2019 Lorain County Best Burger Battle starts Thursday

ELYRIA — Lorain County's Best Burger Battle is heating up for a third year in a row, with burgers from 12 restaurants vying for the title of "Best Overall" burger. Hosted by Visit Lorain County and the Lorain County commissioners, the Best Burger Battle starts Thursday and continues through Sunday, Oct. 20. Jennifer Kennedy, director of Visit Lorain County, told commissioners last week that her organization wants people to "try something new" during the 10-day contest. The contest will help the local economy, she said, and encourage people to get out and experience the local food scene. In past years, some people have visited 12 or 13 participating restaurants to sample the burgers during during the 10-day contest, Kennedy said. Mutt & Jeff's, at 3700 Oberlin Ave. in Lorain, won in 2018 with its French Onion Burger. This year, the restaurant is back with a Caprese Burger (1/2-pound seasoned steak burger topped with fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomato relish, greens, basil pesto aioli served on garlic bread drizzled in balsamic). Challengers include: Bootleggers Bar & Grille, 34550 Royalton Road, Columbia Station. Korean BBQ Burger (1/2-pound custom grind patty with homemade Korean BBQ sauce, Asian-style coleslaw, pecan wood-smoked bacon, green onions and wonton chips on a brioche bun) The Brew Kettle, 300 Church St., Amherst. BBQ-Spiced Grilled Wild Boar (spiced and grilled wild board topped with fried onions, Kitka BBQ ranch and grilled Halloumi cheese). Brickyard Bar & Grill, 580 W. Lorain St., Oberlin. West Side Burger (kielbasa, sauerkraut with possible added custom blend patty that is one part brisket or short rib, American cheese, two potato and cheese pierogies, grilled onions and homemade horseradish cream served on a pretzel bun). The Bulldog Pub & Grille, 108 E. Main St., LaGrange. The Big Daddy Burger (1/2-pound beef patty, cheddar cheese, a fried egg, local bacon, house Bulldog Bourbon BBQ sauce, lettuce tomato and Guinness beer batter onion rings on a brioche bun). The Depot at Union Station, 700 N. Center St., LaGrange. Meat Stack Burger (1/2-pound custom grind patty, smoked ham, pepperoni, salami and pecan wood-smoked bacon, banana peppers, pepper jack cheese and garlic mayo on a pretzel bun). Foundry Kitchen & Bar, 525 Broad St., Elyria. The Quad Onion Burger (8-ounce beef patty, Applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, beer batter onion ring, green onions, caramelized onions and zesty onion sauce on a brioche bun). Nancy's Main Street Diner, 426 Main St., Grafton. Supreme Pizza Burger (stuffed with Italian sausage crumbles, pepperoni, sauce and cheese, topped with more sauce and cheese with options for mushrooms, onions and peppers served as a melt on homemade garlic bread). Parker's Grille and Tavern, 32858 Walker Road, Avon Lake. The Firecracker (1/2-pound beef burger with pepper jack cheese, bacon, homemade buffalo kettle chips and ancho chili ranch sauce). Red Iron Bar and Grill, 137 W. Herrick Ave., Wellington. Whiskey Burger (1/3-pound beef patty doused in whiskey, char-grilled with special seasoning, served on a corn-dusted kaiser bun with A1 aioli, applewood smoked bacon, fried onion and jalapeno straws, grilled red onion, chipotle pepper jack cheese, romaine lettuce and tomato). Sal and Al's Diner, 2261 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Kibbie Burger (Middle Eastern-inspired burger with Triple Grind Ground Chuck infused with cracked wheat, minced onion, mint and Syrian spices, char-grilled and basted in butter served on fresh grilled pita with raw onion, fresh tomatoes and Syrian Salad piled on top, with zesty sour cream cucumber sauce). Your Pit BBQ, 3909 Liberty Ave., Vermilion. The Wiley Burger (Angus beef patty with provolone cheese, applewood smoked bacon caramelized with brown sugar, beer battered onion ring and homemade honey bourbon BBQ sauce on a pretzel bun). Voters will receive an official ballot and stamp when ordering the featured burger at any of the restaurants. The burgers cost $9 each (sides, beverages, tax and tip not included). Voters may submit their ballots after trying at least two burgers at the participating restaurants. Once submitted, ballots will be counted and a winner chosen at random from those ballots to win a dinner for four at the winning restaurant. Only one vote per person will be counted. Ballots may be dropped off at Visit Lorain County, 8025 Leavitt Road in Amherst; mailed to "Best Burger Battle," 8025 Leavitt Road, Amherst; or submitted by snapping a picture and emailing it to visitors@visitloraincounty.com. Ballots must be submitted by Oct. 25 to be counted. The winner of the dinner for four will be notified by Nov. 8. A consolation prize will be given for the "Most Creative Burger," which will be voted on by a panel of judges appointed by Visit Lorain County. For full contest rules, go to visitloraincounty.com/burgerbattle. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.