Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back Burger Week for its third year, drawing in another delicious offering of hamburgers from select participating restaurants. The week-long event kicks off April 26.
According to Susan Gregory, executive director of Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, the goal behind the event is to highlight and promote the restaurants that are participating while also bringing the community together for a fun competition that embraces the culinary offerings in the community.
“It began as a way to promote our local restaurants as really to the locals, but just before season to kind of get some hype and excitement before season kicks in,” she said.
A dozen local restaurants will be participating in the event, which include Happ’s Place, Chile Loco, Slopeside Tavern, El Manzanillo Mexican Restaurant, The Fix, The Local, Village Pantry of Cashiers and Fast Break Food Truck. Additional restaurants include On the Side, Whiteside Brewing, The Zookeeper Bistro and Micas Mountain Kitchen.
“We’re hoping you might go to a place you normally have or maybe haven’t gone try a new place. I think it’s awareness of that they are a business in the community, a restaurant in the community,” she said.
Each burger will be available for only $10 a la carte. Participants must have a passport to receive the offerings. Passports can be picked up at the Chamber’s office, which will then be stamped at each restaurant that they participate in.
“We want people to participate and pick up the passports from the chamber. We want people to take the passports with them and create excitement. Talk about the burgers, vote for their favorite, vote for the most creative, and then come and join us at the wrap party,” she said.
Those that receive at least three stamps are eligible to vote for their favorite burger. Those that receive five or more are given the opportunity to win a prize. After entering their votes, participants can mail or drop off their passports at the Chamber’s office.
“We’re going to have some live music. We look forward to having our back patio, look forward to having everybody hopefully defending our title,” said Derek Franks, general manager of Happ’s Place.
Happ’s Place previously won last year’s title of favorite burger, which in turn now gives them the opportunity to host this year’s wrap party, where winners will be announced and given prizes. The wrap party will be held on May 14 at 5 p.m.
“All participants, as part of their participation, they donate a gift certificate back to their restaurant. So, you might win a gift certificate. And then we have other businesses in the area,” Gregory said.
Gregory said she hopes the event will encourage community members to try out different places in the area, with the goal of bringing more awareness to the various restaurants in the community alongside encouraging participants to try their other offerings alongside the burgers.
“I’m proud of the cashier’s community and how we come together and support one another, and we have fun even in ways of going out and dining together,” she said.