Why Ribfest's menu offers much more than ribs

Funnel cakes from the Naperville Noon Lions Club are a staple at the community's Ribfest, now entering its 29th year.

Almost as ubiquitous as the ribs themselves, the funnel cakes have been pork's dessert pairing practically since the festival began. The sweet dough, the slight crunch, the powdered topping. Ahh, that's the life.

But wait, there's more! This year, quite a lot more.

Ribfest's list of ribbers - the traveling barbecue artists who bring signature spices and sauces to Knoch Park each summer - is 12 companies deep.

"These ribbers are the best of the best," Jennifer Odin Cavalier, Ribfest chairwoman with the Exchange Club of Naperville, said about regulars like Armadillo's, Desperado's and Texas Outlaw's. "They always seem to be the fan favorites, so they're coming back again."

Ribs aplenty, Roger that.

But the list of food vendors ready to cater to other festival food cravings is worth a look, too. It doubles the ribber roster with 24 options.

"We have a variety of alternative food choices," Odin Cavalier said. "We understand people are more health conscious or have food allergies or gluten allergies. Or some people just don't like pork."

Gasp! Why would someone who doesn't like pork attend Ribfest?

Possibly because it's a celebration of summer and American independence, with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, and free admission shortly before. Or because it features concerts from 3 Doors Down, Sheryl Crow, Lee Brice and the Gin Blossoms, just to name the headliners.

Or because it raises money to prevent child abuse and domestic violence and doles out funds to the organizations represented by 4,000 volunteers who give their time to keep the fest humming with activity.

It's still called Ribfest, but this summer bonanza offers plenty more than ribs.

That's OK by the ribbers.

Ed Latkowski of Howling Coyote BBQ Company in Chicago said other options are fine - especially if they fill the gaps in a meal where pig products fall short.

"Usually at Ribfest they have complementary foods," he said. "We sell ribs, they sell onion rings, French fries."

Or naan and curry, egg rolls and veggie fried rice. Ethnic foods have been on the rise at Ribfest, especially since the event debuted a Hispanic Day in 2014.

Sergio's Cantina, a Mexican restaurant in Geneva that also travels to festivals including the Illinois State Fair, will be back for its third year selling street tacos with gourmet toppings for $3 each as well as taco salads, walking tacos and churros for dessert. The restaurant's steak chimichurri taco is award-winning, having taken home the first Golden Abe Award for being the best food at the 2014 state fair.

Lindsey de Los Santos, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, the namesake Sergio, can think of plenty of reasons Ribfest visitors might want a taco instead of a slab.

Kids might be picky eaters. Families might be watching their wallets, not wanting to spend $25 on a rack of ribs.

"Sometimes people are there for lunch and dinner and maybe they want to have something smaller or lighter for lunch and maybe save the ribs for dinner," she said.

With ribbers and other food vendors welcoming variety, festival organizers try to strike a balance.

This year's setup matches the fewest ribbers the event has offered with a dozen. It's been that way since 2014. But in the past, Ribfest had as many as 22 rib companies - in 1999 - after starting with 18 for many of its early years.

Space has become a problem, says Bruce Erickson, who is something of a Ribfest historian. As the festival has expanded with more stages and a larger sponsor area, so have some of the uses near Knoch Park, including ball fields for Naperville Central High School and grave plots at Naperville Cemetery, Odin Cavalier said.

Originally Ribfest wanted to offer as many ribbers as possible to keep lines down and give people the chance to sample many varieties. But as space constraints arose and rubber numbers dwindled, Exchange Club members didn't hear any outcry.

Fewer rib companies is better, Latkowski says, as that ensures enough business to make it worthwhile to fire up the grill and get cooking. That, plus the chance to win best ribs, best sauce or kids' choice.

"They seem to be fine and busy," Erickson said about the traveling rib vendors - still and always the highlight of this fundraising fest. "We did name the event after them, so they get top billing."

Ribbers and food vendors

<b>Ribbers</b>Armadillo's BBQ & Rib Company

Desperado's BBQ & Rib Co.

Mojo's

Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild Barbecue

Howling Coyote BBQ Company

Porky 'N' Beans National BBQ Cooking Team

Pigfoot BBQ Cooking Team

Texas Outlaws

Uncle Bub's

Sgt Oink's BBQ Co.

Robinson's No. 1 Ribs

Colonel Q BBQ

<b>Food vendors</b>Cheesecakes by James

Deccan Spice Indian Cuisine

Pick. At Garden Patch Farms

Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

Great Lakes Kettle Corn

La France Bakery

Lee's Concessions

Lemonade & More (Pizza Guy)

Little Jimmy's Italian Ice

Oberweis Ice Cream

Salt Creek BBQ

Suzie's Fun Foods

Novi's Beef

Rolling Harvest Food Truck

Sergio's Cantina

Bojo's King Spud

Caney Creek Corn

Dippin' Dots

Eatery Huts

Fruit 'n' Cream Hut

Gary's Concessions

Gold Rush Soda

Naperville Noon Lions Club (funnel cakes and coffee)

Strawberry Patch