Johnny B. Mandola, Damian’s Restaurant owner announcing ‘Best Meatball’ winner, Chef Alex Padilla of Antone’s Restaurant
Who Had the Best ‘Balls in Houston?!
Well, myself and over 250 people gathered at Damian’s Italian Restaurant last Sunday, to taste, to vote and to listen to the announcement of the winners of this Chef’s Competition to determine just who, in Houston, made the best meatballs in town. This first ever event was such a fun one that I am sure it will be just the first year of an annual event that we will all look forward to in the future.
Johnny Mandola, co-owner of Damian’s Cucina Italiana, hosted this friendly competition of local chefs serving an array of variations of this mainstay Italian delicacy ….from the very traditional, like your Mama used to make, to some very creative, modern approaches that were new to my very discriminating Italian taste buds.
Competition included: Chef Alex Padilla, Antone’s Famous Po Boy; Chef Joe Galuzzi, Brooklyn’s Meatball Company; Chef Martin Weaver, Brennan’s; Chefs Nash & Brina D’Amico, D’Amico’s Italian Market & Cafe; Chef Dimitri Voutsinas, Emmaline; Chef Mark Holley, Holley’s Seafood & Oyster Bar; Chef Richard Kaplan, Weights & Measures; Chef Martin Stayer, Nobie’s; Chef Anthony Calleo, Pi Pizza and Chef Alexandre Scarafile, Sud Italia.
A very distinguished media group, of Tim Moloney, Greg Morago and others judged this contest which would not have been an easy decision to make for ‘Best Meatball’ and we, the people and noshers got to vote on the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
Winner of “Best Meatball” from Antone’s Chef Alex Padilla…Veal Risotto Meatballs served with roasted tomato marinara sauce….a must try!
Johnny Mandola presenting award to Chef Anthony Calleo of Pi Pizza for Most Creative Meatball…The Forager, open face slider with a Broken Arrow blueberry meatball, porcini mushroom rage and sottocenere cheese.
Johnny Mandola presenting the People’s Choice Award to Chef Dimitri Voutsinas of Emmaline…..smoked venison & ricotta meatballs
Chef Martin Weaver of Brennan’s with his hot ice, “smoking’ meatball”
Nick Incrapera and Shannon Scott, owner of participating restaurant, Sud Italia
Chef Mark Holley supervising lots of tasting at his Holley’s booth at the competition
Competing Chefs Father/Daughter Duo….Nash and Brina D’Amico of D’Amico’s Italian Market and Cafe (apologies for my iPhone poor quality but, they’re family, had to get photo in!)
Chef Dimitri Voutsinas, Anna Hernandez, Sam Governale, Eric Johnson
Stuart Rosenberg, Nick Scurfield, Johnny Mandola, Lisa Gochman
Nicole Graham, Felice Sloan, Michael Graham
Yours truly with Chef/Owner, participating restaurant, Weights & Measures, Richard Kaplan
What’s it All For???
Johnny Mandola family…..wife, Carol and adorable triplets, Reed, Nicholas and Jaxon. Also, this event was in honor of Johnny’s Dad and co-owner of Damian’s with Johnny and Bubba Butera, Frankie B. Mandola, who would have loved this! All proceeds from the event benefited Frankie’s charity, The Texas Italian American Sports Foundation, which raises money for scholarships for local athletes.