The Vancouver Foodster Meatballs Challenge was a great success featuring unique creations at restaurants around Vancouver, and North Van. Each restaurant featured their creation on their menu from April 6-30, 2016. and their customers voted for their favourites daily throughout the challenge.
Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Joe Leary, Tara Lee and Ed Lau
The Winners are:
1st Place:
Novo Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Novo Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Sicilian Meatballs
Price: $11
Description: currants, pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano, tomato sugo, fresh mint
Main Protein Ingredient: Beef, pork and veal
Created by: Novo kitchen team
Offered: All the time
Novo Pizzeria & Wine Bar
2118 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 736-2220
Web: http://www.novopizzeria.com/
Twitter: @NOVOPizzeria
Chef/Owner Carmine Paradiso
2nd Place:
The Copper Chimney
The Copper Chimney
CC’s Lamb Meatball Sliders
Price: $12
Created by: Executive Chef Jaroslaw Faryna
Description: served with avocado mint salsa
Main Protein Ingredient: Lamb
Offered: Lunch and dinner daily
The Copper Chimney
567 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-689-8862
Web: http://www.copperchimney.ca/
Twitter: @CopperChimney_1
3rd Place :
Mario’s Meatballs at Baccano Restaurante & Lounge
Mario’s Meatballs at Baccano
Mario’s “Old School”
Price: $9
Description: Mario’s “Old School” Tuscan Grilled Meatballs. Beef, Pork and Veal polpette with hand crushed San Marzano tomatoes. Finished with Baccano Parmigiano cheese sauce.
Main Protein Ingredient: Beef, pork and veal
Created by: Chef Canale from Mario’s Meatballs and Chef Zack Steele from Baccano
Offered: 12pm – 10pm daily
Baccano Restaurante & Lounge
1889 W 1st Ave, Vancouver
Tel: 778-379-6920
Web: http://www.baccanovancouver.com/ and http://mariosmeatballs.com/
Twitter: @MariosMeatballs
Al Canale @MariosMeatballs and Chef Zack Steele and Owner Carl Kumpera of Baccano
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Meaball Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Mario’s Meatballs at Baccano Restaurante & Lounge
Mario’s Meatballs at Baccano
Mario’s “Old School”
Price: $9
Description: Mario’s “Old School” Tuscan Grilled Meatballs. Beef, Pork and Veal polpette with hand crushed San Marzano tomatoes. Finished with Baccano Parmigiano cheese sauce.
Main Protein Ingredient: Beef, pork and veal
Created by: Chef Canale from Mario’s Meatballs and Chef Zack Steele from Baccano
Offered: 12pm – 10pm daily
Baccano Restaurante & Lounge
1889 W 1st Ave, Vancouver
Tel: 778-379-6920
Web: http://www.baccanovancouver.com/ and http://mariosmeatballs.com/
Twitter: @MariosMeatballs
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Bodega on Main
Bodega on Main
Albondigas
Price: $9 ($6 Happy Hour M-F, 3-6pm)
Description: Tender meatballs made from a mixture of beef, pork and veal, topped with grated Manchego Cheese and garnished with small fried potatoes and a pinch of micro greens.
Main Protein Ingredient: Beef, pork and veal
Created by: Paul Rivas
Available: Lunch and Dinner
Bodega on Main
1014 Main Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-565-8815
Web: http://www.bodegaonmain.ca/
Twitter @bodegaonmain
3rd Place People’s Choice:
The Meatery
The Meatery
The Cheesey Big Bite
Price: $10
Created by: Jonathan Plaza
Description: made of all natural pork and beef with italian herbs and spices. It is stuffed with Canadian smoked mozzarella and braise in a tomato and fresh herb marinara. We use a white ciabatta or whole grain bun that are slathered with a roasted garlic butter and is topped with fresh arugula.
Main Protein Ingredient: Beef and pork
Offered: 11 am to 6 pm (7 days a week)
The Meatery
3108 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver
Tel: 604-980-1125
Twitter: @MeateryB2B
Thank you to all the chefs and restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured the Meatballs creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their Meatballs creations! See all the Meatball Challenge entries here.
By: Richard Wolak