J. Mark's and Grateful Palate Win Top Prizes in Slider Battle

Photos by Eric Barton

Rare's burger of pulled short ribs took second.

​If there was one standard about the sliders served tonight at YOLO's "Sips & Sliders at Sunset," it's that they weren't your typical beef, bacon, and cheese affair. Duck meat, grass-fed pork, and fancy condiments were the standard fare under grilled broiche buns.

And that was true with the winners: J. Marks, which won the overall judging, and Grateful Palate, which took home the people's choice award.

Click here to see a full slide show from the slider battle.

Grateful Palate won the people's choice with an
unconventional slider served between two tostones, slaw, and a conch patty. That tostone sandwich design may have helped, considering that those observing Passover can't eat bread. The table seemed to have the steadiest line at the event.

Rocco's Tacos served up a chicken burger with salsa and sour cream.

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J. Mark's got the top prize with a burger of slow-cooked prime rib. It wasn't the fanciest burger, but it delivered the beefy flavor missing in some of the fancier sliders served by the 17 restaurants.

Market 17 Featured a burger with grass-fed beef and pork.

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Taking second in the judging was Rare, which served a simple slider of short ribs that were slow-roasted, pulled, and tossed with a tangy barbecue sauce. D'Angelo took third with the oddest combination of the night -- a veal patty topped with smoked salmon, Brie, and pesto.

Check Clean Plate Charlie tomorrow for more from the winners.

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