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For the Belmont based catering company,  Ranucci’s Big Butt BBQ has scored big time in the 2010 World championship Barbecue cooking contest.

Ranucci’s Big Butt BBQ, a  catering company that also cooks the wonderful BBQ for Center Street Tavern in downtown Cramerton, won ninth place in the Memphis (Tenn.) in May 2010 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. The top 10 finish automatically qualifies them for the competition in 2011.

For the Memphis competition, Ranucci said he fed judges just like he would a special event or private party in Gaston County.

“When I cater, I try to do what I do for competitions,” Ranucci said. “I always bring the smoker with me. The barbecue we do is hot and fresh, pulled on site.”

A native of upstate New York, Ranucci moved to Boiling Springs in 1991 to attend Gardner-Webb University, where he fell in love with the Carolinas and the regional cuisine. After college, he moved back to New York for a few years, but eventually returned to the area. Two years ago, Ranucci and his family moved to Belmont.

Ranucci previously worked in medical sales, but three or four years ago, he quit his job and started catering full time. After visiting the Carolinas, his father, Ed Ranucci caught the barbecue bug and started a second catering company in New York.

The Ranuccis  have won multiple prizes at more than a dozen events, including a first place pork butt in the 2008 Summer Sizzlin’ BBQ Cook-off in Belmont.

“You’ve got to hit it right on the head,” Ranucci said of the Memphis competition. “The judges down there have been doing this for 25years. If you put out barbecue, it better be good.”

Alex Ranucci said he prepares his pork with a homemade injection and dry rub then smokes it for 13 to 15 hours. He offers Ranucci-brand sauces and rubs online at www.ranuccis.com. At competitions, Ranucci said family is always a key ingredient.

Ranucchi’s Big Butt BBQ grilling sauce is also available at the gift shop “Charlotte’s Landing” at the Charlotte Airport, and has quickly become their best seller.  “It’s mostly northern travelers who buy it.  They love the southern style BBQ and Alex has done a great job bottling his different sauces.

We can’t keep it on the shelves!” says Shirley Warren of Charlotte’s Landing.”

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I have been accused of taunting the grim reaper because of the junk food I eat.   I even wrote a book called “How to live to 47″ and when I didn’t die, I wrote another one called “How to live to 48.”  I enjoy being alive, but I don’t really take care of myself.  I eat and drink pretty much anything I want, and then complain because my stomach stays “upset” all the time.  But even I was shocked when I found out how gross some of the junk we are being sold is for you.  Belowis a HEALTH FOOD drink being sold by “Smothie King.” 

 This liquid heart attack I found online from some book called “Eat this, don’t eat that.” (It’s called something like that.  I just finished off a whole frozen pizza, so I’m to0 lazy to go back and look  up the name again.)

Worst “Health” Drink in America
Smoothie King Peanut Power Plus Grape (large, 40 fl oz)
1,498 calories
44 g fat (8 g saturated)
214 g sugars (a mind-blowing 54 teaspoons’ worth!) 

This has the Sugar Equivalent: 20 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!!!!!!!

I wonder if  Smoothie King ever drug test the folks who came up with this stuff?  It’s made of peanut butter, grape juice, milk, and bananas!    Somehow, I doubt it. 

Oh well, it’s a good thing livermush , Sun-Drop and Krispy Kreme donuts are good for you.

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