The soft sand, the cool ocean breeze, the sound of partygoers mingling along the shore — this was the scene at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival tonight. This plus a whole lot of burgers, of course. Friday night marked the 11th annual Burger Bash at SOBEWFF, and like in years past, Rachael Ray hosted the fan-favorite extravaganza, which brought together nearly three dozen chefs from across the country. As hungry burger enthusiasts lined up to sample chefs’ between-the-bun offerings, all-star judges, including Ayesha Curry, Rev Run, Adam Richman and Emilio Estefan, took their places on a perch inside the tents to get down to the business of tasting as well. Up for grabs this year was the sought-after Schweid & Son’s The Very Best Burger Award, which would be decided by the judges, and the equally coveted Heineken Light People’s Choice Award, which celebrates the chef or restaurant that earned the most votes from guests. After reveling in the meaty burgers (and plentiful sides) on display, we were on hand as two restaurants earned the highest honors. Read on below to find out who took home the trophies, and take an insider’s look at some of our favorite bites from the night.
The panel members celebrated tried-and-true burger tastes and textures when they dished out the Schweid & Son’s The Very Best Burger Award to Little Jack’s Tavern. This Charleston, South Carolina-based eatery served up a two-bite burger that boasted a blanket of gooey American cheese and was served with hot herb-tossed french fries.
Fans, however, preferred less traditional flavors this year. Thanks in part to the subtly sweet guava ketchup that adorned their meaty creation, Jr’s Gourmet Burgers took home the people’s favorite after around 2,000 votes were cast. The team from this Miami Springs, Florida, eatery joined Rachael on stage to collect their check (pictured above) and all but beamed with pride.
Related Reading:
7 Reasons Why Italian Food Is Best Enjoyed on the Beach, As Learned at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Stay tuned to FN Dish as well as Food Network’s Facebook and Instagram pages all weekend long for continued coverage of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
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Burger Bash 2017 Winners: Little Jack’s Tavern and Jr’s Gourmet Burgers