Ribs, Blues and Hockey

January 30, 2012

Ferndale Blues Fest Brings in Hockey Stars To Judge Rib Burn Out

When the 5th Annual Rib Burn Out hits the coals on Saturday in Ferndale with eight teams competing, look for some “old time hockey” as NHL greats Eddie Mio and Darren McCarty sit down to judge the competition. Both former Red Wings – though Mio made a name for himself with the Edmonton Oilers long before crossing the Detroit River from his Ontario Windsor hometown to wear the winged wheel – will be tasting each team’s contributions to help determine a winner.

The Dynamic Duo have worked together raising money for various charities in golf outings but are happy to put their taste buds “in the crease” for this friendly competition. How were they picked to be judges? Was it their rib knowledge, their well-defined pallets?

“I’ve got a good appetite,” Mio said.

The former goalie and best friend to Wayne Gretzky has plated a few ribs around North America and rattled off a slew of restaurants from Montreal to Detroit and expounded on the flavor style.

“I’ve had the dry rub (Memphis Style) and there’s obviously the Ginopolis and the Montgomery (Inn) rib,” he said. “And at Slow’s (Bar B Que) I’ve had them. And there’s always Tunnel Bar B Que in Windsor. They can be hard or soft but as long as they’re tasty with a lot of seasoning – I’m good.”

The Rib Burn Off will raise money to benefit the Michigan Aids Coalition and the Ferndale Youth Assistance charities. The Blues Fest & BBQ Burn Out has raised over $50,000 for its charities the past five years. And the duo does not mind filling their tummies with ribs for the cause.

“We’re coming out to help out Dino and to get some exposure for them as well,” Mio explained.

And Mio has been known to fire up his grill with a slab or two for friends and family. But his secret for great taste comes from the “added alcohol content.”

“They don’t seem to come out as good as in a restaurant but when you’re cooking you’ve always got to have a little bit of wine or beer or whatever you’re drink is – then everything tastes good,” the rib judge explained. “I can’t say I’m a rib aficionado but it’s all in the sauce.”

For a $10 admission fee there will be plenty of room in the tent behind Dino’s in the parking lot with 4,000 heated, square feet of tables and chairs as well as a choice of beer, wine or liquor to couple with your ribs. And you can vote for the tastiest rib as well as part of The People’s Choice Award. The action starts at noon with voting till 4:00 p.m. and the winners announced at 5:00 p.m. Blues music will be wafting and intertwining with the charcoal infused rib flavors throughout the day and night as well.

For more info, log onto www.dinoslounge.com.

This article brought to you by the good folks at Urbane Hotels Royal Oak Michigan, Urbane Hotels Southfield Michigan, Urbane Hotels Troy Michigan, and Urbane Hotels Detroit Michigan.

Mark H. Stowers

I hail from the land of Faulkner, Grisham and Elvis and love to write about all things, especially sports. Sports writing has been in my blood since 1980 when as a high school junior, I sprained my knee on the basketball court. The local weekly paper needed someone to write up post and preview action of my high school and I jumped at the $5.00 a week opportunity. Full disclosure allows me to tell you I’m an Ole Miss Rebel, Miami Dolphin, Boston Celtic and Indianola Academy Colonel fan but my job makes me write from the facts and not so much the heart most of the time. Now With more than 30 years of professional writing experience, I have worked in automotive, advertising, marketing, public relations, creative and technical, as well as news/sports/entertainment and column writing from Mississippi to California to Michigan and parts unknown in between. In Michigan since 1993, I work with several newspapers, advertising agencies and national and local magazines through my freelance company, Prime Time Penguin Unlimited LLC.