Calling All Chefs: Join the Blended Burger Project and Win a Trip to Cook at The Beard House!
By: Sheri Wetherell
Published: May 11, 2016

The James Beard Foundation launches the 2nd annual Blended Burger Project, a competition challenging chefs to create tastier, more nutritious, and sustainable burgers by blending at least 25% mushrooms with any ground meat. The Blended Burger Project is open to chefs nationwide from restaurants of all cuisines.
Nearly 250 restaurants joined the inaugural challenge last year, creating a bevy of 'shroom burgers known as The Blend. This year, the James Beard Foundation expects more than 500 restaurants to participate. Will you be one of them? If you are a chef or restaurateur, you can make a difference by reithinking the iconic burger. Create your own “Blended Burger” and feature on your menu from Memorial Day (May 30) through July 31 and you could win a trip to cook at the historic James Beard House!
	“The Blended Burger Project helps bring to life the work of our Foundation’s Impact Programs, which engage the culinary community in the process of creating a sustainable food system that provides nutritious and delicious food for all,” said Kris Moon, vice president of the James Beard Foundation. “We’re pleased to be partnering once again with the Mushroom Council on this creative educational campaign as a way to share the virtues of The Blend with chefs and diners across America.”

	Here are some of the top chefs and restaurateurs who have already pledged their participation this year:
Hugh Acheson (5&10, The National, The Florence and Empire State South, all in Georgia)
Jenn Louis (Lincoln and Sunshine Tavern, Portland, OR)
Jehangir Mehta (Graffiti, Me and You and Mehtaphor, New York, NY)
Mike Rakun (Marin Restaurant & Bar and Mill Valley Kitchen, Minneapolis, MN)
Maria Hines (Tilth, Seattle, WA)
Alex Seidel (Fruition, Denver, CO)
Tim Byres (SMOKE, Dallas, TX)
Bernie Kantak (The Gladly, Phoenix, AZ)
Mike Jenkins (Garces Trading Company, Philadelphia, PA)
 Prize:
	The five (5) chefs with the most online votes will win a trip to the historic James Beard House in New York City, where they will cook their Blended Burgers at the welcome reception for the annual JBF Food Conference, taking place October 17 and 18, 2016.  
 How Chefs Can Participate:
	1. Sign up here!
	 
	2. Create your "Blended Burger" by blending at least 25 percent fresh and chopped cultivated mushrooms into your burger patty. Learn more about The Blend here.
	 
	3. Send a high-res photo of your Blended Burger dish to Michelle Santoro for use in the online voting gallery.
	 
	4. Spread the word about the contest and your Blended Burger by creating buzz on social media. Encourage your guests to post your Blended Burger on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Promote the #BlendedBurgerProject hashtag and voting instructions on a chalkboard displayed in the restaurant.
	 
	5. Menu the dish throughout the promotion period of Memorial Day through July 31, 2016.
	 
	6. Ask your customers to vote for your Blended Burger right here on jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject.
 How Diners Can Vote:
	To help their favorite chef win an opportunity to cook their blended burger at the James Beard House, diners can:
	1. Visit participating restaurants and order the featured blended burger from May 30-July 31, 2016
	2. Vote for their favorite burger based on a set of judging criteria at jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject
	Note: No purchase is required to vote. Visit jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject to see a full list of participating restaurants nationwide, and all official voting and judging criteria.