The rib and chili cook-off is the show case of Hog August Bites held in downtown Rio Vista with the beautiful Sacramento River as the backdrop for the day, is this Saturday August 28th.
Chili cookers are hard to come by. Of course cooking 5 gallons of chili outdoors isn’t the easiest thing to do and can be a little daunting for the beginner. However, everyone gets their start somewhere and Hog August Bites is the perfect starting point. This year you will have at least 10 pots of chili to choose your winner from. Chef Byron Boys came in 2nd last year, will they regain their first place title? Then again, any of our newcomers could walk away with top prize, too. It’s all about the taste and the heat! You can purchase your chili tasting tickets at the corner of Front & Main Street at the Chili & Rib Tasting Ticket booth. The chili tasting kits are $5 each and you get the opportunity to sample each chili offering. Chili tasting begins at noon and lasts until about 2:30.
This year there are over 25 rib cookers smoking and grilling ribs. They will be located on Main and Front Street and many of them love to chat with folks walking through. Can’t you just smell those awesome aromas intermingling? Not only are there local favorites, Jason Lira, Dave Mason with the Delta Moose Lodge and Chef Byron Boys, there are returning contenders from the 6th Annual event including Thin Blue Que, Back to the Future, the Midnight Smoker and Alotta BS BBQ. We also have a lot of new contestants throwing their ribs onto the grill from not only Rio Vista, but all over the Bay Area, the Delta and beyond.
Back after a hiatus is one of the creators of the event, Lee Williams, bringing that firehouse heat to his chili and ribs!
Ribs are judged by a panel of Rio Vista VIP’s who are led by Kansas City BBQ Society Master Judge Tracy Allen. While Hog August Bites is not a KCBS event, it does abide by the all the rules. The ribs are submitted in numbered containers to retain anonymity and are evaluated on texture, flavor and appearance.
Most of the contestants also participate in the popular “People’s Choice Rib Tasting”. At 3:00 pm the people’s judging begins at 45 Main and is usually concluded by 5:30 pm. buy your tickets from the Chili & Rib Tasting Booth located at Main & Front Streets on the corner. You’ll have three choices for the rib tasting. Buy a $10 kit and you will receive 3 ribs, $25 gets you 10 ribs and for $50 you can try every rib there is.
For more information about Hog August Bites, including the event schedule check out the website http://hogaugustbites.com or the Hog August Bites Facebook page.
Net proceeds for the event will benefit the Rio Vista High School Booster Club to purchase a third van to transport students to scholastic and athletic events. The Egbert Field Restoration Project will also benefit with new bleachers and a handicap table.
RioVision is a citizen driven 501(C)(3) non-profit organization working to bring about city wide revitalization. For more information check out our webpage at https://riovistavision.com or our Facebook or Instagram pages.
