CHALLENGE OPENS EARLIER THIS YEAR IN THE HEAT OF GRILLING SEASON
August 21, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Calling all grill masters and burger enthusiasts! The Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Beef Council are looking for the next ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. The 2024 competition is opening a few months earlier than in past years while grilling season is in full swing. Burger recipes are being accepted through December 1. This marks the 12th year for the beef showdown sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council and Official Seasoning: Dan-O’s Seasoning. Recipes can be submitted online at www.kdf.org/beef.
“Burgers are one of the most popular foods in America and they’re even better made with 100 percent beef,” said Carey Brown, Chief Operating Officer of the Kentucky Beef Council. “With the many ways burgers can be prepared, seasoned, and dressed, we always look forward to the unique recipes that are submitted from around the state.”
Participation is open to all chefs – from the home kitchen to restaurants. Entrants are encouraged to use a creative burger name, description and photo as part of their submission. All burgers must be 100 percent beef and include Dan-O’s seasoning in the recipe. The burger recipes are judged based on Taste, Appearance, Creativity and Ease of Preparation.
Derby Festival and burger fans will help choose the finalists in the competition. In February, 8 preliminary finalists will be announced from all submissions and then voting will be opened online. Those votes will help narrow down to the final four ‘Derby Burger’ contestants who will then move on to a cook-off in March.
The winning burger will be featured at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville during Derby Festival, as well as inside Kroger stores. Official rules of the competition can be found online at www.kdf.org/beef.
The winning chef receives a 2024 Official Derby Festival Poster, two VIP tickets to Thunder Over Louisville, two VIP tickets to Republic Bank BourbonVille, a $100 gift certificate to Kroger, a grilling prize package courtesy of the Kentucky Beef Council, and a year’s supply of Dan-O’s seasoning.
