General Mills And Andrew Zimmern Announce Winners Of The Munchies: People's Choice Food Awards

MINNEAPOLIS, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The votes are in and the public has spoken! After a month of hungry competition and thousands of votes, Tablespoon.com reveals the best food experiences America has to offer. The Munchies served up 20 categories of Terrific Tastemakers, Best Bites and Delicious Destinations, and fan favorites such as Alton Brown, Cooking Light Magazine and the TV show "Chopped" bested the competition by taking home The Munchies awards in the Best Food TV Personality, Best Food Magazine and Best Reality Food TV Show categories.

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In its second year, The Munchies: People's Choice Food Awards were hosted by Andrew Zimmern, chef and the 2013 winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding TV Personality/Host. Zimmern and an expert panel of 26 celebrity chowhounds developed the list of nominees, which were then put to popular vote on Tablespoon.com/themunchies.

"It's been exciting to ignite a passionate food debate and encourage people to support their favorite restaurants, media, and chefs by voting," says The Munchies lead panelist Andrew Zimmern. "These awards are a celebration of the food experience across America, and I congratulate each of the winners."

The people chose Chicago as Best Food City. Additionally, Chicago establishments Bar Toma, Butcher and the Burger, and Hoosier Mama Pie Co., received The Munchies awards for Best Pizza, Best Burger and Best Bakery.

Other cities weren't left in the cold, however, with the Best Taco award going to La Condesa in Austin, TX; the Best BBQ award going to Oklahoma Joe's in Kansas City, KS; and the Best Local Farmers Market award going to North Market in Columbus, OH. Waffle House, headquartered in Atlanta, won Best Late Night Food and Loveless Cafe in Nashville, TN won for Best Breakfast. Other notable winners include "NPR: Food" for Best Podcast or Radio Show and Serious Eats for Best Food Blog or Site.

The Munchies winners will receive their awards in the coming weeks, but they're not the only winners: a donation was made to Feeding America on behalf of the panelists and voters who participated in selecting the Terrific Tastemakers, Best Bites and Delicious Destinations that are being honored.

The full list of The Munchies 2013 award winners includes:

Terrific Tastemakers

Best Food Reality TV Show: "Chopped" (Food Network)
Best Food TV Personality: Alton Brown, "Good Eats" (Food Network)
Best Food Magazine: Cooking Light (Time, Inc.)
Best Food Blog or Site: Serious Eats
Best New Cookbook: "Bouchon Bakery," Thomas Keller and Sebastien Rouxel (Artisan)
Best Food Podcast or Radio Show: "NPR: Food" (NPR)
Best Chef: Hugh Acheson, Empire State South, Atlanta

Best Bites

Best Burger: Butcher and the Burger, Chicago
Best Pizza: Bar Toma, Chicago
Best Taco: La Condesa, Austin, TX
Best Ice Cream: Graeters, Cincinnati
Best BBQ: Oklahoma Joe's, Kansas City, KS
Best Breakfast: Loveless Cafe, Nashville, TN
Best Late Night Food: Waffle House, Atlanta

Delicious Destinations

Best Local Farmers Market: North Market, Columbus, OH
Best Food Truck: Kogi BBQ Truck, Los Angeles
Best Coffee Shop: Joe, New York
Best Craft Brewery: Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
Best Bakery: Hoosier Mama Pie Co., Chicago
Best Food City: Chicago

SOURCE General Mills