The 'First Annual Build a Better Burger Cook-Off

We hosted a Build a Better Burger Cook-Off on labor day (you know, because it had been, like a week, since I had planned something and I was feeling a little antsy...), and it was AWESOME. And of course, it helps to have amazing people who really get into the spirit of the competition. There were no limp grey patties clinging helplessly to stale airy buns. We are talking feta, blue cheese, mushrooms, swiss, jalapenos, salmon, ciabatta, pickles, free range....mmmmm, mmmm, mmmm!!

I totally made up the rules as we went along. Each person who entered the competition made three of their dream burgers and was assigned color coded toothpicks. Each hamburger was cut into four sections with each section having one of the color coded toothpicks in it. That way, everyone got to try everyone else's hamburger and they just kept the toothpick of the burger they liked the best. The winner ended up being the Chartreuse colored toothpick-- the burger that made me rethink our decision to eat mainly vegetarian.

Each person also had to come up with an original name for their hamburger, with a prize going to the best original burger name. Some of the entries were: the "Rhino" the "Crying Tiger," the "Heavenly Salmon burger aka WWJE burger," the "Funghi Leiderhosen burger," and the "I'm going to live to be 100 while you die of Coronary heart disease" burger.

I can't tell you how much joy it gave me to eat so many delectable burgers in one night. For someone like me that likes options and trying everything-- this was a dream of a food competition! Richard and I tried 11 different hamburgers that night, and although there was a clear winner (when you fall in love-- you know it!), every burger was delicious-- and there were not any scraps to take home!

The winner of the best original name ended up being "the Crying Tiger"-- they won a pan of home-made cinnamon rolls. I can't even remember the name of the burger that one best overall-- I only remember the way I felt when I ate it-- like the world stopped for a moment (or maybe that was my heart-- processing all that artery clogging goodness). The winner took home some salted caramels as well as a date to have a catered pizza party with the Roses.

This was my burger entry-- representing with the veggie burger. I actually got 4 votes for best burger overall. I was really trying to win in the best name category. My recipe actually comes from Guy Fiery. Check it out, it is Morgan's veggie burger and it is truly awesome. There were guys at this burger cook-off that gave me props for a veggie burger that could compete with the big guns!!

Thanks to everyone who came and competed. This will definitely become a yearly event!