Another year, another Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Every year, pit masters from around the country (and a few from the city) gather for a weekend of meat-smoking and finger-licking in Madison Square Park. Ever since I discovered this annual event it has become a must-go pilgrimage for me and (by proxy) Beth.

Growing up in the Midwest I have a great and opinionated fondness for good barbeque, with my mother's recipe as the benchmark for good baby back ribs. Living in Chicago I was always able to find a satisfactory establishment to feed my meaty need but, New York has been a very different story. Manhattan has very strict laws concerning grills and smokers and, in my general opinion, most New Yorkers really wouldn't know good 'que if it came up and slathered their faces in sauce. Over the past 7 years, I have been to almost every rib restaurant in the New York area and, of the two that my taste buds deemed worth — Pearson's and Rack & Soul — only Rack and Soul remains.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find myself a moist towelette.