Battle of the Burgers 2: bigger, better

YOUNGSTOWN

The BurgerGuyz will be part of Burgers, Beards & Brews as we host the 2015 Battle of the Burgers 2 on Friday and Saturday on the square downtown.

Ten of the best restaurants in Northeast Ohio will be flipping burgers. Part of the proceeds of the event will benefit the Rich Center for Autism.

Bergen Giordana, development director of the Rich Center, said: “The Rich Center for Autism is honored to be chosen by the Burger Review Board for this event. We love to participate in community events! The Rich Center provides year-round therapy, education and support at no cost to our families thanks in part to the generous support of the Mahoning Valley.”

This is just part of the Burgers, Beards and Brews event. Other charities benefiting from this weekend are The Purple Cat/Golden String.

For Battle of the Burgers 2, the restaurants will compete in five categories, and the coveted People’s Champion will be awarded. The 2014 People’s Champion, The New Manhattan, will try to retain its title.

The five categories are Best Classic Burger, Best Bacon Cheeseburger, Most Creative Burger, Best Toppings/Sauce, and new this year, the Meatless Burger, or Healthier Option.

Restaurants can enter three of the categories and the Meatless Burger category.

Some of our Burger of the Year winners will be on hand to do battle. The restaurants competing for these awards follow:

O’Donold’s Irish Pub & Grill (Youngstown) 2009 Burger of the Year winner.

The Lake Tavern (Mecca) 2012 Burger of the year.

Bogey’s Bar & Grill (Lowellville) 2013 Burger of the Year.

New Manhattan Bar & Grill (Hubbard) 2014 Burger of the Year and 2014 Battle of the Burgers People’s Champion.

Betty’s Bomb A Burgers, one of Cleveland’s famous food trucks.

Stray Dog Grille (Akron) Multiple Burger Award winner at the National Hamburger Festival.

Smokin’ Gun Saloon (North Lima) 4 star burger, voted best seasoned burger 2014.

Ice House Inn (Austintown) 4-star burger and home of one of the biggest burgers we’ve seen.

Just Fred’s (Youngstown), a new entry with some of the most creative burgers on the grill.

The Duck Island Club (Cleveland). This Cleveland landmark comes with a reputation for great food and a hunger to take some awards from Youngstown back with it.

Lisa Neeld, International model and radio personality, will present the Burger Awards at 4 p.m. Saturday.

We are looking forward to another great Burger Battle. I think people will be pleased with this year’s Burger participants.

Ticket booths will be available on site. Tickets are $1 each and will be needed to purchase the burgers and pop. Restaurants will be selling burgers for between 3 tickets (half burger) and 6 tickets (full burger). The tickets also will help determine the People’s Champion.

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday the first Youngstown Thunder Car Show will take place. We are fortunate to have members of the Discovery Channel hit show “Fat N’ Furious: Rolling Thunder” on hand to judge the show — Christmas Automotive’s own Tommy Christmas, Chuck Kountz and Andy Pivarnik. Steve had a prior engagement, but he will be there in automotive spirit. Awards will be given in different categories.

Call 330-402-5890 to register. Advance registration is $10, and it’s $15 the day of the event.

Admission to the car show is free.

There also will be a 50-50 raffle during the car show. And there will be a basket raffle, from which proceeds will go to the Rich Center. Neeld also will help present the car show awards.

Another event, at 2 p.m. Saturday, is The Rust Belt Whisker Society’s Beard & Moustache Club Competition. There are 15 categories for all sizes and shapes of whiskers:

Natural Moustache, Styled Moustache, Beard with Styled Stache, Goatee, Mutton Chops/Sideburns

Amish/Whaler Beard, Partial Beard, Beard less than 2 inches. Beard 2 to 4 inches, Beard 4 to 8 inches, Beard 8-plus inches, Freestyle Beard, Whiskerina, Women’s Fake Facial Hair, Whiskerino, Men’s Fake Facial Hair and Whisker Tot — Kids Fake Facial Hair.

You can read about the categories and register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/burgers-beards-brews-facial-hair-festival-beardmoustache-competition-presented-by-honest-amish-tickets-16028036288.

There will be music both days, and the lineup looks like this:

FRIDAY

Hoss & The Juggernauts

The Pick Ups

North Shore

Two Days Until Tomorrow

The CardBoard Cutouts

Color Blind

Chooki Alberini

SATURDAY

After Hours

Ryan Ross & The Youngstown Syndicate

Legend of the Lake, Pat Dailey. Admission is $5 after 4 p.m. Saturday.

A definite 5-star event. Come out and enjoy Burgers, Beards & Brews ... and cars, all while you support a great cause.

You can find more information at www.BurgerGuyz.com and on the Facebook page — BurgerGuyz.

Keep reading the Valley food section each Wednesday for the best food the Valley has to offer.

If you know of a burger that should be on our hit list, send the info to burgerguyz@hotmail.com, or on our Facebook page.