Miami Springs Team Wins People's Choice For Best Burger At SOBE Wine & Food Festival

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Restaurants from around South Florida competed Friday night to find out which burger reigns supreme.

The 11th annual Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival is a celebration of beef and brews. It's also arguably the most star-studded event of the weekend.

This year's event was hosted by cooking icon Rachael Ray at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.

"You know food is supposed to bring us together for a reason and I think this event does that," she said.

More than 35 restaurants from the around the country, including many from here in South Florida, hauled in a festival total of 57,000 burger patties.

"You can be from any country, have any experience,  you can have good burger, bad burgers, great burgers, but everyone has a burger story!" superstar chef Guy Fieri said.

There was even a vegan option created by TV weatherman Al Roker.

They are all vying to be crowned winner like last year's honoree, Iron Chef Morimoto.

Some 2000 guests filled the tent. Bite after bite after bite, guests dug in. The popular vote is chosen by the attendees. The line at Prime 112 from South Beach said it all.

"I love my burger from Prime 112!" said a guest, biting into one.

TV host and chef Adam Richman, music producer Emilio Estefan and TV personality and former CBS4 sports reporter Jill Martin were part of panel that had the belly busting tasks of picking the judges' favorites.

"I'm gonna tell you something… they are so good, all of them. You have to bite just one other wise you're gonna get full right away," said Estefan.

"It's all about strategy. We've been talking together, it's not about… it's taking a bite and then moving on," said Martin

In the end, the People's Choice Award went to Jr's Gourmet Burger from Miami Springs

And the Very Best Burger Award went to Little Jack's Tavern from Charlestown, South Carolina.

The weekend will also be packed with events including the Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village packed with bites from more than 50 restaurants.

In all, more than 65,000 guests are expected to attend the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival this year.