Burger Bash Winners: David’s Cafe and Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer

If you’ve ever reveled in the smoky air of your backyard while grilling up a burger or two, you can imagine what guests of Friday night’s Burger Bash were in for when they walked into Manhattan’s Pier 92. Not one but dozens of chefs and restaurateurs came together at this rooftop party to serve up hundreds of juicy, cheesy, piled-high burgers to hordes of hungry fans, all eager to get their hands on the between-the-bun creations.

2016 marks the ninth year of this beloved New York City Wine & Food Festival event, and like in festivals past, the burger offerings put forth tonight ranged from the classic (hello, American cheese) to the downright creative — think lamb-beef combo patties and lobster toppings, which kept partygoers coming back for more. With so many burgers on display, it was up to both guests and judges — such famous, food-loving figures as Chopped judge Marc Murphy, Josh Capon, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka — to decide which was worthy if the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice awards, respectively. We caught up with judge Josh, who knows what it takes to make a winning burger — he’s won a whopping six Burger Bash competitions — and he told us that the perfect burger would have “perfect meat, perfect bun, perfect toppings and perfect execution.” Simply put, he said he’d be looking for “balance.”

After a few hours of meaty indulgence, some dancing and mingling with returning event host Rachael Ray, it was time to meet the winners. David’s Cafe scored the victory in the Judges’ Choice category with what was called The Burger Queen, featuring not one but two patties, plus fixings you know and love, like American cheese and pickles. Representatives from the restaurant joined Rachael on stage to collect their trophy with obvious joy on their faces.

Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, known recently for their over-the-top milkshakes adorned with candy and frosting, took home the win in the People’s Choice category. Their Waygu-based burger was topped with the often-divisive blue cheese, but fans didn’t seem to mind the bold flavor.

More from the 2016 New York City Wine & Food Festival:

• The 9 Best Bites from Giada’s Ultimate Italian Dinner at the New York City Wine & Food Festival
• Everything We Couldn’t Get Enough of at Chelsea Market Live
• Tacos & Tequila: “The People’s Food”

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