I produce and curate Burger Beast Feasts—events that celebrate comfort food and highlight great local restaurants. Some, like Croqueta Palooza, return annually. Others—like the occasional Bourbon, Burger & Beast Dinner—pop up when the timing (and the menu) is right.
I also partner with festivals throughout the year, including the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival (Picnic in the Park), the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (Make It Miami: A 305‑Inspired Tapas & Craft Cocktail Party), and the Gay8 Festival (Best Miami Sandwich competition). And yes, I still love mixing it up with Miami Food Trucks. Follow me on social media to see what’s next.
Originally published on December 20, 2018.
Interested in sponsoring a Burger Beast event or working together on a special project? Visit the Advertise With Burger Beast page.
What’s Inside This Post
CURRENT BURGER BEAST EVENTS
Hamburger House Party
Hamburger House Party Winners
Even though it’s no longer a competition, over the years, Hamburger House Party has crowned some of Florida’s most respected burger joints, chosen either by the people, the judges, or both. These winners aren’t hype picks. They earned it.
- Burger Beast Burger Brawl 2014: Latin House
- Burger Beast Burger Brawl 2015 – Jr’s Gourmet Burgers
- Hamburger House Party 2016 – Judge’s: Burbowl/ People’s: Jr’s Gourmet Burgers
- Hamburger House Party 2017 – Judge’s: Hard Times Sundaes/People’s: Chefs on the Run
- Hamburger House Party 2018 – Judge’s: Hate Mondays Tavern/People’s: Jr’s Gourmet Burgers
- Hamburger House Party 2019 – Judge’s: PINCHO/People’s: Carolina Jax
- Hamburger House Party 2023 – People’s: Hate Mondays Tavern
Croqueta Palooza
Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival: Picnic in the Park
Burger Beast curates the food trucks for the closing event every year at the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival.
RETIRED BURGER BEAST EVENTS
Best Sandwich in Miami
The Best Miami Sandwich competition started as an idea to crown a local winner and then pit them against winners from other cities, culminating in a neutral‑site final. It was a big lift for Burger Beast alone, but the City of Hialeah nearly hosted it in 2016, and the Gay8 Festival partnered with me to run it in 2018 and 2019.
2019 Winner: CAO Bakery – MedioDia Sandwich (guava & cream cheese pastelito, ham, and Gouda)
Burger Beast Burger Brawl
The Burger Beast Burgie Awards (The Burger Awards)
I launched BurgerBeast.com in September 2008 to spotlight South Florida’s comfort‑food scene—places very few people were writing about back then. Nine months later, I decided the community needed awards with a real‑deal event attached. The Burger Beast Burgie Awards (aka The Burgies) were born.
The first Burgies were hosted at John Martin’s Irish Pub in Coral Gables, which also doubled as BurgerBeast.com’s first‑anniversary party. The place was slammed—John Martin’s called it their busiest night of the year other than St. Patrick’s Day.
For many years, the Burgies were my most popular event. In January 2017 I retired them to focus on Hamburger House Party and Croqueta Palooza. It was a blast while it lasted—and who knows, they could return if the time is right.
Cruz Diablo Burger Pop-Ups
None scheduled.
El Main Evento
El Main Evento is my celebration of Mexican culture. For four years, we hosted it every third Saturday of September at Magic City Casino (450 NW 37th Ave, Miami). It was an all‑ages, free‑admission festival featuring Mexican specialty foods (from food trucks and restaurants), live Lucha Libre, Mariachis, folkloric dancers, and a Burrito Contest. I’m considering a retooled version in the future—don’t be surprised if it reappears.
Frita Showdown
At Frita Showdown, we crowned the “Best Frita Cubana en el Mundo.” The first three were stand‑alone events; due to popularity, it was folded into Croqueta Palooza in 2016. El Rey de las Fritas is a five‑time champion. Five Frita Showdown events were held, the last in August 2017.
Hot Dog Fest
The Hot Dog Fest debuted on Sunday, July 1, 2012—a food‑truck‑packed celebration of hot dogs, sausage dishes, and craft beer. After a two‑year hiatus, it returned reimagined as Wiener Bash.
Luv Me Tenders
Everyone loves chicken tenders, so I created Luv Me Tenders—a showdown of the best in boneless fried chicken. Participants included The Cafe 72, Caporal Chicken, Chefs on the Run, Crackers Casual Dining, Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill, Latin House, PDQ Chicken, Pollo Campero, Pollo Tropical, and The Waffle Wagon food truck. We also featured Chifles Chips, Mac & Chess, Miami Roasted Corn, Mojo Donuts, and Tio Colo.
Attendees voted for their favorite tenders. Cafe 72 won the first—and only—Luv Me Tenders title with their Samurai Tenders featuring a Sweet Chili Samurai Sauce.
SugaPie
SugaPie celebrated local desserts, coffee, and craft beer. The inaugural event ran smoothly on a Sunday in December 2015 and returned in March 2018 as part of Hamburger House Party, where Empanada Harry’s won Best Dessert in Miami with their Ganache Flor de Caña Tres Leches.
Top Turkey
Top Turkey challenged food trucks to create Thanksgiving‑inspired savory and sweet dishes (regular menus stayed available if you weren’t feeling festive).
Wiener Bash
Wiener Bash began life as the Hot Dog Fest in 2012. After a short hiatus it returned as a ticketed competition to find the best sausage (or any elite cylindrical meat) on a bun.
Note: Some events are on hiatus. If you’re a venue or sponsor interested in bringing back one of these festivals, creating a new one, or partnering with Burger Beast on an upcoming event, visit the Advertise With Burger Beast page.