A Full Plate's 3rd Annual Rib Cook Off

Still looking for something to do this Saturday in Philly? Well, plan your hunger attack now. A measly $20 will buy you all the ribs, brisket, vegetarian BBQ and sides you can eat at A Full Plate’s Third Annual Rib Cook-Off.


Festivities begin at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 12, 2009, directly behind the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties.

Did I mention that the $20 entrance fee also covers libations from two of the main event sponsors: beer from Stoudt’s Brewing Company and cocktails based on Root, the herbal spirit from Philly’s Art in the Age?

I’ll be one of the judges for the professional division and am looking forward to diving in hands first. So come on out, join me and get some BBQ on.

A Full Plate's 3rd Annual Rib Cook-Off
2nd and N. Hancock Streets
(directly behind The Piazza @ Schmidt's)
FREE PARKING
Gates open at 1:00 PM
Saturday, September 12th

Intro only...

The Omnivore's Hundred

I stumbled upon the omnivore's hundred while killing time (and nursing a summer cold) this weekend. Even though I don't usually go in for viral memes, this one just seemed too fun to pass up. Started a little over a week ago by Andrew of the UK food blog Very Good Taste, hundreds of food and drink bloggers have already participated. So, here's to piling on for a little trivial grooviness.

If you'd like to participate as well, here are the ground rules:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at Very Good Taste linking to your results.

5) Optional MFWT-extra: If you read about it here first (perhaps unlikely at this point) and you decide to participate, post a comment linking to your results here as well. And, whether or not you participate, please feel free to respond with expressions of surprise, delight or disgust.

Without further ado, the MFWT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp*
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

* * *
That's 79 80 out of 100. Not bad, I suppose. It seems only fit to make a few notes and clarifications.

* Updated from 79 to 80 based on a comment from a helpful reader. Don't know why I didn't realize gefilte fish is typically made using carp.

The only item I scratched off my list:

26. Raw scotch bonnet pepper: I'm assuming this means straight-up, not in a salsa or other condiment of any kind. I like spicy food but I have no interest in burning my mouth raw just for the sake of bravado.

Things I haven't eaten:

30. Bagna cauda: I've been to Piedmont, where this is a traditional dish, but never had the chance to try it.

42. Whole insects: Unless you count little flying bugs inadvertently sucked down while out for a road ride, I've never chosen to eat a whole insect. Wouldn't rule it out, though.

43, 63, 74, 76, 80 & 90. I don't even know what these are and I decided it would be cheating to use Google or Wikipedia to find out.

75. Road kill: Part of me wants to scratch it out. Another part thinks, "Ok, you're in the middle of nowhere and you just hit a deer. Why just leave it on the side of the road?" Of course, I hope never to find myself in that scenario.

Things I have eaten:

36. Cognac and a fat cigar: Even though I've written about my dislike for smoking here before, I have to admit to having succumbed to the temptation of a little XO Reserve and a cigar on one or two occasions.

37. Clotted cream tea: I dated an anglophile.

55. McDonald's Big Mac meal: Not in about 30 years.

68. Haggis: Um, my last name is McDuff. For real.

89. Horse: I told you I've been to Piedmont.

100. Snake: Rattlesnake, to be exact.

Intro only...