The meatiest time of the year 183 local eateries participate in Le Burger Week By: Eva Wasney Posted: 5:18 PM CDT Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023

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This article was published 31/08/2023 (761 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two weeks, specialty patties, lunch rushes, consumable creativity and plenty of pop culture references on a sesame seed bun.

Le Burger Week kicks off its tour de gluttony today with 183 Winnipeg restaurants participating in the 12th annual national food festival, which runs until Sept. 14.

While there isn’t an overarching theme — such as last year’s plant-based push — dozens of local proprietors have created burger entries with timely and timeless cultural fascinations in mind.

Keep reading for a sample of some of the trendy offerings and visit leburgerweek.com for a full list of contestants in this year’s friendly competition.

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Movies

It’s no surprise that one of the biggest box-office movies of the year has been re-imagined in burger form. Diners will find two Barbie-themed burgers on the list, both made with bright pink buns. Find Malibu Barbie’s Dream Burger at the Merchant Kitchen, along with a cocktail ode to Aqua’s Barbie Girl; and the Supreme Barbie Burger at Rudy’s Eat & Drink — the latter has matching magenta cheese. (Oppenheimer also gets a nod via the Burgenheimer from Rae’s Bistro.)

Oddly, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s 27-year-old classic Good Will Hunting appears to be having a moment. Smitty’s Niverville is serving up a Good Dill Hunting burger, while State & Main Kildonan has entitled its entry “How do you like them apples?” — a reference to Will’s iconic line after nabbing Skylar’s number.

Get excited for the third instalment in Nia Vardalos’ My Big Fat Greek Wedding series (out Sept. 8) with Uptown Alley’s tzatziki-slathered burger of the same name. Other movie-inspired sandwiches include Il Padrino (The Godfather) at Nicolino’s Cucina Italiana, Tropic Thunder at Tavern United Polo Park and the Smokey Bandit at the PVG Street Eats food truck, which will be parked at Barn Hammer Brewing throughout the festival.

Music

Swifties unite! Nuburger is hosting a mini Eras Tour with three different burgers named after Taylor Swift songs. Find Anti-Hero at the restaurant’s Regent Avenue location, Cardigan at Kenaston and You Belong With Me at Stradbrook. Burger buyers will also be entered into a contest to win official Taylor Swift tour merch. Boston Pizza is following a similar theme with its Ancho-Hero burger.

NA-na-na-na-NA-na-na — good luck getting Will Smith’s ‘97 earworm out of your head after eating the Gettin’ Chili Wit It burger from Hudson Bagels. Hip-hop groups N.W.A. and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony also get props with the Straight Outta South Osborne burger from the Oakwood and the Bone Burgz-N-Harmony creation from Kyu Grill, respectively.

And Hilary Duff’s short-lived singing career has been immortalized by the fittingly cheesy Dillary Truff burger from Original Joe’s Kenaston.

Television

Like many watchers, Marion Street Eatery has pulled real-life culinary inspiration from The Bear — an FX fictional series about the perils of restaurant ownership and back-of-house dynamics. The St. Boniface restaurant has named its burg after the show and topped it with a Boursain-filled omelet and sour cream-and-onion chips (“the type with ridges”) à la chef Sydney’s now-iconic recipe.

SpongeBob SquarePants gets two shout outs via the Krabbie Baddie Burger from James Avenue Pumphouse Food & Drink and the Bikini Bottom burger from Smitty’s Kenaston.

Four Crowns Restaurant & Bar has harnessed the power of Adam West’s nocturnal crimefighter with its Batman Burger! BANNGG!! BOOOMM!!! POW! (yes, that’s the full name). Diners are invited to dress up in their Batman best to get a discount; a portion of the sale proceeds will be donated to Winnipeg Crime Stoppers.

Sports

Basketball phenomenons and professional wrestlers are facing off this Burger Week.

Meal Set Bistro is hoping for a slam dunk with its Sea Bear-Grrr burger, inspired by Winnipeg’s new professional basketball team. The Academy Road restaurant has opted for a teal blue bun to match the team’s colours.

Kyu Bochi has, likewise, gone with Lakers gold and purple for the bun of its “Black Mamba” Tribute to Kobe burger — made with charcoal-blackened chicken.

Underdogs have entered the ring with an Undertaker burger named after the famed WWE heel. Georges Burgers and Subs has gone old school with its Gorgeous George creation, referencing the flamboyant, pompadour-sporting wrestler of the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Local Touchstones

What’s more local than construction? IHOP has tapped into Winnipeg’s most frustrating season with its Road Work Ahead burger — a dill-filled play on the chain’s chicken and waffles.

Golden Boy Bistro has submitted a Golden Boy Burger in honour of Winnipeg’s favourite nude landmark while the Lounge at Fairmont has gone with a Golden Bison Burger, complete with edible gold leaf.

In an apparent dig at one of the province’s major waterways, Tavern United Windsor Park has a Not Your Red River Cajun Catfish Burger on the menu, made with catfish from New Orleans.

“Friendly Manitoba” doesn’t have quite enough kick. Headingley Grill has revamped the provincial slogan with its Spicy Manitoban Burger, made with jalapeño cheese, perogies and spicy pickles.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @evawasney