Hope you're hungry: 300 Houstonians turned out to sample burgers of all types and sizes from a dozen Houston restaurants, plus local beers, and more at CultureMap's first annual Backyard Burger Grill-Off at Discovery Green.
Chefs John Sikhattana (left), and Herlen Galvez (right, at the grill) of Straits at CultureMap's Backyard Burger Grill-Off on Saturday. Straits' Thai Pork Burger won for Most Creative.
Alongside their sirloin burger, the crawfish corn maque choix from The Tasting Room-Uptown Park won Best Side Dish.
The J. Black's crew won Best Classic Burger from the judges for their Washington slider, with Texas wagyu beef, gorgonzola cheese, sautéed mushrooms, Niman Ranch bacon, caramelized onions and basil mayo.
CultureMap's Tod Eason announced the burger winners. In addition to J. Black's victory for Best Classic Burger, Straits won Most Creative for its Thai pork burger and Tasting Room's Crawfish corn maque choix won Best Side Dish.
Voting with beads for their favorite stand, the people's choice champion ended in a tie between Brio and The Grove.
In addition to burgers and beer, guests like Shawn & Jannette Clary also enjoyed hula hoops, a giant Connect Four and other games.
General manager Jenni Gomez of The Counter presents the judges (CultureMap's Sarah Rufca, Greg Morago of The Chronicle, Houston Press food critic Katharine Shilcutt and freelance food writer Amber Ambrose) with a duo of burger contest entries, including a spicy banh mi-style turkey burger.
Carrie Biederstadt & Dave Luke
Aeros cheerleaders Laurel and Caitlin and mascot Chilly greeted guests.
The pineapple pork burger from The Grove, which tied for the People's Choice winner.
Susanne Theis, Christi Workman, Susan Elmore
Tod Eason, Dean Giuffry, Lonnie Schiller
People's Choice winners Erica Gibson and Mike Pawlosky from Brio
