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[title]The kickoff event to Bon Appetit's Chicago Gourmet food festival, Hamburger Hop featured local and national chefs facing off to see who can make the best burger. DC’s Spike Mendelsohn, who is opening a Chicago outpost of Good Stuff Eatery later this year, won the judge’s vote for his Prez Obama Burger, with red onion marmalade, gorgonzola and horseradish mayo. The fan vote went to River Roast’s John Hogan and Tony Mantuano for their Tête de Tête burger, with head cheese, onion pickle relish, cheese and crispy pig skin.
While I only tried about two-thirds of the burgers, two standouts were the Polo Burger from RL’s Ryan Pitts, a burger topped with American cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce and a sauce made with onions, pickles and other ingredients, and Howell’s and Hood’s Scott Walton (last year's winner) made the terrific Schmaltz Burger with chicken skin.