UrbanQ Smokehouse BBQ rub wins award

A Waynesville-based barbecue caterer and sauce- and rubmaker earned a #1 ranking in a national BBQ competition sponsored by the National Barbecue News, a leading industry publication.

UrbanQ Smokehouse, founded by local restaurant chef Chris Cavender and his family, won the top prize in the National Barbecue News “Rubs of Honor” competition in the “Beef Rub” category for its “Cup of Joe” meat rub.

Organizers of the competition told this news outlet that the “beef rub” category attracted 63 entries.

Here’s how Cavender, who serves as and pitmaster at 1572 Roadhouse Bar-B-Q near Waynesville and is the former executive chef at Jay’s Restaurant, describes the rub on the UrbanQ website:

“The perfect blend of coffee, cocoa powder and spices lead to a dark, flavorful crust on prime rib, steaks, and even beer butt chicken. Really, it’s perfectly balanced for just about any meat, even scallops (hint, hint). We know it sounds weird, but man, it’s good! Try it and see for yourself. Directions: Oil up the meat, pat the rub on, and get to smokin’ or grillin’.”

Cavender had a different rub place first in the publication’s 2016 Rubs of Honor competition.

UrbanQ’s rubs and sauces are now available at several Dayton-area retail shops, including both Dot’s Market locations and Foremost Seafood.

MARK FISHER