Midwest Burger Championship has a winner

By Anthony M. Fuda

BurgerGuyz@hotmail.com

The Burger War is over for this year, and the respective restaurants laid claim to their territories.

Thrown in the battle June 3 and 4 were: Magic Tree Pub & Eatery, Boardman; Coaches Burger Bar, Poland/Niles; Chad Anthony’s Italian Grille, Boardman; Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers, Cleveland; Taste of N’awlin’s, Canfield; and Stray Dog, Akron.

Each restaurant put up a good fight in the categories they chose, and a field of celebrity judges were treated to some very tasty burgers. Judges included former lightweight champ Ray Mancini; Danny Catullo, Catullo Prime Meats; Tom Christmas and Andy Pivarnik, “Fat ‘N Furious”; Lisa Neeld, model; Viking Jim, 93.3 The Wolf; Morris Ray, WKBN 570; Derek Steyer; Andrew DiPaolo; Steve Vesey; Candace Monacelli; Christa Lamendola, WFMJ; and several business owners or representatives. Without a clue where each burger came from, they tasted, scrutinized and broke down each component before giving a final score.

As the vendors continued feeding the crowd, we tallied the ballot cards, and the winners emerged.

The winners are:

• Vegan: Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers, Stray Dog and Coaches

• Best Classic Burger: Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers, Coaches and Magic Tree

• Best Bacon Cheeseburger: Magic Tree, Coaches and Taste of N’awlins

• Best Toppings/Sauce: Magic Tree, Chad Anthony’s and Coaches

• Most Creative: Chad Anthony’s, Coaches, Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers

• Chef’s Choice: Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers, Magic Tree and Taste of N’awlins

• People’s Choice: Chad Anthony’s

• Midwest Burger Champion & Golden Ticket winner: Magic Tree Pub & Eatery

As Midwest Burger Champ, Magic Tree has gained entry into the Bull Burger Battle in Chicago on July 23. It will be one of a field of 16 competing for entry into the World Food Championships this November at Orange Beach, Ala. The Cleveland-based food truck Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers finished a close second in the scoring.

Congratulations to The Tree on earning the title Midwest Burger Champ!

Our admiration and gratitude goes out to Wholesale Fireworks and all of the sponsors and competitors for stepping up to help raise funds through their donations and sales for Golden String Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides recreational activities to adults and children with special needs in our communities.