Announcing 2008 Jazz & Ribb Fest "American Family Insurance Best Ribs Awards" Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2008 
Contact: Becky Lonardo  614-645-7996

ANNOUNCING 2008 JAZZ & RIB FEST “AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE BEST RIBS AWARDS” WINNERS

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Music in the Air, a program of Columbus Recreation and Parks, announces the winners of the 2008 American Family Insurance Best Ribs Awards. The 29th annual Jazz & Rib Fest took place July 25–27 along the downtown riverfront.

Columbus Recreation and Parks Director Alan McKnight, and Rick LaVeer— Ohio South Sales Director of American Family Insurance— presented the winning rib burners with trophies Sunday evening. Twenty-two rib burners competed for Critic’s Choice, Critic’s Hometown Choice, Big Whigs’ Pig Award,

People’s Choice, and new this year— Best Sauce.
The 2008 American Family Insurance Best Ribs Awards Winners
Critic’s Choice 
Champion: Porky N’ Beans (Port St. Lucie, Florida) 
Runner-up: Desperado’s (Hinkley, Ohio) 
Third Place: Johnson’s BBQ (Chesapeake, Virginia)     
Big Whigs’ Pig Award 
Champion: Porky N’ Beans (Port St. Lucie, Florida) 
Runner-up: Famous Dave’s (Plymouth, Minnesota)
Critic’s Hometown Choice 
Champion: Smokin’ Joe’s Ribs (Columbus, Ohio) 
Runner-up: Open Hands Catering (Columbus, Ohio)
People’s Choice 
Champion: Butch’s BBQ (Mt. Laurel, New Jersey) 
Runner-up: Famous Dave’s (Plymouth, Minnesota)
Best Sauce: Armadillo’s (Youngstown, Ohio)    

The 2008 Jazz & Rib Fest Judges

Professional Critics 
Jim Budros, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Brian McGrath, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Dave Roebuck, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Frank Simonetti, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Steve Stover, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Mike Taylor, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Jeff Wallace, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge 
Jeff Lauback, Callahan's Restaurant 
James Anderson, Smackie's BBQ 
        
Big Whigs’ Pig Award Judges 
Rick LaVeer, American Family Insurance 
Ron Reynolds, Columbus Distributing 
Ken Wright, Anheuser Busch 
Gary Morgan, FastTrack Airport Parking 
Charles Crew, Columbia Gas 
John Johnson, American Family Insurance 
DJ Mike J, Smooth Jazz WJZA 103.5/104.3 
The CW Star Jason, The CW on WWHO-TV 
Eric Rickabaugh, Rickabaugh Graphics 
Alan McKnight, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department

Jazz & Rib Fest is produced by Music in the Air and the Office of Special Events, programs of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. Sponsorship is provided by Budweiser Select, Smooth Jazz WJZA 103.5/104.3, American Family Insurance, The CW on WWHO-TV, Texas Tourism, Adult ADHD Mobile Awareness Tour, Viva Diva Café, ZonePerfect, Wii Fit Movement, Kansas City Barbeque Society, FastTrack Airport Parking, Holiday Inn City Center, T-Mobile and Columbus Young Professionals Club.

Additional support provided by ASCAP, Cintas, Class Acts Columbus, Inc., Columbia Gas of Ohio, Columbus Fire Department Explorer Post 310, COSI,  Hopkins Printing, Rickabaugh Graphics and SESAC.

Information:
24 hour Recorded Performance Line:  (614) 645-3800, Hearing Impaired: (800) 750-0750 
Website: www.HotRibsCoolJazz.org