Best | Best Burger In Town

"Bag it out," ordered Kostelnik to her apprentices, and off they went to complete their task.Not your father's White Castle hamburgersFor this session, community judges Sandy Leonard, Town of Monroe supervisor; and John Burke, Town of Woodbury supervisor, would join David Bernsley, the high school's principal, in sampling and selecting the best team recipe.Understanding how cooking calamities can happen to even the best chefs, they patiently waited to be served, and focused on what they felt their participation represented."He (Bernsley) wanted to reach out and get the community involved in school events," said Leonard. "I love burgers. This is a cheat day for me. Plus it's one heck of way to take time out from the office."Her Woodbury counterpart agreed.Quickly, the teams returned with their fully cooked selections, and the judges settled in for six different slider tasting options.And, these were not your father's White Castle hamburgers either.Leonard enjoyed Kitchen 5's vegetarian option: portabella mushroom with avocado spread."It was very creative," she said. "Instead of meat, the mushroom and avocado spread was very different."Kitchen 4 team's presentation of its homemade sauce topping got Bernsley's attention."You made this sauce homemade?" he said. "That goes a long way. I'm about to burst (from all the food)."In addition to creativity, taste and visual appeal, describing the work done was also important.Secret ingredient"We made it straight from the heart," said Ryan Manusco, who represented Kitchen 3. "We plotted the perfect formula. George Foreman himself said it was a mean burger."Manusco described the burger mixture: a Swiss cheese and bacon blend with ground beef featuring oregano, habanera and picante sauces.Don't forget the secret ingredient: chocolate, yes, chocolate sprinkles.Despite their unique ingredients, Kitchen 3 didn't win; that honor went to another team in that 11:30 a.m. grouping. Overall, the team consisting of Michelle Burke, Justin Prendergast, Kyle Price and Kristen Walsh from an earlier session won the title "Best Burger in Town."Kostelnik was happy with the day's outcome and expects to build on its success."We modeled this after the food shows on television," she said. "They learned how to keep coals hot, how to troubleshoot and find alternatives, how to work cooperatively, to use their cutting skills, create a recipe and present the cooked items properly. We'll do this again."That was delish ....And the winner of the "Best Burger in Town" is:Kitchen 2 in the 11:45 a.m. class"The Real Deal" sliderIngredientsOne pound of ground beef, mixed with:One tablespoon of minced onionTwo tablespoons of grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeseThree slices of minced/chopped cooked baconA pinch of salt and pepperAdd:One lettuce leafTwo slices of tomatoesThree slices of picklesThe members of Kitchen 2 in the 11:45 a.m. class are:Michelle BurkeJustin PrendergastKyle PriceKristen WalshThis is great. It teaches life skills. It's also great to have people from the outside come to the school and pass some small judgment on what students do. It gives us a flavor of what goes on in the school besides just academics."Woodbury Supervisor John Burke, one of the judges at the Monroe-Woodbury "Best Burger in Town" contest

Not your father's White Castle hamburgers

For this session, community judges Sandy Leonard, Town of Monroe supervisor; and John Burke, Town of Woodbury supervisor, would join David Bernsley, the high school's principal, in sampling and selecting the best team recipe.

Understanding how cooking calamities can happen to even the best chefs, they patiently waited to be served, and focused on what they felt their participation represented.

"He (Bernsley) wanted to reach out and get the community involved in school events," said Leonard. "I love burgers. This is a cheat day for me. Plus it's one heck of way to take time out from the office."

Her Woodbury counterpart agreed.

Quickly, the teams returned with their fully cooked selections, and the judges settled in for six different slider tasting options.

And, these were not your father's White Castle hamburgers either.

Leonard enjoyed Kitchen 5's vegetarian option: portabella mushroom with avocado spread.

"It was very creative," she said. "Instead of meat, the mushroom and avocado spread was very different."

Kitchen 4 team's presentation of its homemade sauce topping got Bernsley's attention.

"You made this sauce homemade?" he said. "That goes a long way. I'm about to burst (from all the food)."

In addition to creativity, taste and visual appeal, describing the work done was also important.

Secret ingredient

"We made it straight from the heart," said Ryan Manusco, who represented Kitchen 3. "We plotted the perfect formula. George Foreman himself said it was a mean burger."

Manusco described the burger mixture: a Swiss cheese and bacon blend with ground beef featuring oregano, habanera and picante sauces.

Don't forget the secret ingredient: chocolate, yes, chocolate sprinkles.

Despite their unique ingredients, Kitchen 3 didn't win; that honor went to another team in that 11:30 a.m. grouping. Overall, the team consisting of Michelle Burke, Justin Prendergast, Kyle Price and Kristen Walsh from an earlier session won the title "Best Burger in Town."

Kostelnik was happy with the day's outcome and expects to build on its success.

"We modeled this after the food shows on television," she said. "They learned how to keep coals hot, how to troubleshoot and find alternatives, how to work cooperatively, to use their cutting skills, create a recipe and present the cooked items properly. We'll do this again."

That was delish ....

And the winner of the "Best Burger in Town" is:

Kitchen 2 in the 11:45 a.m. class

"The Real Deal" slider

One pound of ground beef, mixed with:

One tablespoon of minced onion

Two tablespoons of grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese

Three slices of minced/chopped cooked bacon

A pinch of salt and pepper

One lettuce leaf

Two slices of tomatoes

Three slices of pickles

The members of Kitchen 2 in the 11:45 a.m. class are:

Michelle Burke

Justin Prendergast

Kyle Price

Kristen Walsh

This is great. It teaches life skills. It's also great to have people from the outside come to the school and pass some small judgment on what students do. It gives us a flavor of what goes on in the school besides just academics."

Woodbury Supervisor John Burke, one of the judges at the Monroe-Woodbury "Best Burger in Town" contest

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