The Delaware Burger Battle returns Aug. 27 for the first time since it’s record-breaking 2019 event.
The Delaware Burger Battle, which spawned winners such as Maiale Deli’s Mexican Burger and Metro Grill’s Peach Burger, returns Saturday, Aug. 27.
Ten entries will vie for the burger trophy, with three others going for the alternative burger title.
A fundraiser for the Food Bank of Delaware and the Delaware ProStart Program, the battle will start at noon at Rockford Park, 2000 Lookout Drive, Wilmington.
Its last rendition took place in 2019 with ticket sales capped at 925, raising $14,000 for charity.
Burger Battle tickets capped
“After experiencing our first ‘sold out’ Battle in 2019, the pandemic hiatus broke my heart, especially as our charitable purposes—alleviating food insecurity and supporting culinary careers—became ever more important,” said Burger Battle founder JulieAnne Cross. “Based on the response so far to the 2022 Battle, I’m not the only one overjoyed by its return.”
This year’s post-plague event has been capped at 600 tickets to guarantee room to spread out and to make sure restaurants already dealing with labor shortages aren’t charred in the effort.
“Consider it like a family picnic,” said Cross.
Guests wander the competition, sampling burgers and alternative sandwiches, which this year will include two plant-based offerings and a poultry offering. The sandwiches are judged by a trio of foodies. Guests vote on a People’s Choice Award.
The samples are usually one-quarter of a full-sized burger, Cross said.
That means that a guest who sampled all of them would walk out with the equivalent of three and one-half burgers sloshing around in the tummy — and maybe more, if they go back for seconds.
Some guests use a buddy system: They split up to get samples and then share each one, Cross said.
Foodies, families and friends showed up for each of the first eight Delaware Burger Battles.
The $54 adult tickets also include beer and wine. Tickets for designated drivers and teens ages 13-20 are $32, and children ages 5-12 are $13 and all include soda. Children under 5 are free.
Only 50 tickets were left on Friday afternoon and Cross expects a sell-out by Monday.t
Cross started the year unsure whether she would be able to mount the event this year because of serious health issues. With those behind her, she decided in June to try for it, partly because so many people were asking if she would do it.
As always, dozens of friends stepped in to volunteer that day, although Cross is still seeking people to volunteer for the clean-up crew.
Confirmed restaurants
Confirmed restaurants include newcomers Cromwell’s American Tavern & Taqueria, DE Slider Co., Hamilton’s on Main, Makers Alley, Vita Nova (with multi-trophy winning Billy Rawstrom of Maiale Deli & Salumeria at the grill), and Zach’s Grille; returning trophy winners Chelsea Tavern and RedFire Grill & Steakhouse; and battle-hardened veterans Farmer & the Cow and Uncle John’s BBQ.
The restaurants provide all their own food, particularly generous in today’s inflationary times.
Each Burger Battle adult ticket includes beer and wine.
Profit recipient Food Bank of Delaware is the state’s largest provider of food to the needy, serving all three counties. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the Food Bank and its statewide partners have distributed more than 37 million pounds of food to Delawareans in need.
The Burger Battle will designate 10% of profits for those smaller food closets.
The ProStart Program of the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation teaches culinary, food safety and management skills in culinary programs and in 18 high schools, reaching more than 3,000 students.
The Delaware ProStart Program is currently implemented in 18 high schools, reaching more than 3,000 students. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart uses an industry-driven curriculum designed to build real-life practical skills and ready a student to work.
Students from Caesar Rodney High School in Camden earned first place in the 2022 National ProStart Invitational, Cross points out.
While Rockford Park offers seating, Cross suggests families bring blankets or favorite beach chairs to enjoy the rain-or-shine event.
Any restaurant interested in entering the Burger Battle Arena can contact Cross at [email protected].
