Meat lovers and barbecue aficionados, mark your calendars, because East Cambridge's palate-pleasing "Smoke This" Rib Fest is back for its 16th year. Kicking off next Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m., this annual culinary showdown will sizzle along Cambridge Street, where pitmaster faces off against pitmaster for the coveted title of the best ribs in town. According to the East Cambridge Business Association (ECBA), the event promises to be perfect for all ages with plenty of BBQ, live music, kids' crafts, and a whole lot more.
Tickets are a hot commodity, with Taste Tickets historically selling out every year, offering participants the chance to sample 10 rib servings from their selected restaurants. Even though rib samples are doled out on a first-come, first-served basis, music lovers and foodies not holding Taste Tickets still have a reason to rejoice. Each participating restaurant will showcase dishes from their fall menus at a great price, making sure that everyone can enjoy what Cambridge's eclectic culinary scene has to offer.
Now talking about participating restaurants, it's not just the ribs that will be drawing crowds. The event will feature an impressive line-up of local food establishments including Amba, Areca Asian Lounge, and many others. Don't fret if barbecue isn't your thing. These restaurants will ensure there's enough variety to cater to every palette. And if the promise of food isn't enough, "Smoke This" Rib Fest also comes with a soundtrack for the day, featuring local favorites such as Albino Mbie and others who'll be there to serenade attendees between bites, the ECBA notes.
But this event is not only about indulging your taste buds. It's steeped in the legacy of the neighborhood's history with meat—a tale that predates the grill smokes and sauce stains that now define the fest. With story panels crafted by History Cambridge, visitors can sink their teeth into East Cambridge's extensive past tied to the meat-processing industry and its transformative railroad history. Chronicling everything from the once-thriving pork packing empire of John P. Squire to the iconic "Live Poultry, Fresh Killed" sign of the Mayflower Poultry, Rib Fest offers more than just food; it's a plateful of culture and history. This aspect of the event was well-covered in an article by Cambridge Day.
