Pigs in the Park: BBQ, BEER & BLUES!

Pigs in the Park: BBQ, BEER & BLUES inaugural event kicks off Friday night at E.G. Simmons Park.

Talk about barbecue! It'll all be here - ribs, chicken, wings and more.

Come taste the mouthwatering food of Smokin' Gun BBQ, Smokin' Pigs, Hydro Harvest Farms, The Mullet Shack, Ribs on the Rail and others.

It'll be a blast!

WHAT: Pigs in the Park: BBQ, BEER, BLUES & Redfish Tournament

* Down-home, slow-cooked BBQ

* Smokin' blues by Sarasota Slim, The Bottomfeeders, Gypsy Hyway and the Top Shelf Blues Band

* Fishing tourney, including prizes

* Children's fitness area

* Jumbo the Clown

WHEN: Friday, April 1, 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, April 2, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave N.W., Ruskin

COST: $2 per carload park entry fee; free admission and parking

INFO: Call (813) 645-3808.

I recently visited Earl Thompkins of Ribs on the Rail, who works from his mobile grill on Saturdays at Progress Village. I wrote a Table Scraps column about him. Look for it in today's SouthShore News & Tribune or at www.southshore.tbo.com.

Earl shared one of his favorite barbecue sauce recipes:

DEEP SWEET BBQ SAUCE

40 ounces ketchup

32 ounces mustard

12 ounces Louisiana hot sauce

32 ounces honey

Mix the first three ingredients together and simmer on the stove for 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, and then add honey. Mix well. Pour or brush sauce over cooked meat for best taste.