After three months of teeth gnashing and taste testing, French Onion has been declared the runaway winner in Postino Wine Cafe’s second-ever “Battle of the Bruschetta.”
As champion, French Onion will gain a spot on Postino’s permanent menu, starting in October.
“This was really no surprise to those of us who watched the whole battle,” says Postino Little Italy (San Diego) manager Reilly McMaster. “French Onion was a favorite right from the beginning.”
The Battle of the Bruschetta was a bracketed event (think March Madness). Two bruschetta recipes battled it out in July and August and both winners squared off in September. Recipes were entered by chefs at various chain locations. Winners were determined by restaurant patron votes.
In July, French Onion (roasted garlic aioli, gruyere, braised white onions, melted brie) beat Berry Mascarpone (blackberry mascarpone, graham cracker streusel, macerated blueberry, lemon, powdered sugar) by a score of 4,873 to 2,619, according to the restaurant’s website.
August saw Philly Cheesesteak (roasted garlic aioli, chopped steak, caramelized onion and peppers, fondue, chili oil) top Buffalo Cauliflower (buffalo cauliflower, cambozola ranch yogurt, celery, chives) by a 2,653 to 1,626 margin.
French Onion marched to to a 1,443-841 win in the finals, which ended September 15.
McMaster is sure the contest will be back again next year.
“I think guests were excited by the contest, and it gave them an interactive way to have some say in the menu,” he says. “In the end, the French Onion concept was the most stream-lined. That’s what people voted for–and it was also the easiest to prepare.”
Postino is a casual indoor-outdoor eatery offering reasonable prices on all kinds of snacks, sandwiches, soups and salads. The Little Italy location opened in April 2024.
Traditionally, bruschetta is a mixture of chopped tomatoes, balsamic, basil and garlic, spooned over olive-oil brushed slices of bread. SDSun
