THUNDER BAY – Halifax has Burger Week.
The United Way of Thunder Bay and several local restaurants are raising the bar to a month.
The charitable organization has teamed with 11 local eateries, each of which will offer up its own signature burger, with $2 of the price being donated toward this year’s United Way campaign.
CKPR’s Bill Hogan and Rock 94’s Dave Steen were among the first to test out Daytona’s offering, and both quickly agreed it would be a tough burger to beat.
The two are among five ambassadors who have pledged to promote the Novemburger campaign throughout the month, and both plan to try all 11 burgers along the way.
“First of all, you’re helping the United Way, which is fantastic,” Hogan said. “And you get to eat burgers, which is fantastic. It’s like a win-win situation.
The burger-loving public is in for a treat, he added.
“It’s a hall-of-fame burger, I think,” Hogan said. “It’s just incredible the layers and everything involved – the sauce. It’s a phenomenal burger and this is just the first of many.”
Steen said he was impressed by the creativity of the burger, nestled under cheese and bacon between a pretzel bun, and is looking forward to seeing what else is out there.
“You see this kind of stuff on TV. You always like the idea of it, but now it’s in the city and it’s kind of cool to be a part of it. Hopefully everyone takes part,” Steen said.
Diners are encouraged not only to test out the burgers, but also head online and rate what they ate in a friendly competition for the title of Thunder Bay’s best hamburger.
Restaurants will also be competing for the most Novemburger’s sold award.
United Way of Thunder Bay campaign co-chair Angela Beaucage said they wanted to include as many local eateries as possible in a new fundraiser that just about everyone can get on board with.
“We wanted to include all age groups too,” she said. “It gets people out, it gets people eating for a whole month ... We want the entire community of Thunder Bay to come out and help us. This is a really easy challenge.”
Diners are encouraged to print out their own Novemburger passport and check each participating restaurant off as they go, while photographing their latest burger conquest and posting it to social media using #Novemburgeruwaytbay.
Beaucage said she hopes the United Way is able to raise thousands over the course of the 30-day event.
Local food blogger Nick Lee said it was a great idea and he plans to try them all over the first two weeks of November.
“It’s a good cause and nothing gets better than that,” he said.
He’ll be paying close attention to the entire package before casting his vote.
“I look at the patty and always the bun, as well,” Lee said. “You want a bun that sticks together. You don’t want your burger falling apart every time after every single bite; and then the sauce. It’s all about the sauce with me. I love a good saucy burger, something that has unique flavours in it.”
In addition to Daytona’s, participating restaurants include Beaux Daddy’s, Beefcake Burger Factory, Bonobo’s Foods (with a vegetarian option), Neebing Roadhouse, Portside Restaurant and Bar, Prospector Burger Barn, Prospector Steak House, Red Lion Smokehouse, Rooster’s Bistro and The Sal.
