Read the Town Square interview with Billy Rawstrom, the owner of Maiale Deli & Winner of the 2017 Delaware Burger Battle

Maiale Deli, a small eatery on Lancaster Pike that’s known for making terrific homemade pork sausages, won best hamburger at the Delaware Burger Battle – again! This is the second time in three years that Maiale came away with the blue ribbon and the “People’s Choice” for best burger at the annual gastro fest on August 26th at Cauffiel House in Wilmington.

Maiale’s Mexicano burger – with fire roasted poblanos, cilantro and cumin – was super tasty and had a slight kick to it. “We really try not to do too much. We really try to make the beef the showcase,” said Billy Rawstrom, the owner-chef of Maiale. “We freshly ground our beef, created some nice seasonings, and then topped each burger with chihuahua cheese, pickled onion and chipotle.”

The People’s Choice award is based on the number of tickets patrons put in a restaurant’s vote jar. The goal is to get as many burgers into as many mouths as possible. That was Rawstrom’s focus this year and the last time he won the top prize in 2015. But in 2016 Rawstrom pursued a more complex recipe, which ultimately affected his ability to satisfy the hungry. “Last year I did something a little more intricate, and it took a lot of time. So when I was trying to get the burgers out, it was a lot slower. So that cost me.”

Not surprisingly, Maiale Deli also placed in the Best Alternative Burger (no beef) category this year, taking 2nd place with a pork creation. First place went to Grub Burger Bar (Concord Mall) and their Jive Turkey burger.
Click Here to Read the Full Interview on Town Square Delaware…