Meatball Street Brawl
Meatball Street Brawl
The gloves come off September 19th, proceeds to be donated to local charities
The contenders have been set, location booked and rivalries high as we head into the kick-off event of the fall season, Meatball Street Brawl (MBSB). By the end of the month we will find cooler temps as mother nature slowly dusts the trees with pops of color. What better way to usher in the change than with 1700 lbs. of ground beef turned into countless meatballs and our beloved Buffalo Bills on the big screen!
The fifth annual Meatball Street Brawl will be held on Sunday, September 19th at Osteria 166. “We’re shutting down Mohawk Street and inviting the best meatball purveyors in town to put their meatballs where your mouth is,” said Nick Pitillo, owner of Osteria 166. “The game will be on a large screen. The meatballs will be many. There will be beer and wine and bread and antacid.”
Your ticket purchase covers all meatballs as well as beverage tastings. Proceeds will go to local charities such as P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and Alix Rice Peace Park Foundation. Plus you get a chance to tailgate for a road game!
“Honestly, we are just thrilled to be able to host the event this year. It’s been a tough couple years for everyone!” Pitillo said. “Many of the charities this event supports lost a great deal of their funding, so we are excited to make a difference again!”
Pitillo is psyched to watch the “Freestyle” category continue to grow. “Meatballs clearly don't need to be Italian … we just do it a little better,” he chuckled under his breath.
All event staff, vendors and guests will be required to follow all federal, state and local Covid-19 regulations, required restrictions, and any mandates, etc. in place on the day of the event. Currently, any non-vaccinated persons at the event are required to wear a mask. “If guests need a mask but do not have one, we will gladly provide one,” Pitillo said. Additionally, guests should social distance, where possible, from people you do not know. “We ask all guests and vendors to follow these event rules.”
Now let’s get to the heart of it: the competition … the infamous belt and bragging rights that so naturally follow. “The perception of rivalries is awesome and makes for great press,” but Pitillo reminds me of the real task at hand, “raising a bunch of money for so many worthy causes.” Of course they always want each competitor to represent well and nothing adds to the excitement of game-day pressure quite like a little friendly banter.
To witness the battle for the belt at this year’s Meatball Street Brawl, drop what you’re doing now and visit meatballstreetbrawl.com to get your tickets dialed in.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: September 19, 2021
Time: 11 AM - 5 PM
Location: Osteria 166, 166 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY
Tickets: $20 presale, $25 at the door, $100 VIP
Free for kids under 8
Pitllio ended our conversation with giving some extra love to those who are in the event every year: “Special love to Amici, Frankie Primos +39, Lombardo, and of course, my man Marco! Hope to see you here! Come hungry!”