Detroit — Burger Fi in Northville took top honors at this year’s annual burger competition in Eastern Market, which has grown into a popular event over the past decade, drawing more than a thousand people Sunday who sampled creations from local restaurants competing for bragging rights.
“This is a special year,” said Scott Rutterbush, organizer of the annual Burger Battle. “To make it to 10 years in an event is really an accomplishment that we’re proud of.”
This year featured eight restaurants, with tasters casting votes to narrow the field before the top five advanced to a panel of judges who determined the overall champion.
The event drew 1,800 people Sunday as restaurants served unlimited burger samples to ticket holders, said Scott.
The winner, Burger Fi, received a trophy and a $1,000 prize. To mark the milestone anniversary, organizers dubbed this year’s competition the “Burger of the Decade.”
“It’s amazing … really amazing,” said Alban Shehu, owner-operator of Burger Fi, of the win. “We weren’t really expecting it. I know I have a great product … but the competition was strong.”
The winning entry, the Rodeo Burger, features Angus beef patties topped with barbecue sauce, charred jalapeños, peppers, jack cheese and fried onion crisps.
“It’s one of my favorite burgers,” Shehu said. “It really has a nice balance with sweetness and spiciness. Our meat is the best.”
Other entries at the festival touted a range of flavor combinations, including a brisket-based burger with aioli and a French onion-inspired creation.
Second place went to Aljoom’s BBQ of Dearborn Heights; King Koney of Detroit came in third place. Frita Batidos of Detroit won the People’s Choice award, while Tiliani Italian Restaurant & Bar of Dearborn won Best Presentation.
The judges this year were AJ Williams, managing editor of the Michigan Chronicle; Susan Selasky, food and restaurant writer for the Detroit Free Press; Kevin J. Hardy, managing editor of The Detroit News; and Detroit muralist and musician Sheefy McFly.
Organizer Rutterbush said reaching the 10-year milestone wasn’t something organizers expected when they started.
“You don’t necessarily set out thinking you’re going to make it to 10, because it’s really hard to do,” he said. “Every year you have to try to outdo the year before and keep that momentum and excitement.”
Kozy Lounge, a Hazel Park restaurant, has competed in the event five times over the past decade. This year’s entry drew inspiration from a French onion soup-style concept, said head chef AJ Smith.
“We just kind of wanted to come up with something different, some creative, something that you don’t see very often. Unique,” he said. ” And we collaborated for a couple weeks on it. We thought that that was the best one.”
The restaurant uses the event as a testing ground for new burger concepts that often originate outside its regular menu, said Kozy Lounge owner Robert Haskell.
“We like to use this platform for creating and starting a new burger,” Haskell said. “We test it out here at a high level, and if it works, we put it on our menu.”
Kozy Lounge brought a team of about 15 people to handle the lines.
“It’s a blast,” head chef Smith said. “It’s so much fun to see all these people come out. It’s a great team builder for our staff, and we get friends and family involved too.”
Rutterbush credits participating restaurants for keeping the event fresh with inventive burger creations.
“They’ve really done that for us,” he said. “They keep the event exciting and keep the burgers coming with creativity. They’re pumped about the event, and that makes it a ton of fun for the guests.”
Among them was Damion Thompson, who brought his mother and daughter.
“It’s a nice family day,” Thompson said after discovering the event on Eventbrite.
Thompson said the three came to try different burger styles and flavors they hadn’t experienced before, sampling entries from vendors throughout the afternoon. He said Kozy Lounge stood out.
“It’s just trying the different flavors,” he said.
Thompson added that he planned to return next year.
Bridget Adams and her husband Joseph Brewer, both 52, of Toledo have attended the event multiple times.
Brewer said he was feeling “Top Chef” thrills as he sampled each burger before casting his vote.
This year, Adams and Brewer both voted for Frida Batidos, which offered a brisket barbecue burger with fries.
“I liked how all the flavors came together,” Brewer said. “It just blended so well.”
As for Burger Fi, Shehu said the win was the payoff for a long day that started at 4 a.m. with prep in the store.
“If it wasn’t for my team, I wouldn’t be even close to having this prize,” he said.
cwilliams@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit’s Burger Battle of the decade goes to Northville eatery
Reporting by Candice Williams, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Candice Williams, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
