Big Brothers Big Sisters Windsor Essex’s signature event, Battle of Hors D’Oeuvres, celebrate 30 years in style. Over 500 came out to Caesars Windsor to sample some of the the city’s best hors d’oeuvres, mingle with friends and support a great organization. This is always a fun event and definitely one to add to your event bucket list.

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The event brought together some of the region’s hottest chefs to create a one bite hors d’oeuvre that would take home a coveted honour. Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, BREW Windsor, Walkerville Brewery, Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery and Canadian Club supplied the drinks as guests roamed the hall sampling and voting on their favourite hors d’oeuvres.

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I had the amazing opportunity to be a guest judge alongside Ted Whipp, Chef Daniele Palanca, Chef John Kukucka.  The best part of the evening (aside from eating all those tasty hors d’oeuvres) is finding out who the winners are. So let’s not waste another moment! Here are the winners of the 2016 Battle of Hors D’Oeuvres:

Critic’s Choice Winner: Restaurant

Twigg’s Bar and Grill nailed it with a crispy pork belly taco. A Filipino style pork belly with an anise poached pineapple, purple cabbage slow, Thai chilli, daikon radish greens served on a flour tortilla.

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Critic’s Choice Winner: Hospitality/Epicureans

Rochester Place Parkside Grille secured first place in this category with their pistachio crusted brie wedge with a cranberry pear coulis, whipped walnut butter and a lime zest, coconut and mango slaw.

People’s Choice Award

Just’ Jeff’s took home first place with his open faced Caribbean steak sandwich and Thyme to Go second with with their beef pirogi.

Congratulations to the winners and all the participating restaurants!

And let’s not forget dessert. An amazing multi layered and multi flavoured cake was provided by Sweet Revenge Bakeshop. Lemon cake, raspberry buttercream, oreo cake, oreo buttercream, rainbow cake, cookie dough buttercream and chocolate cake…..all in one slice. It was devine.

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