Posted by Chillicothe Gazette, OH on November 12, 2009 at 13:07:16:
Chillicothe youth hoping her burger will become Red Robin menu staple
BY CHRIS BALUSIK • The Gazette staff • November 12, 2009
Emma Downing has been named one of 10 finalists out of more than 11,000 recipes submitted in Red Robin restaurant's Kids' Cook-Off and is second in the online fan favorite ranking with 145 votes.
Emma's "Flamin' Crispy Chicken Burger" will join the nine other finalists in a Dec. 3 Cook-Off Championship judged by Robin Miller, host of the Food Network's "Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller." During the event, which will be broadcast on the Internet, Miller will taste test all 10 burgers and settle on a winner.
Winning the contest is no small matter. In addition to traveling to Denver to compete and meeting Miller, the winner's burger will be sold at every Red Robin restaurant across the United States, with proceeds from its sales to benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In addition, the winner of the fan favorite competition will receive a $100 gift card and award of recognition. Voting for the fan favorite online will continue through the cook-off, but its results will not impact Miller's decision in the other competition.
Emma had few words Wednesday night to describe the anticipation of her trip to Denver.
"I'm happy that I'm in it," she said. "I'm looking forward to entering the (final) contest."
Emma informed the Red Robin online audience why she feels her burger deserves to win.
"It has lots of spicy stuff my dad likes, so we will come to the restaurant more often, and most dads like spicy stuff," she wrote. "It will get your restaurant more money."
Emma's father, Dusty, said the idea for the recipe was born when his daughter realized how much her mother likes crispy chicken and her father enjoys all of the spicy foods. She simply decided to mix the two tastes together.
Dusty said there wasn't much experimentation that went into finding the right combination of ingredients.
"It came really quick to her," he said. "We made it last week. It's delicious."
Emma's burger features a crispy chicken patty on a toasted sesame seed bun. It is loaded with jalapeno peppers, pepper jack cheese, crispy onion rings, spicy barbecue sauce, bacon strips, lettuce and a side of ranch dressing.
Ohio is the only state represented by more than one competitor among the 10 finalists. An "Awesome Cordon Blue Burger" from Mentor and "The Firey Clucker" from Ashville also are finalists.
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