{"id":166009,"date":"2026-02-23T19:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/166009\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T19:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:40:10","slug":"key-biscaynes-rib-off-competition-returns-for-20th-year-with-a-new-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/166009\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Biscayne\u2019s Rib-off\u00a0 competition returns\u00a0 for 20th year with a new contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

The popular Key Biscayne annual Rib-off competition is returning for its 20th year on Saturday with some notable changes \u2014 and a new way for fans to weigh in on their favorite food. The charity event at the Yacht Club is in memory of Dr. Bob Kemper, a beloved local physician and raises money for student doctors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Changes this year\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rib-Off organizer York Flik said the cookoffwill largely keep its traditional format but introduce a new competition category \u2013\u2013 a People\u2019s Choice award for the best side-dish. \u201cThe side dishes tend to be better than the ribs, at least, in my opinion.\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a more practical reason \u2013 unlike previous years, the entry fee will no longer include a buffet. To keep plenty of food available, teams are being asked to boost both their rib output and side offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe club is donating the space. The club is not actually organizing any of the event,\u201d Flik said. As a result, the organizers will be working more closely with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation to coordinate security and staff to run the competition.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re asking teams to make additional sides so we can help have enough food for everyone to be at the event.\u201d<\/p>\n

IF YOU GO:
Location: Key Biscayne Yacht Club
Time: 2-9 p.m.
Parking: Crossbridge Church 160 Harbor Dr.
Tickets: Click here <\/a><\/p>\n

The Yacht Club will remain open to all, putting more responsibility on organizers to control access to the charity area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike years past, the club will remain open for everybody, even non rib-off participants. The onus will be on us to monitor the facilities.
Flik urged the public to purchase tickets online in advance.<\/p>\n

Medical Student Scholarship<\/p>\n

The event is named for Dr. Kemper, who started a tradition of barbecuing ribs at home that later expanded into the event that today features live music amid the haze of charcoal, wood, and the aroma of spiced pork. <\/p>\n

Kemper had a passion for community medicine,\u00a0 and\u00a0 award recipients must demonstrate respect for patients, faculty, peers with altruism, compassion, and empathy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Never miss a story! Sign up for our FREE newsletter<\/p>\n

\"\"2026 Winners of the Robert Kemper, M.D. Award for Professionalism in Medicine, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (Key Biscayne Community Foundation via KBI)<\/p>\n

Winners this year are Rima Avellan and Joel Mantilla, FIU College of Medicine seniors who demonstrated the values of professionalism, according to Dr. Eugenio Rothe, an FIU professor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the logistical changes, Flik said Rib-off organizers are focused on keeping the day enjoyable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0As of Monday, the National Weather Service forecast called for a 40% chance of rain with a chance of thunderstorms. It is forecast to be humid with highs near 80\u00baF. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rain or shine,\u201d Flik said. \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a lot of fun. We just keep our fingers crossed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Invest in Local News for Your Town. Your Gift is tax-deductible<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Editor-in-Chief<\/p>\n

Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The popular Key Biscayne annual Rib-off competition is returning for its 20th year on Saturday with some notable…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":166010,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[79013,589,2845,3086,79014,33108,37916,123,125,124,79015,79016],"class_list":{"0":"post-166009","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miami","8":"tag-dr-bob-kemper","9":"tag-featured","10":"tag-fiu","11":"tag-free","12":"tag-herbert-wertheim-college-of-medicine","13":"tag-key-biscayne-community-foundation","14":"tag-key-biscayne-yacht-club","15":"tag-miami","16":"tag-miami-headlines","17":"tag-miami-news","18":"tag-rib-off","19":"tag-york-flik"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166009\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}