Diane Bondareff/AP Photo

 ABC News’ Simone Press reports:

Whoopi Goldberg has a few words of advice for President Obama.  “I hope that he will try the Honest Tea Half & Half. That’s all I drink,” the famed comedian and co-host of “The View” told ABCNews.com last Friday night at the Food Network Wine & Food Festival’s annual Burger Bash.

 The uber-talented Goldberg was surprised to hear that the president is a big fan of the Honest Tea brand, too, and she agreed that it’s some good stuff. “That what’s in my refrigerator, no matter what,” she said.

Although she claims she’s not a “big food person” she is particular when it comes to her ketchup. So particular that she brings it back with her all the way from London. “It doesn’t have any high-fructose corn syrup in it because they don’t allow that in Europe,” Goldberg said.

But high-fructose corn syrup was the least of her health concerns at this year’s calorie-crazed bash, which was in New York under the Brooklyn Bridge. The event, which Goldberg hosted in place of the event’s usual host, Rachael Ray, featured 21 burgers from various restaurants throughout New York City,  all of which were competing for the top honors.

And the competition was fierce.  The bash featured a wide range of meaty goodness, including a lamb brisket burger topped with spicy garlic aioli, vine ripe tomatoes, feta cheese and pickled red onion, and a beef burger slathered with barbecue pulled pork, jalapeño mayonnaise, Boston lettuce on a cheddar bun with a tangy mustard vinegar slaw.

Last year’s winner and Food Network chef Bobby Flay was also on the scene with a tasty burger from his joint – Bobby’s Burger Palace – complete with smoked cheddar, green onion slaw, mustard barbecue sauce and a layer of potato chips at the top to make it “crunchified.”

Despite all the fancy accoutrements at this year’s Bash, Goldberg said, she’s not all that into the hooplah when it comes to burgers. She likes them bare.  “I’m really simple,” she said. “I like a good, raw, red onion. And Heinz ketchup.”

As for the one thing she’ll chow down on to celebrate a special occasion, she’s not hard to please.  “A bag of potato chips,” she said. “Wise potato chips.”

By the end of the night, people chose their champion, and it wasn’t even of the bovine variety. It was a bison burger topped with a slab of bacon and smoked cheddar served alongside a pile of salt and vinegar potato chips from Chef Josh Capon of Soho eatery Burger & Barrel.

The judges, who included Food Network star Anne Burrell, “Bizarre Foods” host Andrew Zimmern and “Man Vs. Food” host Adam Richman, awarded chef Franklin Becker of Abe & Arthur’s for his take on a “Wisconsin” cheeseburger complete with Nueske bacon, spicy sauce and a spread made of pickles, roasted tomato, cheddar and brick cheese.