United Way Perth-Huron joins Ultimate Burger Battle

For the first time ever, United Way Perth-Huron will be participating in a tasty fundraiser that’s sure to please burger enthusiasts.

United Way’s Ultimate Burger Battle kicks off Nov. 1 and will run for the full month. Participating local restaurants will create a new burger for the event and $2 in proceeds from the sale of the burger creations will support local United Way programming.

Both Gilly’s locations in Stratford and St. Marys, Demetre’s Family Eatery, Bentley’s, 53 North Restaurant, Foster’s Inn, Romeo’s Corner Café and Best Western Plus the Arden Park Hotel will be participating. Bentley’s will have their “gouda cause” burger made with Mountainoak gouda cheese, house-made bacon onion jam, truffle aioli and lettuce on a beef patty topped with a brioche bun. Gilly’s cowboy burger comes with smoked cheddar, brisket, smoky barbecue sauce, onion tanglers, lettuce, tomato, house-made sauce and pickles on a six-ounce beef patty.

Diners can scan a QR code in the restaurant to vote for their favourite burger. United Way will then award the restaurants for people’s choice burger and the most burgers sold.

"It's an invitation to make a new burger and then getting in a good spirit of fun and flavour to win," said Sonya Heyen, manager of resource development and communications.

The Ultimate Burger Battle began as an initiative by United Way Thunder Bay, and has since expanded to other chapters such as Oxford, Middlesex-Elgin, and now Perth-Huron.

"We're always in the business of fundraising and so if it worked for our neighbours and it sounds fun, we're into it,” Heyen said.

Heyen added that the event is a chance for Stratford’s renowned hospitality scene to show their burger-making skills and creativity.

“Stratford is actually uniquely positioned with lots of world-class chefs and restaurants. Inviting them to have a little bit of competition, I think they're itching for that,” she said.

Campaign chair and realtor John Wolfe was instrumental in getting the restaurants involved in the Ultimate Burger Battle.

United Way is still looking for more restaurants to be part of the Ultimate Burger Battle, and will be accepting requests to participate by email via sheyen@perthhuron.unitedway.ca until November.