Another DuPage County barbecue joint takes Ribfest honors

For the second straight year, a DuPage County barbecue restaurant has claimed the top prize at Naperville's Ribfest and come in second for its sauce.

Wood Dale's Sweet Baby Ray's store owner Duce Raymond was nearly speechless after organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club announced his victory.

"We've been practicing for two weeks and I knew we were in good shape when my wife, who's a chef, told me these were the best ribs she's ever had," Raymond said.

More Coverage Links Handicapped accessibility an issue at Ribfest

Last year, Westmont's Uncle Bub's took home those two awards.

Marc Downer of Huntley was already in line for some of Raymond's ribs when the announcement was made.

"Sweet Baby Ray's is the only sauce we keep in the house, so it was an easy pick for us," he said. "We're just lucky to pick the right line."

Raymond was pleased with his second place sauce finish, but was happiest about the ribs victory.

"Ribs are much harder to perfect than sauce," he said.

Joe Henderson of Ohio-based Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild Barbeque begs to differ. His sauce beat out 16 others in the competition.

"You taste the sauce before you ever taste the meat," he said. "That's why this is important."

Another Ohio brand, Armadillo's BBQ, was selected as Kid's Choice.

"Kids are the hardest taste buds to work with," said Armadillo's owner Cliff Mortimer. "I have two kids and they like our ribs too, but they really like our pulled pork sandwiches. They call it ribs without the bone."

Naperville resident Brock Williams was in line for some Armadillo's ribs with his 5-year-old daughter, Kate. He said Mortimer's victory had nothing to do with their dining decision.

"We just moved here from Seattle and this is our first Ribfest, so I asked a friend how to pick which ribs and he said to get in the longest lines," Williams said. "He told me that's how you find the best ribs."

Armadillo's also came in third place in the ribs category. Porky-N-Beans was also a double honoree, coming in second in ribs and third in sauce.

Good eatin'

Here's a list of Saturday's winners at Ribfest in Naperville:

Best ribs

First: Sweet Baby Ray's

Second: Porky-N-Beans

Third: Armadillo's

Best sauce

First: Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild Barbeque

Second: Sweet Baby Ray's

Third: Porky-N-Beans

Kid's Choice

Armadillo's