Back-to-Back Winner in Police Foundation Rib Cook-Off

As Claribel Gutierrez was basking in the glory of winning the Marco Island Police Foundation Rib Cook-off for the second year in a row, Alex Hernandez was already thinking about basting his ribs in next year’s contest. And while Gutierrez and Hernandez were enjoying a little lighthearted competition, there was some serious business taking place on Saturday, April 25, at the Marco Island Brewery: namely, raising funds for the Marco Police Foundation’s scholarship program.

"I'm the winner this year as well as last year,” Claribel Gutierrez said proudly. “So I'm undefeated. Back-to-back.”

So what’s her secret?

"No secret,” she said, “just working with my husband, having fun."

Hernandez and Gutierrez, husband and wife, were working on the same grill and competing against each other at the same time.

“Yeah,” Gutierrez said, "he's not very happy about it, but he's already planning for how he's going to do it next year.”

Hernandez thinks he has the recipe to defeat his wife—and all of the other competitors—in 2027. “Next year,” Hernandez said, “I’m going to use a cherry glaze."

Al Benarroch was in charge of this year’s cook-off. He was pleased with the turnout. He also appreciates the Brewery’s support.

"The Brewery supplies us with all the ribs and chicken,” Benarroch said. “We sell the tickets and all the money goes for scholarships for the police officers and their kids. The reason we have this police foundation is to help them because schools are expensive. We give away probably $25,000 every quarter, if not more. And we help other people as well. We'll help the police if they need something. We just plug away.”

Benarroch estimates that half the members of the Marco Police Foundation are former police officers.

"The rest are business owners here on the island or off the island or out of Florida,” he said. "But most of them are here on the island."

Benarroch said this year’s rib cook-off was delayed because of health concerns among some of the Foundation’s leadership, including his own.

“This year we're a little bit late,” he said. "We're thinking next year we're going to do it right after football season is over and before the basketball season starts and we'll have more people here. They don't go back home before Easter. And next year Easter is in March."