I’ve done some judging before. Chocolate Salon in San Francisco, for one. Not a chocoholic, I can discern between dark gooey goodness and a piece of wax wrapped in foil. For some chocoholics in my family it’s all good. Not for moi. I crave a full experience – satisfying and happiness-inducing – or nothing.Hope I’ll be able to use my objectivity as I prepare to judge the biggest and the Best in the West BBQ festival – the 23rd annual Nugget Rib Cook-off that is based in and around John Ascuaga’s Nugget casino resort in Sparks, near Reno, Nevada.
Yesterday, at the judges reception I met my fellow judges, and tried some amazing samplings from the hotel restaurant, Orozko, inspired by the Basque village of Orozko in northern Spain from which the family of John Ascuaga, the founder of Nugget, came from.
Some of the highlights included:
Crab and avocado tower salad
Scallop topped with Serrano ham shavings in saffron sauce
Beef sliders with gorgonzola cheese and pulled pork sliders with Manchego
And the star of the show, short ribs with red pepper coulis.
The dessert menu presented a trio of sorbets, home-made chocolate truffles (the real thing) and Paulo’s petit fours.
The judges also enjoyed a great selection of noble Spanish wines and beers.
Executive Chef Michael Norton proudly presented his cuisine.
I also met our head judge Alan Zeman, Executive Chef with Rational, and Michonne Ascuaga, CEO of Nugget.Today is the day. We’ll be judging the best ribs created by the best rib experts from near and far. Can hardly wait!
More info: www.janugget.com
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