‘I believe it will be busiest Ribfest in London history’: Organizers thrilled with this year’s event
Texas Jack’s BBQ is this year’s Ribfest king.
“It’s an honour to be in the number one spot in London, and it’s a great honour for all the hard work these guys have put in,” said Tex Robert Jr., who was named “Best Ribs” at the 2023 London, Ont. Ribfest.
CTV News featured Robert Jr., who will turn 70 years old in November.
His team’s win showed he still has the skills.
The “People’s Choice” winner was Bubba Lou’s, who have been coming to London for more than 25 years.
“Our smoker is what sets us apart,” said Victor Anst, “rib master” at Bubba Lou’s. “It takes about five hours. We’ve been going since 4:30 [in the] morning to have the ribs ready for the community.”
Bubba Lou’s won the “People’s Choice Award” at the 2023 Ribfest in London, Ont. on August 6, 2023. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
The winner of “Best Sauce” was GO Gonzalez BBQ from London, Ont., who was the winner of “Best Ribs” in 2022.
“Last year changed my life, and changed my family’s life,” said Jorge Gonzalez, owner of Go Gonzalez. “I became more of a ribber for life.”
Friday night was packed, and is believed to be the busiest Friday in event history.
“It was the busiest we’ve been in a long time,” said Doug Hillier, Ribfest organizer. “It could also be an all-time record. We’ll have to calculate all the numbers when it’s over but I believe it will be the busiest Ribfest in our history.”
The rain held off for most of the five-day event, which wraps up Monday at 9 p.m.
“Get down here and enjoy, because it’ll be gone until next year,” said Hillier.
— With files from Amandalina Letterio
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Chiefs' Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in a recent commencement speech and he said he has received support as well as “a shocking level of hate” from others.