Let the record show that the first Upper Valley Burger Battle took place last winter, long before RFK Jr. told us all to eat more meat.
The good news is that the second annual Burger Battle, which runs through the end of February, is now firmly within federal health guidelines. Hearts rejoice!
Harpoon Brewery in Windsor won the inaugural contest last year, which is intended to encourage local residents to go to participating restaurants. There were 13 contestants from around the Upper Valley last year, and the same number this year.
“The restaurants thought it was a great success,” Morgan Brophy, executive director of the Upper Valley Business Alliance, the battle’s organizer, said in a brief phone interview.
Nearly 1,000 people cast votes in last year’s Burger Battle, Brophy said. “That translates to a lot of burgers,” she said.
This year, the business alliance hopes to keep track of sales and revenue, she added.
In addition to the defending champion, participating restaurants include: The Baited Hook, Lebanon Village Pizza, Revo Casino & Social House and Salt hill Pub in Lebanon; Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery and Pine Restaurant in Hanover; Hungry Bear Pub & Grill in Bradford, Vt.; Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse in Norwich; Poor House Barbecue in Canaan; Poor Thom’s Tavern in Plainfield; The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm in Quechee; and Worthy Burger in South Royalton.
From a range of restaurants, expect a range of burgers, from fanciful creations from the minds of fine-dining chefs to classic diner-style burgers.
In addition to the health benefits, there are other reasons to participate in the Burger Battle. Every vote is also an entry into a drawing for a $25 Local LUV gift card, good for purchases at a range of local businesses.