Ribfest highlights the best of summer barbecue

NEW PALTZ - As pitmasters from around the Northeast converged at the Ulster County Fairgrounds, Cory Wirthmann was something of a hometown hero.

The Kansas City Barbecue Society Contest drew teams from Massachusetts, Virginia and even Ontario, Canada. But armed with a secret ingredient, local flavors and a second place victory at Ribfest in 2013, Wirthmann and his team, Huguenot Ribworks from New Paltz, hoped to make a mark at the competition, which will be judged on Sunday.

With the sun shining and the barbecue smoking, foodies had the chance to celebrate the quintessential summer barbecue flavors at the 12th annual Hudson Valley Ribfest.

Sixty teams competed in several categories, from chicken wings and beef brisket to the classic pork ribs. Local teams included The Outlaw BBQ in Stormville, Smokin' Double Barrels in Poughkeepsie, Smokey Mike's in Highland and Smoke 'em If You Got in Hopewell Junction.

Huguenot Ribworks has an idea of what works in the competition. The team, which consists primarily of firefighters with the New Paltz Fire Department, took second place for best ribs in 2012 during their first competition.

While New York barbecue doesn't have the same recognition as Southern barbecue, Wirthmann, 33, of New Paltz, said he wanted to give his food a distinct, regional flavor — namely, apples.

"We use everything from apples in our barbecue sauce to the wood we use, applewood," Wirthmann said. "We'll throw apple cider vinegar in the barbecue sauce as well."

But Wirthmann's secret ingredient is a chipotle-infused olive oil that he applies before the rub to add an extra heat. Wirthmann sells the olive oil at his store, Scarborough Fare in New Paltz.

The competitions were sanctioned by the New England Barbecue Society and the Kansas City Barbecue Society, and winners would have the chance to compete in the organizations' national competitions. The competitions boasted more than $10,000 in prize money.

While the public didn't get the chance to taste the competitor's ribs, there were plenty of vendors where they could dig in.

Though he now lives in Bayside in Queens, Dairong Zheng, 41, said he fell in love with the area while attending SUNY New Paltz. A huge barbecue fan, Zheng said he comes back to Hudson Valley Ribfest every year.

"It's a great deal," Zheng said. "We just ordered a platter of the barbecue ribs."

Up to 14,000 people are expected to attend Hudson Valley Ribfest, according to Steve Auerbach, member of the Hudson Valley Rotary Club which organizes the event. While the event offers a variety of barbecue and fair food options, its the festival's namesake that brings people back every year.

"It's the ribs,"  Auerbach said with a smile. "There's all this barbecue that people love, but in the end, it's the ribs."

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW

If you go

What: Hudson Valley Ribfest

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 21

Where: Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Road, New Paltz

Admission: $7

Information: Visit www.hudsonvalleyribfest.org