A-Brisket-a-Brasket | Jimmy's No. 43

A-Brisket-a-Brasket | Jimmy's No. 43

On a crisp, chilly Saturday afternoon, Jimmy Carbone of Jimmy's No. 43 hosted this brisket showdown to usher out the winter with serious helpings of rich and hearty meat from some of our favorite meat experts. The event, which benefitted The New Amsterdam Market, was a contest, but the judges deemed everyone's offerings so noteworthy that special categories were created to honor all the participants.

In the end, the judges' award went to the most luxe preparation: Wagyu brisket braised in duck fat and topped with pickled radish and yuzu marmalade, from The Kitchen NYC. Second place went to the unadorned brisket from Fette Sau, while third place went to Court Street Grocers' slow-cured and quick-braised brisket sandwich, whose meat had a fantastic, carpaccio-like toothsomeness.

The audience went in a different direction, awarding the audience prize to the Waterfront Ale House, though we're not sure if it was for their out-of-this-world pastrami, or their second dish of sauerbraten in sour cream gravy. Perhaps our favorite and most unusual concoction of the day was Kingsborough Community College's "brisket shot," prepared with brisket consomme, vodka, orange bitters, pepper flakes and a celery salt rim. Natch, they of course took home the prize for "Best Brisket Cocktail."  We'll take a double with a couple of brisket sandwiches and a side of sauerbraten, please! SEE FULL GALLERY