The Badurik’s Butcher Block Cheeseburger Challenge semi-finals and championship will be Tuesday, March 7, 1:00 PM at Rulli Brothers, 8025 South Ave., Boardman. The Burger Guys from The Youngstown Vindicator have a team of celebrity judges poised and ready to go and 93.3 The Wolf's Fast Freddie will be calling the play by play for this live burger grill-off.
WATCH IT LIVE AT VINDY.COM
The top two burgers in Trumbull County came down to Big D’s Newton Grill in Newton Falls and Nikki’z Pub in Niles and in Mahoning County it's Davidson’s Restaurant in Cornersburg and Pour House Bar & Grill in Canfield. The winners of each county will square off for the championship. Here is how Nikki'z got into the finals.
HERE IS HOW THE ELITE MEAT 8 MADE IT TO THE FINALS FROM THE VINDY
Round 2, Match 1 - Bogey's vs. Davidson's at 93.3 The Wolf - Board of Judges: Fast Freddie, Ron Potesta, Greg Bartholomew
Bogey’s came in strong with Chef Mel McKee's creation, The Buckeye Burger: an 8 oz grilled steak burger, topped with amazing, chocolate covered, candied bacon, caramelized onion jam, cream cheese peanut butter fluff on a pretzel roll. Davidson's countered with what might be described as a classic cheeseburger on steroids. The Bill-inator, an 8 oz burger stuffed with fresh green onion, bacon, cheddar jack cheese and topped off with lettuce, tomato, crisp bacon, pickle chips, and Bill’s home made ranch sauce, served on grilled Italian bread. It was a delicious, tough battle, but in the end, Davidson's won the favor of all 3 judges.
Round 2, Match 2 - The Magic Tree vs The Pour House at 93.3 The Wolf - Board of Judges: Fast Freddie, Ron Potesta, Tommy Christmas
Defending champ, The Magic Tree, brought out a culinary masterpiece. Chef Tank’s burger used home grown, Walnut Hill Farm grass fed beef, Uncle Andy’s Pork stack (Bacon, Spanish onion, pork loin smoked over pecan and cherry wood), machego cheese, red romaine lettuce, brown tomatoes, roasted garlic, brown sugar vinegar onions, on a whole wheat, black sesame, caramelized onion bun. Knowing who they were up against, The Pour House risked it all by bringing the "heat," and it paid off with the judges awarding them a 2 to 1 decision. The hero is The Bow Chicka Bow Wow Burger; an 8 oz, short rib, brisket blend, orange BBQ pulled pork, fresh, crisp Cole slaw, spicy reaper cream cheese, piled high on a fresh sriracha boa bun. The stuff legends are made of!
Round 2, Match 3 - Big D’s vs. Masters at the Niles Fire Dept. - Board of Judges: Niles fire fighters
Master’s delicious, classic, 10 oz burger, featuring crisp bacon, pepper jack cheese, special seasoning, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle fell short against Big D’s "Triple Bypass." This carnivore's dream come true combined three perfectly seasoned, juicy beef patties, stacked high. Between each were 5 pepper, hickory smoked bacon and crisp, thick cut apple-wood bacon, white American, pepper jack, boar’s head chipotle Gouda, sriracha garlic mayo, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, grilled onions and crispy deep fried jalapenos. Big D’s scored a 2 - 1 victory and a birth in the Final Four.
Round 2, Match 4 - Niki’z Pub vs. Crossroads at Badurik’s Butcher Block - Board of Judges: Steve Badurik, Andrew Garris, Louie Rendes
For the last entry in to the Final Four we called on the big gun to judge, owner/butcher Steve Badurik. He gave his expert knowledge on what makes a great burger, then he and his staff put their skills to task. Niki’z came out swinging with the Porky Perfection House custom blend ground beef, seasoned and flat ironed grilled, with dry rubbed slow smoked pulled pork, crisp, sweet and spicy bacon, Gouda cheese, Havarti cheese and classic American cheese on a toasted Italian roll, with house made crown apple BBQ on the side. Crossroads mounted a strong counter attack with an 8 oz sirloin burger loaded with great lakes Swiss cheese, grilled bacon, sauteed mushrooms and onions on a perfectly toasted pretzel bun. After dust settled, Niki'z came away with a 3 - 0 knockout.
SO WHAT DOES A BUTCHER LOOK FOR IN A BURGER?