Bring your bib to Rub My Rib

Paul Farrell has been in the food business for a while. But not just making food.

"I love throwing parties and hosting events," he says. "I particularly love events involving food, since we have so much great cuisine in Charleston."

Farrell's newest event, Rub My Rib, will feature lots of well-known Lowcountry restaurants competing for the title of best ribs. It should be pretty saucy and lots of fun.

"We had the Mac-Off last year, which was a huge success," he says. "Then we had the Get Your Roll On event with sushi in May. I think ribs will be popular, too."

Farrell owns a restaurant on Johns Island, New Moon Pizzeria & Pub. He used to own J. Paul'z on James Island, but caved in to his love for pizza.

"But really, these events offer the chance to work with a variety of restaurants, which is what I love," he says. "I like to include the ones off the beaten path with these events, and from all the areas -- Mount Pleasant, John's Island, downtown."

If you're wondering how he came to decide on ribs, Farrell thinks that it's an appropriate end-of-summer fare.

"It goes with the last of the warm weather, the beginning of football and it's something different," he says. "I have other food events up my sleeve, too."

The competition will take place at the Charleston Maritime Center, and ribs are cooked on-site. It's free to come to the event if you plan ahead and get a ticket online. If you wait to get it at the door, it costs $5. Prices for other concessions vary, but your ticket allows you the chance to taste the ribs. The proceeds from the event will benefit Communities in Schools, a dropout-prevention program. "And it won't be all the same kind of ribs," says Farrell. "We'll have braised ribs, short ribs. There are lots of different restaurants participating."

The list of restaurants include well-known places like Smokey Oak and Jim 'N Nicks, plus slightly ritzier locations, including 82 Queen and Blossom.

As far as judging the competition, there's a Judge's Award and a People's Choice Award, so both the audience and the critics get their chance to select a restaurant. "Wild Card" contestants also are eligible for prizes. A wild card recipe comes from a Charleston Scene reader who sends in their best rib concoction.

"We'll have live music there and plenty of televisions for people who want to watch college football at the same time as the contest," says Farrell. "The bands -- Gaslight Street and Old You -- start at 4 p.m. and play the whole time. It's family friendly, so there'll be stuff for kids to do, too."