Top Meatballs at the Jersey Shore

Ladies and Gentlemen...we have a new champ! Lou and Liz were two of the judges again this year, and now we can officially announce the best meatballs in all of the land (or at least at the Jersey Shore!)

The 6th Annual Jersey Shore Meatball Gala took place last night, and Lou were among the judges who tasted 23 meatballs in several different categories. It was really tough to choose the winners...I never tasted such great meatballs all in one place !

Here are the results:

BEST IN SHOW 2018: Voted on by the panel of judges, the Meanest Meatball at the Jersey Shore went to a traditional Italian meatball, and the big winner was Jimmy's Cucina in Brielle!

2018 PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD: Voted on by the hundreds who came out to the event and sampled all of the meatballs. This award also went to Jimmy's Cucina in Brielle for their Coconut Shrimp Ball.

I absolutely LOVED both of these delectable wonders so much that I will want them again and again! My family has been a huge fan of Jimmy's for years. From their pizza to their Caesar salad and all meatballs in between, we love you, Jimmy! (Big thanks to Jenn, too, who works with Jimmy and always has such a great smile for everyone.)

Just FYI, Jimmy's will also be opening on Broadway (at the corner of Baltimore) in Point Pleasant Beach in time for Memorial Day weekend, and, if you're in the Island Beach area, check out the Red Fox Beach Bar & Grill, also owned by Jimmy!

And here are the winners in all of the sub-categories from last night:

BEST TRADITIONAL MEATBALL: Winner - Jimmy's Cucina in Brielle, 1st Runner-Up -- Dominick's Pizzeria in Wall, 2nd Runner Up--Federici's in Belmar, and Honorable Mention -- River Belle & River Queen in Brielle (I always wanted to go out on one of those two boats!)

BEST DESSERT BALL: Sweet Tease in Belmar. I hope this is regularly offered in their lovely tea shop because it was a mouth-watering dessert!

BEST NON-TRADITIONAL MEATBALL: The Chicken Cordon-Bleu from Catering Wizard in Wall

MOST CREATIVE MEATBALL: The Chicken & Broccoli Rabe from Spring Lake Manor

BEST SPICY MEATBALL: Hinck's Turkey Farm in Wall (I loved how spicy this meatball was!)

BEST SOUTHERN STYLE MEATBALL: The Southern Sage Meatball from Simply Southern in Belmar

BEST CHEESY MEATBALL: The Ricotta & Mozzarella Ball from Ponte Vecchio in Old Bridge

MOST LIKE COMFORT FOOD MEATBALL: The Buffalo Turkey Meatball from Leggett's in Manasquan

BEST CRISPY MEATBALL: Nana's Fried Meatball from Esposito's in Manasquan (Esposito's is a big favorite among the locals!)

BEST SEAFOOD MEATBALL: The Crab Cake Ball from Simply Southern in Belmar (this was a big winner to my taste buds!)

We met some wonderful people and had a blast...with great entertainment from our good friend, entertainer Anthony Didio. Here are more photos. Come join us next year!