You are cordially invited to participate in The Meat Ball, a meatball competition and gala, at 7:00 PM in the evening of Saturday, February 21, 2025.

There will be a suggested $10 entry fee, payable to Laura Bruij on Venmo. This will help us buy the trophies, pasta, and more!Please RSVP at the Partiful link and continue reading to learn more about The Meat Ball.

WHAT IS THE MEAT BALL?

The Meat Ball is first and foremost a meatball competition. We are gathering to honor the sacred meatball and pick the "Best in Show," as well as "Fan Favorite," across two categories.If you are invited to The Meat Ball, you are invited as a competitor but are also welcome as a guest. But hopefully you will be ready and willing to make meatballs!

RULES

• Your meatballs must be served in a 10"x13" metal pan, as they must fit into the sternos provided
• Your meatballs must be fully cooked upon arrival—you will not be permitted to cook or assemble them any further on-site
• You must either arrive with or be prepared to provide on-site a list of ingredients and/or possible allergens, for the safety of those eating the meatballs
• Your entry into a meatball category must follow that category's parameters, as listed below

CATEGORIES

There are two categories in the competition, "Traditional Italian" and "Alternative," and you may enter either or both.Traditional Italian
To qualify, the entry must align with classic Italian or Italian-American meatball traditions:

• Must include ground beef, pork, or a combination (veal optional but allowed)
• Must include classic Italian aromatics: garlic, herbs (such as parsley, basil, and oregano); you may also include cheese
• Must be served with sauce, traditionally a red marinara/tomato-based sauce
• No fusion flavors (e.g., Asian spices, BBQ, curry) permitted in this category

Alternative
All creative, fusion, or non-Italian meatballs. Examples include:

• BBQ, Swedish, Asian-inspired, Mediterranean, vegan/vegetarian, exotic proteins, spicy variations, etc.

There are no restrictions on protein type, seasoning profile, or sauce in the "Alternative" category.