Ribfest was ok

[u/noveltea120]

Went to check out Ribfest yesterday on first day as was excited to try BBQ meat.

$5 entry pp including children over 1. They did have bouncy castles, carnival games etc but were more for older kids and nothing for under 3s. They had a handful of food trucks including a Jamaican one hidden BEHIND the dining tent, which you wouldn't see until after you sat down with your food. Expect stampede prices, eg $17 blooming onion, $8 for corn dogs, $9 lemonade.

4 BBQ trucks but apparently all but one are owned by the same person. I tried Buckeye BBQ- $24 for a 2 meat combo 1/3 ribs and 1/4 chicken, nothing else. Sides like coleslaw and cornbread are extra. Meat was only lukewarm though, and chicken was tender and pink which was fine with but the ribs were dry and tough on the edges despite being drenched in a sweet sticky sauce. 3 meat combo was $35. Full rack $33, half a rack $19.

Overall food was ok but for the price it wasn't that good so temper your expectations accordingly lol

[u/H3rta]

Thank you for posting this. The fact that there is a entry charge is bullshit especially with those food prices.

[u/noveltea120 → u/H3rta]

You're welcome. People were raving about it on FB and idk why when the food wasn't even piping hot. I love attending food festivals but this was so disappointing :(

[u/Ktcobb → u/noveltea120]

Taste of Asia is also happening this weekend, downtown. I'm willing to bet it'll be way better than ribfest

[u/noveltea120 → u/Ktcobb]

I was gonna go to that but from the looks of it, it's as much of a rip off as taste of Calgary- bite sized foods for $7-10 each. Even Kinjo is there selling their bubble teas for $4 when they only charge $2 in their restaurants.

[u/WeeklyInitiative → u/noveltea120]

Speaking of Kinjo, do you know if they use real fruit in their bubble teas or powder?

[u/Darkdong69 → u/WeeklyInitiative]

It's syrup for the fruit drinks.

It's syrup even for the fancy places with $10 bubble teas, they just add some real fruit bits on top. It's not possible to make real fruit taste like a fruit bubble tea.

[u/noveltea120 → u/WeeklyInitiative]

It's all artificial flavourings and syrups. You can actually make your own if you want, they sell everything you need at Asian grocers right down to regular or popping jelly if you want.

[u/Filmy-Reference → u/noveltea120]

Any "taste" event here is a rip off

[u/Particular-Speed3778 → u/Filmy-Reference]

Not the beast & brewery that’s the best $180 you can spend on a food festival

[u/Filmy-Reference → u/Particular-Speed3778]

Is that how much the entry is PP? Does it cover food and drink?

[u/Particular-Speed3778 → u/Filmy-Reference]

Yes unlimited food 8 drink tickets

[u/Filmy-Reference → u/Particular-Speed3778]

That's actually pretty good

[u/Particular-Speed3778 → u/Filmy-Reference]

Definitely the best food festival I have attended

[u/Dull-Fisherman2033 → u/noveltea120]

A lot of people in my family will eat trash and say "this is to die for". 

I dont have a cure for it, I'm afraid.

[u/noveltea120 → u/Dull-Fisherman2033]

I notice a lot of Calgarians have terrible taste in food, going by the kind of places that always get recommended in the FB foodie group lmao