Next Iron Chef judge Donatella Arpaia took home the People’s Choice award at last night’s Meatball Madness, hosted by her fellow maven of Italian cooking, Giada De Laurentiis. Donatella served up classic tomato-braised veal meatballs, a recipe she attributed to her mom, who proudly helped serve them up to hungry crowds all night.

Psyched to finally beat out last year’s winners from the Meatball Shop, whose booth was as popular as ever, Donatella thanked the guys from Pat LaFrieda Meats — stars of Meat Men and sponsors of the event — who were in part responsible for the tastiness of her meatballs. She said she’s purchased her meat from them ever since she got into the restaurant business.

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