TEMECULA, CA — Corkfire at Temecula Creek Inn and The Breakfast Club of Temecula took top honors at the sixth annual Battle of the Burgers, where more than 400 attendees sampled creations from local restaurants and helped raise a record $13,314 for a high school culinary arts program.
The sold-out event was held Saturday, Oct. 10, at Pechanga Resort Casino, bringing together eight local restaurants for a competition judged by a panel of media professionals and event attendees.
The event combined a regional food competition with career education, giving students practical experience while raising money to support future culinary arts training.
Corkfire won the Judge's Choice award for its Banh Mi Burger, while The Breakfast Club of Temecula earned the People's Choice title for its Dynamite Burger.
The event also featured a loaded fries competition, with Pechanga chefs working alongside Temecula Valley High School Career Technical Education culinary arts students to create original dishes.
In the Judge's Choice category, Paisano's took first place with The Olympian, created by Chef Edward Hyman and students Abner Yat and Sebastian Pablo Tomas. Kelsey's placed second with S'mores Sweet Potato Fries, developed by Chef Ryan Stickel and students Angelina Rossetti, Riley McDougall, Jax Williams and Liam Mader. Journey's End earned third place with Fuego Blast, created by Chef Jordan Garcia and students Olivia Sanchez and Andia Shirvani.
For the People's Choice awards, Umi won first place with Jamaican-Me-Hungry Fries, created by Chef Charles Adkins and students Hailey Tronti, Raleigh Kay, Michael Sullin and Evan Crisp. Kelsey's took second place with S'mores Sweet Potato Fries, while Journey's End placed third with Fuego Blast.
The Battle of the Burgers is a collaboration among Visit Temecula Valley, Pechanga Resort Casino and the Temecula Valley Unified School District. Proceeds benefit the district's CTE Culinary Arts Program, which provides students with hands-on experience and career preparation.
"The Battle of the Burgers was truly a celebration of community, creativity, and culinary talent," Aimee Ricken, CTE director for the Temecula Valley Unified School District said in a statement.
Ricken thanked the students, school staff, Pechanga, participating restaurants, Visit Temecula Valley and attendees for helping make the event a success.
The record $13,314 raised this year will benefit the Temecula Valley Unified School District's CTE Culinary Arts Program.
Additional information about the competition and its winning restaurants and dishes can be found at visittemeculavalley.com/battle-of-the-burgers/.
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