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The Croqueta Comeback: Shuttered Barley & Swine Wins Croquetapalooza

Gregory Castillo / WLRN

Past the flashing lights of slot machines and green poker tables, a battle for fried finger food supremacy raged on at the Magic City Casino Sunday afternoon. 

Credit Gregory Castillo / WLRN
Sef Gonzalez, the Burger Beast

Hundreds gathered for Croquetapalooza, the first event of its kind, honoring the crispy, gooey Cuban snack.

"This is an idea we had to simply find out who has the best croqueta in Miami," says Sef Gonzalez, event mastermind and creator of the Burger Beast blog. 

Ten restaurants accepted the challenge of creating the best possible dish for what was the Super Bowl of croquetas.
 
Local eatery MEAT brought a yuca and chorizo croqueta, while Gilbert's Bakery shined with a dessert croqueta topped with either salted caramel or chocolate.

Winning the People's Choice, the day's top prize, was Barley & Swine, with a manchego cheese and ham croqueta topped with guava sauce.
 
The foodie favorite was recently embroiled in a dispute with its landlord at a Dadeland condo building. The relatively new restaurant closed last week due to infrastructure issues.
 

Credit Gregory Castillo / WLRN
Jorgie Ramos of Barley & Swine, holds his People's Choice trophy during an interview with univision.

"With everything that's going on right now, it reassures us that everything is going to work out," said Jorgie Ramos, chef and owner of Barley & Swine. "My dad makes [the croquetas]. He couldn't be here today but the employees texted him, he's probably going crazy in the Keys right now."

Wynwood's Fireman Derek won the "flan-tastic" competition, judged in part by James Beard Award finalist Hedy Goldsmith of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink.
 

Credit Gregory Castillo / WLRN
Barley & Swine's award-winning Jamon Serrano, Manchego cheese and Guava sauce croqueta.
Credit Gregory Castillo / WLRN
VIP's were treated to Sakaya Kitchen's pork croqueta with ginger soy dipping sauce
Credit Gregory Castillo / WLRN
Sweetness Bake Shop's Vanilla Flan with a pretzel streusel, chocolate ganache and homemade bourbon marshmallows.

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