Deena Derksen knew she had the inside track on the North Okanagan Community Living Society’s 2023 Golden Burger Challenge when one happy customer came into the Diner on Six restaurant in Vernon nearly every day to order her creation.
“He came in about five times a week and had the burger, because it was his favourite. He actually wants it on the menu,” said Derksen, chef and manager at Diner on Six, which was crowned the champion of the month-long burger challenge at the Vernon Towne Theatre Tuesday, Nov. 7.
“I always try to be creative with our burger, so year after year changing it up, and this year was just something that was different, was an outside of the box of a burger, and something that’s kind of trendy,” Derksen said of her Triple Smash burger that came in taco form with Big Mac inspired flavours, topped with cheddar cheese, a homemade burger sauce, and simple fixings (onions, pickles and lettuce).
“We’re really happy that it came out a success.”
Earlier in the burger challenge, Diner on Six’s burger had won the Randy’s Choice award, chosen by Randy Bo-Bandy of Trailer Park Boys fame, who happened to be in Vernon for a comedy show right in the middle of the challenge and agreed to be a special judge.
All in all, the Golden Burger Challenge raised roughly $20,000 for NOCLS, which helps children, individuals and families living with disabilities to live more independently. This year’s fundraising was slightly more than was raised during last year’s burger challenge.
Derksen said Diner on Six isn’t yet sure if their prize-winning burger will stay on the menu. What they do know is they’ll be competing in next year’s burger challenge.
“I get to go to the drawing board already to work for next year,” Derksen said. “Gotta get that creativity out there.”
Speaking of creativity, Diner of Six won the creativity award for the challenge — unsurprising given the taco form the burger took — scoring a 4.89 out of a possible five.
Yvette from Diner on Six also won the top server award for the challenge. Carlee from the Roster Sports Bar and Grill was the second-place server and Dani from the Longhorn took third place.
This year’s runner-up burger went to Match Eatery and Public House. The judge’s choice award went to Bourbon Street Bar and Grill.
An award for best presentation went to the Longhorn; the originality award was handed to Namaste; the top “yumminess” award was won by Match Eatery; and the service award, with a perfect five out of five score, went to The Roster, the restaurant that also sold the most burgers (239).
During the burger challenge, people could purchase a passport for $25 and collect stamps from the 10 participating restaurants to be entered into a prize draw. Anyone who got stamps from all 10 restaurants was entered for a chance to win the grand prize of a mini beer fridge. The winner of the fridge was Chris Gross.
But more important than the awards was the money raised for a good cause, as NOCLS is looking to get to work on an affordable housing project.
“We turn burgers into housing at NOCLS,” said Stephanie Comer, the non-profit’s resource coordinator, adding NOCLS’s housing project is “on the horizon” and funds raised from the burger challenge are earmarked for when ground can be broken on the build.
NOCLS is hoping to help multiple families.
“Instead of one property for one family at a time, we’re kind of aiming a little higher,” Comer said.
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