BARTOWN BURGER BATTLE
Bartown Burger Battle underway on the Northside
Ten restaurants in competition.
Burger lovers are lining up at their favourite Northside restaurants this week to try burgers with a twist.
The Bartown Days Festival committee launched its firstever Bartown Burger Battle on July 17. The contest challenges local restaurants on the Northside to create a specially made burger for its customers.
Genevieve Andrea, staff member with the Bartown Days Festival, said the overall goal of the event is to promote eating locally.
“The burger battle is something we wanted to try,” said Andrea. “Charlottetown has a burger month in April and Halifax does a burger week as well, so we thought why not try it here.”
In total, 12 restaurants are participating in the contest including Alexandra’s Family Restaurant, Bette’s Kitchen, Bianchini’s Pizzeria, Blue Mist Tavern, Carvella’s Take Out, Jane’s Restaurant, Kitchen 1409, Mariner’s Galley, The Black Spoon Bistro, Commercial Street Deli, Theatre Pub and Grill and Winnie’s Wagon.
Throughout the course of the contest, restaurants are encouraged to promote their burger on social media in an attempt to draw people to their locations and to vote for their burger.
James Donato, co-owner at Commercial Street Deli in North Sydney, thinks the contest is a great way to get more people trying different restaurants.
“The Northside has lots of great restaurants — the contest was a great idea,” said Donato. “In the last few years we have had three or four new ones pop up and some local food trucks set up shop in the summer, so it’s kind of showing off what we all do best and hopefully get the public to come out and try the burgers.”
Donato, who created the bacon jalapeño burger for the contest, said the Northside community has enough restaurants to be able to support a contest of this nature.
“I think if you went back a few years ago you would have only had three or four possible participants, but the contest has 12 this year, which I think is great,” he said.
Tiffany MacIsaac, a cashier and waitress at Winnie’s Wagon in Little Bras d’Or, was excited to hear about the burger battle.
“I was excited to push our burger because I really like new things, we’re always excited when we get to have a little challenge because it changes things up,” said MacIsaac. “It gives everyone a chance to get out and try new foods and be a little experimental.”
The staff at Winnie’s Wagon created an unusual burger called The Bernie Campfire Burger, which is a bacon cheeseburger with banana peppers, pickle and a s’mores topping.
MacIsaac said the event is a friendly competition among the local restaurants.
“I’d say bragging rights will definitely be in order for the winner,” she said. “We’re such a small community, it’s important to have things to look forward to and this contest is perfect.”
Customers have an opportunity to vote for their favourite burger. Voting takes place online at www.bartown.ca/ burgerbattle/ until 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The winner of the contest will
be announced later that evening during the Bartown Days Festival finale concert. The winner will receive a plaque for their restaurant.