Labor Day Bonus: Ten Recipes From Finalists in $100,000 Burger Contest

Sutter Home is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Build a Better Burger contest by holding its high-stakes burger cook-off on September 23, at Collins Park in South Beach. The prize money this year has doubled to $100,000 for the most creative, best-tasting burger -- but you are too late...

By Lee Klein

September 3, 2010

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Sutter Home is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Build a Better Burger contest by holding its high-stakes burger cook-off on September 23, at Collins Park in South Beach. The prize money this year has doubled to $100,000 for the most creative, best-tasting burger -- but you are too late to enter. Seven thousand folks did enter, and now it's down to ten finalists -- five for regular burgers, five for alternative burgers (meats other than beef). You can't attend either, as it's a private event. I don't even know why I brought it up. Oh, right -- because we've got the links to the recipes for each of the final burgers. Meaning ten invaluable ideas to spruce up your grillables this weekend. And let me tell you: These are some of the most outlandishly innovative takes on burgers you will ever see -- including one with strawberry-bbq-bacon, and others with multiple stackings finished off with anything from grapefruit mayo to blueberry mustard.

The proverbial train has pulled out of the station for that hundred grand, but it's not too late to make your Labor Day burgers taste like a million bucks. Take the jump for a list of the ten finalists and links to their competing recipes...

Best Burgers

Christina Capone, Seattle, Washington
Bengali Blaze Burgers

Kathi Jones-DelMonte, Rochester, New York
Americana Smokeshack Burgers

Peter Kim, New York, New York
Venezuelan "¡Olé!" Arepa Burgers with Crispy Chorizo, Chipotle-Queso Sauce, Caramelized Onions, and Guacamole

Jeanette Nelson, Sophia, West Virginia
Sweet Chili Citrus Changsha Sliders with Sriracha Grapefruit Mayo and Ponzu Jicama Slaw

Jaeger Stoltz, Seattle, Washington
Strawberry BBQ Bacon Burgers

Best Alternative Burgers

Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska
Herbed Chicken-Walnut Cheeseburgers with Lemony Frizzled Shallots and Blueberry Mustard

Barbara Estabrook, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Minted Lamb Burgers, Greek Style with Mediterranean Relish and Feta-Yogurt Spread

Regina Haase, Wallington, NJ
Lucky Tiki Sliders

Mark Pyne, Kent, Washington
Cranberry Ultimate Pork Burgers with Garlic Cherry Mayonnaise, Smoked Ham, Bacon, and Gruyere Cheese

Teresa Ralston, New Albany, Ohio
'Ono 'Ohana Burgers

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