The Ultimate Cheeseburger Contest Winners
Meet our 15 lucky winners and the recipes that brought them fame. Congratulations
to these talented chefs and their new creations.
All winners will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Wisconsin in the spring, with
a chef’s tour and explorations of innovative pairings of cheese and food and
beverages with the state’s cheese makers, accompanied by their Territory Manager.
To view the winning recipe, click on the name of the burger.
Chef Scott Anderson
Shepherd University Dining Services
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Medical Alert Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
I created this sandwich as a breakfast/brunch menu item in our entrée-tainment
area. After watching Man vs. Food and eating at an establishment in Atlanta that
served a similar burger, I thought the students here would love a more breakfast-style
burger creation. It’s been very popular and can be mixed up by adding in hash
browns, Canadian bacon or served between French toast or apple fritters. As it is,
the sandwich is very popular and has a good following.
Chef Trey Cleveland
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Poblano Cheeseburger
Recipe’s Inspiration
The inspiration for this recipe comes from my desire to serve boldly flavored menu
items that are all at once familiar with a nod to the creative use of flavorful
Wisconsin cheeses and a "twist" on regularly menued items. Comfortable, but different,
if you will!
Chef Roger Duran
Barcelona Tapas Restaurant
Indianapolis, Indiana
Barcelona Cheeseburger
Recipe’s Inspiration
It came about due to a lot of traveling and being inspired to fuse together the
American and Spanish flavors. A lot of the burgers today seem to be thrown together
and do not have a lot of depth or thought put into them! Most chefs pile anything
between two buns and call it good, or just name a version of some other burger!
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Having seen both sides of the country, I have been exposed to a variety of ingredients
along with my partner US Foods and the help of Todd Shepard and Rob Tackett who
helped this burger become a reality.
I am a chef who is fanatic about charcuterie, and the Spanish chorizo seems to hit
home with me along with quality ground beef and the natural fat of the avocado with
the crispness of the fresh veggies. It’s a dish to crave. Some chase it with
iced tea, but I prefer to chase it with a cold beer (pale ale).
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Chris Dyer
Ginger Cove
Annapolis, Maryland
Asian Pork Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
The inspiration for our Asian Pork Burger was to bring a healthier version with
a different ethnic flair to the American Classic Cheeseburger. East meets West in
this Asian variety, bringing the countries together for this popular dish.
Chef Zachary Fischer
Spirits Pub & Grub
Cary, North Carolina
Firecracker Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
The inspiration for this recipe was the celebration of the Fourth of July. I ran
this burger as a special and it went very well. The firecracker concept comes through
flavorwise in terms of the cheddar-habanero cracker as well as visually with a “firecracker”
made of a blue cheese stuffed fire-roasted red pepper, and of course what better
way to celebrate the Fourth than with fireworks and a great burger featuring wonderful
cheeses from Wisconsin.
Chef George H. Keller
The Grand Oasis Restaurant
Mobridge, South Dakota
South-of-the-Border Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
My inspiration is to bring the flavors of the Southwest to our restaurant for our
customers. I hope you agree that this cheeseburger accomplishes that in a unique,
creative and tasty fashion and we’re in it to win it!
Chef Mel Melton
Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse
Durham, North Carolina
Cheeseburger Po’Boy
Recipe’s Inspiration
The inspiration for this dish is from my extensive career as a southern chef, with
long stints in south Louisiana, Texas, and now owner of a place in my birth state
of North Carolina. Pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes and bacon are southern classic
staple dishes. Po’Boys are the famous Louisiana sandwich, so this is a quintessential
southern-inspired creation.
Chef Sergio D. Meza
Big Dog’s Brewing Co.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Black Angus Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
When you say Wisconsin, you’ve said it all! Wisconsin’s comfort foods
in a burger: brats, cheese, bacon, German heritage, pretzels and beer. Make this
great burger a year-round favorite.
Chef Nicholas Miracle
Lumberyard Taproom and Grille
Flagstaff, Arizona
Vietnamese Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
My inspiration for this burger is my absolute passion for Asian cuisine. I was turned
on to this cuisine in culinary school and was able to pursue it further while working
in some amazing Japanese restaurants in both Scottsdale, Arizona, and San Diego,
California. The burger is an adaptation of the classic Bahn Mi sandwich of Vietnam.
Joe Naifeh
Naifeh’s Deli & Grill
Cushing, Oklahoma
The Nearly Perfect Tabouli
Cheeseburger
Recipe’s Inspiration
Uncle Freddie started in the restaurant business in 1939. As I was growing up, I
spent many hours working alongside him. We come from a large Lebanese family where
we love food almost as much as we love each other. We love cooking and sharing old
family recipes and eating Mediterranean foods.
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My wife Kathy and I took over the family business in 1979. We continued serving
what had become customers’ favorites such as tabouli, hummus and cabbage rolls
to name a few.
In 2004, I decided to try something different. We built a beautiful new building
in Cushing, Oklahoma, and Naifeh’s Deli & Grill was opened for business! Some
of the customer favorites are still our recipes with a Lebanese influence.
One day while fixing myself lunch, I started to make a burger but just kept adding
to it until it became what is now known to Naifeh’s customers, family and
friends as "The Nearly Perfect Tabouli Cheeseburger"!
I started with a half pound kafta patty stuffed with feta cheese. I added grilled
tabouli salad on top to the cooked patty and topped with melted provolone and cheddar
cheese. All it needed was a little fresh hummus on the bun and it became The Ultimate
Cheeseburger!
So if you ever find yourself in Cushing, Oklahoma, please stop in and let us prepare
for you "The Nearly Perfect Tabouli Cheeseburger"!
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Chef Cindy Partin
Branch Bistro and Catering
Springfield, Missouri
Inside Out Bloody Mary Burger
Recipe’s Inspiration
My inspiration for this recipe was to make a quick and easy family favorite, adding
a little spice and zest to the boring cheeseburger. Placing the cheese in the center
adds a little surprise for the taste buds. I choose the Bloody Mary ingredients
because it has all the components for a party in your mouth. Please try and enjoy.