17 Restaurants Prepare for Wilmington Burger Battle
Second Annual August Food Tasting Event Benefits Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room
The Second Annual Wilmington Burger Battle, presented by the Kenny Family Foundation, will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2013, noon–4pm at Twin Lakes Brewing Company, 4210 Kennett Pike, Greenville, Delaware. The $45 ticket ($50 at the door, pending availability; see website for child and teen ticket prices) includes food, beer tastings, soft drinks, and music. Tickets are available at wilmingtonburgerbattle.brownpapertickets.com. Event proceeds will support the Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room.
Restaurants will throw down again at this outdoor, rain-or-shine charity event to win top honors as the Critic’s Choice and/or People’s Choice for their burgers. Participating restaurants include: 2 Fat Guys, BBC Tavern and Grill, Buckley’s Tavern, Cantwell’s Tavern, Catherine Rooney’s, Chelsea Tavern, Ernest & Scott Taproom, Home Grown Café, Jake’s Wayback Burgers, Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House and Saloon, Nage Rehoboth, Pizza By Elizabeths, Redfire Grill Steakhouse, Ulysses Gastropub, World Café Live at the Queen and last year’s winners, Kildare’s Irish Pub (Critic’s Choice Burger) and Union City Grille (People’s Choice Burger).
Event co-founder Matthew Curtis, chef/owner of Union City Grille, took home the People’s Choice trophy in 2012.
“Most of the chefs in the area know each other, so the competition is good natured,” Curtis said. “On the other hand, restaurants really want to win, and chefs are approaching the competition in creative ways.”
“After a summer of home grilling, people are going to want to get a really good burger from the chef with the trophy,” he added.
This year, the critics panel expands from three to nine judges, to accommodate more competing burgers. Burgers will be judged in two heats, and the top burgers from both heats will advance to a final round, from which the winner will be crowned. Judges include JB Braun (MainLine Today), Chris Grundner (Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement), Rob Kalesse (Spark Magazine), Iris McCarthy (Philly area food writer and blogger at the Palate Princess), Bill Montgomery (Brandywine Zoo), Kita Roberts (blogger/creator of Girl Carnivore and Pass the Sushi), and Eric Ruth (Delaware Tourism Office).
The Twin Lakes farm in Greenville has again agreed to serve as the venue, and event proceeds will continue to support the Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room, which helps alleviate the immediate needs of Delaware’s hungry, serving over 180,000 nutritious meals a year at no cost, and with no questions asked.
The Kenny Family Foundation is the Wilmington Burger Battle’s first-ever naming sponsor.
“We are really proud and excited to be part of the Wilmington Burger Battle supporting the Ministry of Caring,” said Heather Hook, Executive Director of the Kenny Family Foundation. “The Ministry of Caring has done so much for the people of Wilmington and we continue to support all of their efforts any way we can.”
Battle co-founder JulieAnne Cross noted, “Every day, we hear from new supporters – chefs, foodies, beer lovers. We believe we’re on track to double our 2012 donation to the Ministry of Caring, so that the Emmanuel Dining Room’s impact on Delaware’s hungry can be even greater.”
In addition to the Kenny Family Foundation, the Wilmington Burger Battle is also sponsored by Out & About Magazine, and free + abel.
Restaurants are encouraged to contact matthewcurtis@unioncitygrille.com for more information. For information about the event, visit www.wilmingtonburgerbattle.com or email ucgcharities@gmail.com.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: 2nd Annual Wilmington Burger Battle, presented by the Kenny Family Foundation
WHEN: Saturday, August 24, 2013, noon-4pm
WHERE: Twin Lakes Brewing Co., 4210 Kennett Pike, Greenville, Delaware 19807
TICKETS: http://wilmingtonburgerbattle.brownpapertickets.com/
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.wilmingtonburgerbattle.com or ucgcharities@gmail.com
About the Wilmington Burger Battle
The Wilmington Burger Battle was founded in 2012 by Matthew Curtis, chef/owner of Union City Grille, and JulieAnne Cross, owner of PR agency CrossPro. The inaugural event raised over $4,200 for the Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room, attracting a sold-out crowd of over 400 people and 16 restaurants, which donated all food. Twin Lakes Brewing Company donated the use of their property and provided tastings as well as a portion of the charity contribution. Kildare’s Irish Pub won the inaugural Critic’s Choice trophy and Union City Grille won the People’s Choice trophy; both have returned to compete in year two.