$15 burgers in Calgary as part of Alberta Burger Fest
You’re in for a seriously meaty array of treats at competing Alberta Burger Fest eateries from May 6 to 15, 2016. Bigger, better and beefier, this year’s saucy, savoury event features more participating restaurants than ever – 104 in total. Competing for top honours in this customer-judged competition are burger platters in three price categories. Here we highlight a few entrants in the $15 burger battle.
Cleaver
As its name suggests, this Irish-contemporary restaurant has a real way with meat, serving dishes ranging from steak tacos to beef cheek and mushroom ravioli. Cleaver’s regular menu also features an assortment of uniquely prepared beef, chicken, lamb, crab and duck sliders – you know, mini burgers. Served on a bap (bun), the aptly named Floury Bap Burger features a beef patty with bone marrow croquette plus candied bacon, Worcestershire mayo, sweet pepper sauce and Parmesan.
Blanco Cantina
723 17th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0B6Located in the old Brava Bistro spot on 17th Avenue Southwest, Blanco Cantina rides the warm and wonderful wave of contemporary Mexican cuisine that’s engulfing this town. A delightful Mexi mix up, its Deep Fried Guacamole Burger features a guac-stuffed(!) patty breaded with spicy corn chips. Condiments include barbecue sauce, ketchup, crisped onions and salsa fresca.
Grumans Catering & Delicatessen
Montreal smoked meat is the signature protein at this sunny Jewish deli and restaurant on the west end of Beltline just off Macleod Trail. Sticking with its crowd-pleasing cuisine theme, the deli has developed the Grumans Smoked Meat Deli Burger. It features a smoked meat and chuck patty prettied up with house-made hot mustard, coleslaw and an onion ring.
Eleven Kitchen & Bar
11 Freeport Cres NE, Calgary, AB T3J 0T4A beef sandwich so nice they named it twice, the Eleven Eleven Burger features double beef-brisket patties complemented by the Wyndham Garden Hotel Calgary Airport eatery’s quite stellar house-cured bacon. This mound of meat is topped with caramelized onions, roasted garlic aioli, bacon-onion jam, cheese and greens and a bunch more ingredients (for a total of 11) including, you guessed it – more freakin’ meat. Pastrami and bologna are also part of this double-digit party.
Garage Sports Bar
195-200 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary, AB T2P 4R5The BLD Burger by Garage Sports Bar in Eau Claire Market is so named for the three meals it thematically incorporates: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each bite contains multiple meats including Alberta beef, bacon and pork side rib, which it wears like a hat. Also between the pretzel bun halves of this three-squares spectacular, you’ll find cheddar cheese, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato and onions.
Rodney's Oyster House
355 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A5A three-city Canadian seafood institution, Rodney’s completed its interprovincial trio with the recent launch of its Calgary operation. Serving dishes that include crab cakes, fish chowder, fish and chips as well as a variety of cold and smoked fish dishes, Rodney’s has created a Burger Fest entry that naturally plays upon its seafood strength. The Wild BC Sockeye Salmon Mac Burger features a patty made of its namesake fish.
Symons Roadhouse
The restaurant in the Symons’ Valley Ranch Farmers’ Market, Symons Roadhouse is a rustic ranch house cookery serving flatbreads, pastas and a juicy selection of barbecue entrees. At this edge-of-town eatery, you’ll find a juicy Burger Fest entry constructed around a mesquite-smoked Alberta Berkshire pork patty. Its locally produced ingredient theme extends to its topping of Sylvan Star Gouda. Also between its Sidewalk Citizen bun halves are creamy coleslaw, sweet apple bacon jam and chimichurri aoli.
