The New York City Wine & Food Festival Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats, hosted by Rachel Ray – Winners announced!
Pier 92 at 52nd street and West Side Highway
New York, NY
1,828 days ago, specifically, Friday, October 16, 2008, 5 friends went out for a burger at Arthur’s Steakhouse in Hoboken, NJ. On that day, my Glorious Pursuit of Delicious Burgers began. That means it’s Burger Conquest‘s 5th Burgerthday!
THE STATS
1,829 days
627 blog posts
663 Burgers reviewed by Rev (74 thus far in 2013)
20 Wing-Offs
9 TV appearances
0 “10 out of 10 ounces”
If you’re doing the math, that’s one Burger every 2.76 days and if there is any day worth upping the average, it’s the New York City Wine & Food Festival Blue Moon Burger Bash.
I started this blog as a joke. It was a reason for my friends and I to get together, eat Burgers and have a laugh. The impact it’s had on my life has proven it to be more than some measly laugh. Whether it’s working with The Food Film Festival, being a part of Get Real Presents, co-owning Idle Hands Bar, helping the guys from the Grill ‘Em All Truck on the path that lead to their first brick and mortar location or my biggest Burger accomplishment to date: the 2nd Annual NY Burger Week, Burger Conquest has turned me into an expert burger taster, at least according to The Learning Channel and George Motz.
NEW YORK CITY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL BLUE MOON BURGER BASH
Where better for an “EBT” to spend their Burgerthday holiday than the New York City Wine & Food Festival Blue Moon Burger Bash?
It happens every year on the Friday of the Festival and features Burger after Burger from Chef after Chef, competing to be named the best of the best. This year’s Burger Bash featured 27 Burgers and try as you may, there’s little chance of you trying each one. Each person is given 1 token which they can use to vote for their favorite Burger. At the end of the night all the tokens are tallied up and the “People’s Choice” award is given to one talented Burgermaster. It’s a ridiculously fun and tasty event and the best part is, the proceeds from the Burger Bash go to benefit the Food Bank For New York City who help to feed the city’s hungry.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER
This year Chef Josh Capon from Lure Fish Bar and Burger and Barrel along with Guy Fieri from Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar tied each other to win the highly coveted 2013 People’s Choice award. This makes the 4th year in a row that Chef Capon has brought home the victory.
Photo of the victors from my food lovin’ friend Megan Murphy – @ThisGirlCanEat on Twitter.
Guy’s Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese Burger: Crispy Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Creamy Four-Cheese Mac and Cheese, all-natural Ground Beef, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickle, Super-Melty Cheese, Garlic Butter on a Toasted Brioche Bread
Josh’s “Bash Burger”: Caramelized Onion and Bacon Jam, Shaved Pickles, American Cheese & Secret Sauce.
JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNER
Judges: Adam Richman, Andrew Zimmern, Joe Bastianich & Geoffrey Zakarian
The event’s official judges chose the French Onion Soup Burger, created by Chef Paul Denamiel from Le Rivage, as the victor of the Judge’s Choice Award.
Photo of Chef Paul and team from my Burger Bashin’ Bud, Seth Unger – @condimented on Instagram.
Paul’s French French-Onion Soup Burger:
Pat LaFrieda–blend Burger with Stewed Onions, Béchamel, and Emmental Cheese, and served on a Toasted English Muffin.
THE BURGERS
The night was filled with fun, friends, music, entertainment, drinks and of course, lots of tasty, tasty Burgers. Here’s what I was able to try.
Schnippers
Smoky Double Bacon Cheeseburger: American Cheese, Caramelized Onions, Smoky Bacon and Bacon Mayo
STK
Lil’ BRGs: Wagyu Beef, Signature Sauce, and a Sesame Bun
GO Burger Bar & Grill
Pickled Alpine: Dry-aged Burger with Emmental Swiss, Pickled Shallots, and Bacon Aioli
Pudsters
Pudsters Original Puddy Melt: Angus Burger between a Golden Grilled Cheese, topped with Lettuce, Tomato, Sautéed Onion, Pickles, with a touch of Hellman’s Mayo
Old Homestead Steakhouse
Burger With Bite: a blend of USDA Prime Cuts, creamy Kentucky-style Beer Cheese, Salty Pretzel Crisp, Red Onion Shavings, and Dijon Chipotle Mayonnaise
Hudson Common
Uncommon Bacon Cheeseburger: Miso Bacon, Wasabi Peppadew, White Cheddar, Spicy Kimchee Slaw, fermented Garlic Aioli, and Pickles
Bonus Side: Szechuan Poutine with Duck-fat Fries, Kung Pao Duck Confit, Sichuan Slaw, and Black Bean Vinaigrette
Ilili
Shawarma Burger: Cardamom-Sesame Bun, Special Sauce, Beef Patty, Red Onion, Roma Tomato, Lebanese Jalapeños, Sumac, and Aleppo Pepper
Bobby’s Burger Palace
Carolina Burger: Smoked Cheddar, Mustard Barbecue Sauce, and Green Onion Slaw
About the Food Bank For New York City
Three million New Yorkers have difficulty affording food. The Food Bank For New York City is there with a solution. The Food Bank helps by offering a meal today, resources for a more secure tomorrow and nutrition education to help them lead healthy lifestyles. Food Bank For New York City is the only hunger-relief organization to take this integrated approach. The Food Bank tackles the issues of hunger on three fronts: food distribution, through soup kitchens and food pantries; income support, by connecting those in need to benefits available to them, such as food stamps and earned income tax credits; and nutrition education, helping individuals and families make healthful food choices on limited budgets. Get more information at foodbanknyc.org.
Thank you to the people at Bullfrog & Baum for spreading the Burger love.
Thanks to Megan and Seth for the photos of the winners.
Big love to my band of Burger buds for good times: Matt “Takedown” Timms, Seth Unger, George Motz, Larry Cauldwell, John Agostini and Tina, Brad & Jamie Schweid.
THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
663 Burgers
October 18, 2013
