It may be the fourth time it’s been to Winnipeg, but for many cooks around the city, the 2017 edition of Le Burger Week is the most exhausted they’ll ever be in front of a grill.
The barbecuing got started Friday across 13 cities in Canada as packed restaurants compete to see who can make the best signature burger.
The annual event causes a landslide of Winnipeg foodies to pour into local establishments every September, and this year’s edition of Le Burger Week might be the biggest ever.
WATCH: An Interview with Le Burger Week’s Winnipeg ambassador
Marc Priestley, who is a co-owner of Nuburger, said Monday, in front of a line that stretched out of the restaurant’s front doors, that it’s his busiest time of the year.
“Burger Week is our favourite time of the year.”
Across the country, Canadians will be helping to determine the best burgers in their city as restaurants create a unique, one-off burger that is only sold for seven days in September.
This year, four-time defending champion Nuburger have some stiff competition. One hundred and three other restaurants in Winnipeg are involved in the event; cooking everything from doughnut burgers, to sushi burgers, to burgers made with pizza ingredients at Carbone Coal Fired Pizza.
“We’re definitely thrown off by how many burgers can get sold at a pizza restaurant,” said Carbone owner Benjamin Nasberg. “We’ve had about 150 fly out the door every day since we’ve started.”
“It’s the same burger over and over and over again.”
And, as far as exhausted cooks go, Nasberg has an idea: “He’s probably going to need a nap pretty soon.”
Residents are encouraged to eat at some of the 400 restaurants participating coast to coast until Sept. 7 and to vote online for their favourite burger here.