With Coats of BBQ Sauce, Coats of Arms

There's my fake newspaper headline for a story someone should write about the metastasizing signage that adorns vendors' tents at the country's barbecue competitions. I encountered these signs at the Heinz Field Rib Fest in Pittsburgh in late August, before a preseason Steelers game. I'd love to know who started this trend, though it seems like the banners simply grew to accommodate the veteran companies' proliferating awards ("'Best Rib in America' - Jamestown Rib Fest"). To compete for eyeballs, less accomplished pit masters were forced to pad their plumage with more generalized accolades ("Bone Lickin' Good") and solicitations ("Get Your Bone On").

When I googled this competition later I learned the results. In the category of Best Ribs, first place went to Big Boned BBQ Co., second went to Old Carolina, and Texas Pit came in third. Big Boned also won in the category of Best Sauce. I'm disappointed I couldn't try them all.

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