So you like burgers, huh? Not as much as Sef Gonzalez, the guy behind the Burger Beast blog, the Food Truck Tracker, and, returning this weekend, Miami's annual Burgie Awards. The annual celebration of the city's best buns (and patties and toppings) comes to Magic City Casino this Saturday, showing off South Florida's brightest talents in chopped-beef preparation.
"I've been wanting to have some of my favorite burger joints from all over South Florida all in one place," Gonzalez says. "I saw the third annual Burgie Awards as my opportunity to pull it off."
The spotlight is on the burgers, but it's not all about the beef; new categories this year include Best Bistec à la Milanesa and Best Dessert. This year's Burgies will also show off the wealth of food trucks that have sprouted up in Miami over the past year, with a roundup of 40-plus mobile kitchens serving everything from grilled cheese to cupcakes.
Still, this is the Burgies -- the awards' namesake dish is still the star, with ten restaurants serving their take on the classic hamburger. Hometown contenders include Beer & Burger Joint, Cheeseburger Baby, JR's Gourmet Burgers, the Local Craft Food & Drink, Sakaya Kitchen, and Tobacco Road. There'll also be a large-screen showing of the documentary Hamburger America by burger expert George Motz. "His book and documentary show you how many folks still care about the quality of burgers they're putting out. It's refreshing to see," Gonzalez says.
The third annual Burgie Awards take place at Magic City Casino from 5 to 10 p.m. this Saturday. Admission and parking are free.
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.
