The First Annual ‘Wich Hunt at Battle of the Brews pitted an amazing 21 restaurants head-to-head for the title of Best Sandwich in Sonoma County. Held during the Craft Cup at the ever-popular Battle of the Brews on March 31, 2012 this was no lunch meat on Wonderbread competition. Chefs brought their A-game, ranging from housemade pastrami and chocolate pairings to mixing up the competition with exotic burgers topped with chicharrones, a stealthy mix of cheeses and even a surprise beer ice cream entry!
Not without a few snafus (including power outages, cooking on griddles and having eager munchers waiting for samples while preparing competition ‘wiches), the chefs persevered. Judging the sandwiches on merits including creativity, presentation and of course, flavor, the all-star panel of Chef John Ash, restaurant consultant and foodist Clark Wolf, the Bohemian’s Gabe Meline, sandwich restaurateur Ike Shehadeh and food personality Laurie Figone ate and graded for more than an hour.
Said Wolf, “Twenty one out of twenty one of these sandwiches were incredible.” BiteClub concurred, snagging bites between bringing entries to the stage and managing chefs. Not a stinker in the bunch.
But not everyone could win (which is why I couldn’t bear to judge myself). So here you have The Official Winners…
– Best in Show, The Farmer’s Wife: Farm Fried Egg, Bacon & Blue, Lyonnaise Grilled Cheese Sandwich on Full Circle Organic Sourdough (Sorry, kids. There’s no restaurant yet, but watch for her in the Barlow or contact her for catering).
– Best Hot, Superburger: Myer Ranch Montana Red Angus Patty, Horseradish Cheddar and Sonoma Jack,Garlic Crimini Mushroom Beef Au Jus for Dipping, Pureed Artichoke and Roasted Garlic Mayo, garlic butter toasted egg wash hamburger bun.
– Best Cold, Street Eatz: The ice cream beer ‘wich with Lagunitas beer ice cream and buttered toast bread
– Best Ethnic, Boathouse Sushi: Pork banh mi
– Best use of veggies, Pearson and Co: Pulled pork sandwich with grilled vegetables and coleslaw
– Cheesiest Sandwich, Hopmonk: Grilled cheese and tomato soup
– Best pairing, Awful Falafel: Lamb Schwarma and hummus
– People’s Choice Award, Petite Syrah: Pork belly slider. Runner-up, Dogs from Chicago: Chili dog.
Check out the gallery below to see some of the other entrants and their sandwiches – -from Lagunitas pastrami to chicken-skin sandwiches
[nggallery id=8]
sliders at boathouse sushi
perry’s deli in roseland
banh mi at noodle bowl
giavanni’s in sebastopol
cheesesteak shop
sams in rohnert park
pulled pork sandwich at ducky’s bbq (RIP)
Interesting, Captain… The single most important factor in a sandwich is the bread. Even on the planet Vulcan it holds true…
Where is the farmers wife restaurant located.
She’s planning to have a space at the Barlow. You can find her on Facebook here…
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Farmers-Wife/175273705903830
I don’t know how I didn’t hear about this and had we not attended a LaFollette wine and food pairing dinner at Stark’s would have gone for sure! So many sounded amazing, esp. the Best of Show, Farmers Wife. And whoa, chicken skin sandwich? That has to be somthin else. John Lyle, where/what is the Chosen Spot Pop-up Dinners??
I had a GrEaT time judging Heather!!
If readers want more info on my food escapades, it can be found on my website, which includes more than one national recipe contest won by me.
http://www.CookingWithLaurieFigone.com
I had a GrEaT time judging Heather!!
If readers want more info on my food escapades, it can be found on my website, which includes more than one national recipe contest won by me.
http://www.CookingWithLaurieFigone.com
sliders at boathouse sushi
perry’s deli in roseland
banh mi at noodle bowl
giavanni’s in sebastopol
cheesesteak shop
sams in rohnert park
pulled pork sandwich at ducky’s bbq (RIP)
Interesting, Captain… The single most important factor in a sandwich is the bread. Even on the planet Vulcan it holds true…
Question; Curious how Laurie Figone became labeled a “Food Personality”?! huh? She funds her own non-professional YouTube cooking/talking videos and occasionally enters cooking competitions with no known significant wins, and she is a “Food Personality”? since when?
Yea, I’m wondering that same thing. I’d like to judge next years ‘Witch Contest. I have a couple of YouTube videos and I have actually WON a couple big cooking (Amateur) competitions.
Sometimes all it takes is a kind request to be part of an event and a positive outlook. Laurie was a great addition to the lineup.
I don’t know how I didn’t hear about this and had we not attended a LaFollette wine and food pairing dinner at Stark’s would have gone for sure! So many sounded amazing, esp. the Best of Show, Farmers Wife. And whoa, chicken skin sandwich? That has to be somthin else. John Lyle, where/what is the Chosen Spot Pop-up Dinners??
Where is the farmers wife restaurant located.
She’s planning to have a space at the Barlow. You can find her on Facebook here…
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Farmers-Wife/175273705903830
@elcee, sorry you missed my table, I also served a D’Anjou Pear, Toma & Pt Reyes Blue, thinking there might be some vegetarians in the house…hope to see you next year, it was so fun and such a great cause!
That looks like so much fun! I wish I had known there would be a sandwich shoot-out at the Battle of the Brews. Couldn’t care less about beer, but sandwiches, now that’s something worth talking about!
Yeah. I don’t actually drink beer. it’s so bitter on my palate that i just can’t do it. Same thing with dark chocolate and coffee (though I can stomach coffee if i add a ton of milk and sugar). Like sucking on ear wax. Eeeeccchhhh.
But people kept offering it to me, and i’m like…uhhhh, no. My friend actually had to go across the street to the 7-11 and get me a Diet Pepsi.
Perhaps if you tried some Vulcan beer…
That’s so surprising! You write a food blog and you don’t like beer, dark chocolate or coffee…hmmm?
It’s not that surprising, actually. Part of why I love to write about food is because I’m kind of sensitive to tastes. Those things just happen to taste very bitter to me. But I don’t let it affect me when I’m writing about food. If it is part of a dish, I am aware of my own preferences and write from a perspective of how it “should” taste ideally. I had a cupcake made with stout and chocolate yesterday, and it was excellent. Trust me, I have many food weirdnesses, but fortunately no food allergies. So it doesn’t stop me from trying everything.
Question; Curious how Laurie Figone became labeled a “Food Personality”?! huh? She funds her own non-professional YouTube cooking/talking videos and occasionally enters cooking competitions with no known significant wins, and she is a “Food Personality”? since when?
Sometimes all it takes is a kind request to be part of an event and a positive outlook. Laurie was a great addition to the lineup.
Yea, I’m wondering that same thing. I’d like to judge next years ‘Witch Contest. I have a couple of YouTube videos and I have actually WON a couple big cooking (Amateur) competitions.
Actual good sandwich shops in the area – Mr. Pickles, Steve-O’s Deli, Michael’s Sourdough, and the Sandwich Spot.
Chosen Spot had a great time . Thanks BiteClub !!!!
Not much to choose from the winners for those of us who don’t eat red meat or pork. I have long said the Best Sandwich in SoCo is Willow Wood’s roasted chicken sandwich with arugula and jarlsberg. I order it just about every time I go there for lunch!
Where do I get a chicken skin sandwich? Sounds so yummy.
We can work out a sandwich for you ! They take 7 hours to make . But so worth it !!!! Still thinking how to incorporate crispy chicken skin in too the Chosen Spot Pop up dinners . Hmmm and maybe the Jack london Dinner !!!!
@elcee, sorry you missed my table, I also served a D’Anjou Pear, Toma & Pt Reyes Blue, thinking there might be some vegetarians in the house…hope to see you next year, it was so fun and such a great cause!
That looks like so much fun! I wish I had known there would be a sandwich shoot-out at the Battle of the Brews. Couldn’t care less about beer, but sandwiches, now that’s something worth talking about!
Yeah. I don’t actually drink beer. it’s so bitter on my palate that i just can’t do it. Same thing with dark chocolate and coffee (though I can stomach coffee if i add a ton of milk and sugar). Like sucking on ear wax. Eeeeccchhhh.
But people kept offering it to me, and i’m like…uhhhh, no. My friend actually had to go across the street to the 7-11 and get me a Diet Pepsi.
That’s so surprising! You write a food blog and you don’t like beer, dark chocolate or coffee…hmmm?
It’s not that surprising, actually. Part of why I love to write about food is because I’m kind of sensitive to tastes. Those things just happen to taste very bitter to me. But I don’t let it affect me when I’m writing about food. If it is part of a dish, I am aware of my own preferences and write from a perspective of how it “should” taste ideally. I had a cupcake made with stout and chocolate yesterday, and it was excellent. Trust me, I have many food weirdnesses, but fortunately no food allergies. So it doesn’t stop me from trying everything.
Perhaps if you tried some Vulcan beer…
Actual good sandwich shops in the area – Mr. Pickles, Steve-O’s Deli, Michael’s Sourdough, and the Sandwich Spot.
Chosen Spot had a great time . Thanks BiteClub !!!!
Not much to choose from the winners for those of us who don’t eat red meat or pork. I have long said the Best Sandwich in SoCo is Willow Wood’s roasted chicken sandwich with arugula and jarlsberg. I order it just about every time I go there for lunch!
Where do I get a chicken skin sandwich? Sounds so yummy.
We can work out a sandwich for you ! They take 7 hours to make . But so worth it !!!! Still thinking how to incorporate crispy chicken skin in too the Chosen Spot Pop up dinners . Hmmm and maybe the Jack london Dinner !!!!