch of ribs, you have to submit three separate clamshells... put two ribs in each one on a bed of curly parsley, or three ribs in each if you get enough good ones.

Sounds like a waste of styrofoam to me, but if that's how they want it, that's how they'll get it.

 

[kwas68]

The competition includes cooking 10 slabs of baby back ribs that they will provide to us in the morning. We only have to submit one rib for each of the three judges. The rest of the ribs are sold to the public at $1/rib to raise money for the local Jaycees and Lion’s Club. The public will also vote for their favorite rib. Last year the competitors’ ribs sold out quick! So there is an incentive (albeit small) not to sacrifice ribs from potential “People’s Choice” voters.

 

[kwas68]

No real problem, Pinata. Just curious how other brethren would choose to fill the box as there will be a lot of empty space in that box. A rib (or two) might look pretty lonely in there. Would you fill the box with garnish? Or just lay the rib on a small pillow of parsley? BTW, this will be my first comp and the first time I will have to build a box. I'm going to practice this week.

I agree - a waste of styrofoam. Not sure why they all can't pick from the same box. Or why they couldn't use a smaller box. I don't make the rules - the dude abides.

 

[plethoraofpinatas]

The rest of the ribs are sold to the public at $1/rib to raise money for the local Jaycees and Lion’s Club. The public will also vote for their favorite rib. Last year the competitors’ ribs sold out quick! So there is an incentive (albeit small) not to sacrifice ribs from potential “People’s Choice” voters.

Yes, that makes sense. And it does seem like a bit of a puzzle to position one rib in a clamshell! My first thought would be to go diagonal, but with the tip of the bone towards the front (opening) side would prevent rolling, like Matt_A advises.