It’s the comfort food we’ve so desperately needed this year – our favourite local restaurants bringing their AAA-game to the week-long festival celebrating the best burgers in Canada.
This year, it will be called Le Cheeseburger Week.
With 130 restaurants participating (and even more on the waitlist), so far, Manitoba boasts the most entries that the festival has seen across Canada.
From September 1 to 7, every corner of Winnipeg will be cooking up cheesy creations. Vegans, lactose-intolerants, and haters of cheese (how could you?) fear not – the festival makes sure there’s something for everyone including veggie options, dessert burgers and gluten-free picks.
What’s new this year
Bringing everyone together and rallying around our culinary community during a tough time, Le Burger Week has replaced the voting system this year with a donate button to charity partnerships. Donations will go to United Way, focusing on food security programs throughout the city.
There will still be a winner as sponsors Lightspeed and Saputo will pick their favourite burgers.
A focus on take-out and delivery will also be key. Avoid visiting restaurants in large groups and make sure to follow social distancing protocols.
Plan your week
Get a head start by browsing through all 130 burgers at leburgerweek.com. This many cheesy burgers can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together a list of some of the burgers we’re most excited to try. Photos courtesy of Le Burger Week.
“Smoked Gouda Fondue Burger” – Amsterdam Tea Room & Bar
Ground chuck patty, smoked gouda cheese sauce, Dijon mustard, spicy dill pickles and onion jam on a Gunn’s bun.
“The Southern Style Chicken & Waffle Burger” – St. James Burger & Chip Co.
Juicy fried chicken prepared in a jalapeño infused maple syrup and complemented by a homemade garlic chilli aioli. The vibrant southern coleslaw and locally grown dill pickles add a light crunch. All of this is held between two golden brown waffles brushed with a cinnamon-sugar butter.
“Chad” – Nuburger at The Forks
Chad is on an everything pretzel bun. As always, this burger has a Manitoba free-range beef patty; featuring a bowl of homemade nacho cheese to dunk your burg! Also featuring sliced avocado, cucumber, fresh arugula, grainy mustard, mayo, and a slice of Bothwell Cheddar.
“The Mexi-Khan Burger” – Shawarma Khan
Shawarma Khan’s reputable beef, lamb and falafel patty (or just the vegan falafel patty) topped with sharp cheddar cheese and grilled pineapple, a mexi-khan cabbage slaw accompanied with avocado and chipotle garlic sauce.
“The Juicii-est Burger” – The Beer Can ft. KYU Grill x Kilter Brewing
Toasted brioche bun, AAA certified Angus beef patty, grilled pineapple, cheddar cheese, smoked maple bacon, green leaf lettuce, creamy feta mayo and "made-by-you” Juicii Kilter ketchup.
“Happyland Halloumi Burger” – The Ruby West
Baked Panko halloumi patty with veggie chorizo chilli topped with pickled onion, housemade slaw and cumin sour cream on a brioche-style bun.
“Fillet-CHO-Fish”–Chosabi Portage
Fillet-CHO-Fish is a Guinness Beer battered fish fillet topped with wakame seaweed salad, crab meat, chipotle mayo, and sweet soya all wrapped with a soft burger bun.
“The Calabrese Burger” – Gusto North 
Spicy boar + beef patty, provolone, calabrese fig jam, walnuts, pepperoncini aioli, arugula on a herbed brioche bun.
*****
Stay tuned for more on Le Cheeseburger Week 2020 and let us know your favourites as you try them!
