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Back ribs are slathered with BBQ sauce.David Crowther/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Today is the day the United States makes up for the gold-medal hockey game it lost last year at the Vancouver Olympics, David Jacobson says.

But it's not hockey that will be played at the U.S. Ambassador's July 4 party. Rather, he's organized a "grill-off" between American and Canadian barbecue chefs.

"I've been 'testing' the barbecue since Saturday," Mr. Jacobson joked in an email to The Globe on Monday. "It's to die for."

Later Monday, the Ambassador and his wife, Julie, are expecting about 4,000 guests to the grounds of his residence, a palatial home overlooking the Ottawa River in the city's tony Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood.

It's the most coveted invitation and the biggest party in town. July 4th in Ottawa is always the largest celebration of Independence Day outside of the United States.

"I'm betting on the United States team over the Canadians," Mr. Jacobson said. "We are going to avenge the gold-medal hockey game. Unless - of course - Sidney Crosby shows up to barbecue."

It was Mr. Crosby's overtime goal that clinched the gold medal on the last day of the Winter Olympic Games.

For that match, U.S. President Barack Obama bet Prime Minister Stephen Harper a case of beer. And since the Canadians won, Mr. Jacobson delivered a case of Molson Canadian to 24 Sussex Drive.

Had the Americans won, the Prime Minister would have had to come up with a case of Yuengling. The brewery, which is the oldest in the United States, is based in Pennsylvania.

No word yet on prizes for Monday's gold-medal grill off.

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