Chicago's 1st Authentic BBQ Pit Master Competition Chicagoans love food. Chicagoans love BBQ. Windy City Rib Classic is combining a few elements that the people love with an old-fashioned BBQ cook-off on the lakefront. This is the first event of its kind, being unique in its organizational goal: a real pit master competition. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 12, twenty BBQ teams will fire up their smokers, using 100% natural hardwood or charcoal, to compete for the title of Chicago's Premier Pit Master. All teams will cook (judged) product onsite, with meat provided by WCRC and its sponsors. Attendees of this free event near Theatre on the Lake (2401 N. Lake Shore Dr.) will peruse the field of contenders, interact with teams, and learn a few of their secrets to cooking authentic wood-fired BBQ. Live cooking demonstrations from local BBQ celebrities will entertain and educate the crowd, and the soundtrack to the event will be provided by local blues rock bands including Chicago's Blue Road and The BlackWilloughby's. BBQ enthusiasts will enjoy the competitive nature of the event, and casual foodies will enjoy a nice day on the lakefront. For hungry beach-goers, a menu of pulled pork, chicken, ribs, burgers & sweet corn is available at the Fullerton Beach Grill?with ice cold beer to wash it down. WHAT: Chicago will host its first BBQ Pit Master Competition. Twenty teams compete for the Grand Champion title in the categories of Ribs, Chicken and Sauce. No gas or electricity will be used, this is Real Smoked BBQ! WHO: Anyone can enter the competition: restaurant Pit Masters, Backyard BBQ King, & competition cooks. Entrants will be judged by celebrity Pit Masters and professionals from the BBQ community. WHEN: Sunday, August 12th, 2012, 10am ? 6pm WHERE: The Theater on the Lake and Fullerton Beach Grill. 2401 N Lake Shore Dr. (Lakeshore and Fullerton Dr.) Our designated charity is Operation BBQ Relief, a 501c3 not-for-profit disaster relief organization founded in May 2011 in response to a need for relief efforts in tornado-stricken Joplin, MO.