Dinner with Governor Rendell

Well not really but it sounds interesting. Last night I took my daughter to a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game at Citizens Bank Park with my friend Barbecue Bob and his daughter and who shows up and is sitting a few rows ahead of us but none other than the Honorable Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell and his wife Marjorie.

Not only did he enjoy watching the Phillies crush the Florida Marlins 12 – 3 and move ahead of them for first place, the Gov enjoyed a plate of what looked like baby back ribs that I’m guessing his people picked up at Bull’s BBQ in Ashburn Alley. They certainly looked better than the hot dogs we were enjoying.

Between around the 6th or 7th inning, my 10-year-old daughter and her friend Gabby went down to say hello and Governor Rendell and his wife could not have been more gracious. The girls were both extremely nervous but the governor put them at ease by asking them a few questions and treating them like young adults. I’m thinking this is one of those memories that will last awhile for them.

Baby Back Ribs

Speaking of Barbecue Ribs, be sure to check out this quick and easy method that I learned from Barbecue Bob’s wife, Barbecue Bert. Bob likes to prepare his ribs by smoking them for hours and hours, a classic barbecue method, but I use Bert’s shortcut method by starting them in the oven and finishing them on the grill. Check out Bert’s Barbecue Ribs.

Both methods work but I don’t always have time to slow cook them. And it’s my humble opinion that the barbecue sauce you finish and serve them with is the real game changer. You can see a version of Barbecue Bob’s Homemade Barbecue Sauce here.