Another Tasty Rib Cook-Off

The Marco Island Brewery and the Marco Island Police Foundation, which began a 14-year tradition, saw the community come together once again to support the men and women in blue on Saturday, April 12th. The event was the annual Marco Island Police Foundation Rib Cook-Off that benefits the Foundation and allows it to provide educational scholarships for officers and family members.

Retired and former officers from Marco Island can be found within that crowd, as well as former officers from agencies across the United States. It has evolved into a significant event, steadily increasing in popularity each year – support for the department is strong within the community.

This year, four teams vied to claim the top spot for 2025 and wow the three judges. The competing cook-off chefs were Angel Casabona representing MIPD, facing off against Joshua Skinner of Smokin Water Buffalo Barbeque fame. Both were looking to “out cook” not one, but two entries from Affordable Landscaping, who fielded two separate teams: one all women and one all men.

It wasn’t easy for judges Bonita Schwan, Yvette Benarroch, and Father Chuck Ruoff to decide, but when the counting was complete, the women’s team of Claribel Gutierrez del Arroyo from Affordable Landscaping won the coveted title as Best Ribs for 2025. 

The real winner, though, was the MIPD Foundation and the men and women in blue who will benefit from the event and the work of Foundation members.