A “rib-off” (not a “rip-off,” and having nothing to do with “Adam’s rib”) is also called a “rib cook-off.” It’s a cooking contest where ribs and sauces and judged. The “-off” names began with “cook-off” and include “bake-off” and “pie-off.”
 
The Northwest Ohio Rib Off in Maumee (OH) began in 1984. Cleveland (OH) has held a rib-cookoff since 1985. There was a Great Chicago (IL) Riboff in 1986.
 
Spellings include “rib-off,” “rib off,” “riboff,” “rib cook-off” and “rib cookoff.”
 
 
Northwest Ohio Rib Off
Lucas County Fairgrounds,
Maumee, Ohio
 
Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution
Cleveland? They had the National Rib Cook-Off in Cleveland?
Date: August 28, 1985
Publication: The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution
Page Number: F/15
Word Count: 1147
The New York Times (from August 21, 1985)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - There were 2 million messy fingers in Cleveland recently. They got that way by grabbing the million ribs that were eaten by the 200,000 people who came to the National Rib Cook-Off. If all those ribs had come from a single pig, the cook-off’s organizers say, the pig would have weighed 75 metric tons. No such beast existed, of course. The cooks from 51 restaurants in 27 states and Australia arrived with tons of ribs from thousands of animals, 
 
10 January 1986, Chicago (IL) Tribune, pg. 26:
Steve Birger of Stevie B’s Rib Cafe is a friendly soul, but as his business on Halsted Street sagged a bit in the fall, he figured a little combativeness might help the cause. This is Chicago, after all. The rib business in this town is tough stuff.
 
He got no response, hostile or otherwise, from the competitors. So he called around. “Did you see my ad?” he asked. Unfortunately, it seemed no one had. The street fight he had wished for (along with the attention of the violence-prone food media) was not coming his way. But he still wanted to do something obnoxious, stir up some interest. So he called the Limelight. Let’s do a rib contest, he said.
 
The Limelight loved the idea. It would sponsor the battle. And sure enough, the Great Chicago Riboff is scheduled for 10 p.m. Tuesday at the new wave dance club where people might seem as likely to put barbecue sauce in their hair as on their plate. Admittedly, the Limelight, 632 N. Dearborn St., had some false starts in getting the date set and just how great a riboff it will be remains to be seen.
 
28 May 1993, Titusville (PA) Herald, pg. 28C, col. 4:
Erie Hosts BBQ
Rib Cook-Off
Do you love BBQ ribs? Would you like to sample so many different sauces, you’d like to burst?
 
Then the Great Lakes BBQ Rib Cook-Off is the place for you.
 
This sixth annual event is being held June 3rd through 6th at El Patio Motel at West 8th and Peninsula Drive in Erie.
   
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Phil Miller)
Date: 10 Nov 1993 19:19:55 GMT
Local: Wed, Nov 10 1993 2:19 pm
Subject: Re: Reno: Sports books, BJ?
 
Also in Sparks, Karl’s, is the least frequented and the most relaxed—it seems more like a place for kids.  Always a seat can be found here (unless it’s Rib cook off weekend).
     
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Patrick Rieger)
Date: 27 Aug 1994 02:10:01 -0400
Local: Sat, Aug 27 1994 1:10 am
Subject: The Rib-Off
 
What’s this I hear about the Rib-Off being cancelled?
     
MSNBC.com
The great ‘Today’ rib off
Try some of these barbecue favorites for your next feast
msnbc.com
updated 1:27 a.m. CT, Wed., Sept. 28, 2005
May 24 - With the summer barbecuing season upon us, “Today” hosted a rib-off, bringing together four experts with different approaches to an old barbecue favorite. Steven Raichlen is the author of “How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques and Recipes,” Jamie Purviance is one of the authors of “Weber’s Big Book of Grilling,” Chris O’Hara is the author of “Ribs,” and David Rosengarten is the author of “The Rosengarten Report.” Each shares a taste of their favorite rib recipes and cooking advice. Sample their offerings below.
 
SanLuisObispo.com
24th Annual Rib Cook Off: Celebrating the Life of Larry Kowalski
Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 6:00p to 8:00p
at SLO Farmers Market, San Luis Obispo, CA
The 24th annual Rib Cook Off is celebrating the life of one of the original farmers’ market BBQ’ers Larry Kowalski for his dedication and influence to BBQ. We are pleased to welcome the Original Incredible HULK, Lou Ferrigno as a guest judge for the event
 
Cleveland.com
The 17th annual Marc’s Great American Rin Cook-Off & Music Festival
BAR-B-Q Q&A
Q: I SMELL BBQ! WHERE’S THAT CHARCOAL SCENT COMING FROM?
A: The 17th annual Marc’s Great American Rib Cook-Off & Music Festival takes place at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City (formerly Tower City Amphitheater) located in downtown Cleveland. Time Warner Cable Amphitheater is on the Cuyahoga River, next to The Avenue at Tower City Center and features a spacious 31,000 square-foot covered outdoor theater and an extraordinary view of downtown Cleveland.
     
(Trademark)
Word Mark   GREAT AMERICAN RIB COOK-OFF
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: entertainment services, namely organizing and promoting concerts and festivals with facilities for entertainment, games and refreshments. FIRST USE: 19900410. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19900410
Mark Drawing Code   (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number   75076325
Filing Date February 29, 1996
Owner   (APPLICANT) GREAT AMERICAN RIB COOK-OFF INC. CORPORATION OHIO 44 North Main Street Chagrin Falls OHIO 44022
Attorney of Record Lawrence Lighter
Type of Mark   SERVICE MARK
Register   PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date   April 18, 1997
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark   GREAT AMERICAN RIB COOK-OFF
Goods and Services IC 041. US 107. G & S: food festivals featuring a variety of activities; namely, music concerts, food concessions, sporting contests, rib-cooking contests, or combinations of these events. FIRST USE: 19920500. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920500
Mark Drawing Code   (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number   74241621
Filing Date January 30, 1992
Filed ITU   FILED AS ITU
Published for Opposition   December 15, 1992
Registration Number 1803931
Registration Date   November 9, 1993
Owner   (REGISTRANT) Belkin Productions, Inc. CORPORATION OHIO 44 North Main Street Chagrin Falls OHIO 44022
Attorney of Record D. Peter Hochberg
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “RIB COOK-OFF” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark   SERVICE MARK
Register   PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark   THE GREAT YANKEE RIB COOK-OFF
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 041. US 107. G & S: entertainment services; namely, organizing and conducting outdoor events comprised of a restaurant competition, a food festival and musical entertainment. FIRST USE: 19920924. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920924
Mark Drawing Code   (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 020101 020107 020120 020131 020915 110103 220106 220112 240907 260502 260701 261127
Serial Number   74368412
Filing Date March 16, 1993
Published for Opposition   November 23, 1993
Registration Number 1821771
Registration Date   February 15, 1994
Owner   (REGISTRANT) Boston Baked Limited Partnership composed of The Boston Baked Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation LIMITED PARTNERSHIP MASSACHUSETTS c/o Todd R. Saunders 64 Arlington Street, Suite 314 Boston MASSACHUSETTS 02117
Attorney of Record F. Andrew Anderson
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “RIB COOK-OFF” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark   SERVICE MARK
Register   PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date   February 24, 2001