Burger Wars on Again, Salad Skirmish Joins the Fray

The Burger War is back and it’s enlisted a crunchy side-kick, the Salad Skirmish!

Over 2000 burger lovers voted in the inaugural contest, according to Elaine Kemna-Irish,

Executive Director of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.  “By opening up to salads, we think that even more restaurants will take up the challenge”, Kemna-Irish added.

Ed Lakin, whose Edzo burgers won the 2013 Taste competition, said, “We thought  it was a fun event and we definitely benefitted from the publicity”.  Jim Pomerantz, a partner at BAT 17, who tied for the Best Presentation award thought the concept was terrific. According  to Pomerantz, “The competition engaged a lot of people, voting via Internet made it  easy to register your preferences and it was fun!”.  Like Little Island, who tied with BAT 17,  Pomerantz is looking for an even bigger event this year.

The three categories for the contest include Taste, Creativity and Presentation. Restaurants will be able to enter both the burger and salad categories.  On line voting will begin Wednesday, August 7, and conclude on Tuesday, September 17.  The winners will be announced at the MashUp, an annual event celebrating the educational, business and arts influences in the Evanston community the evening of September 17.

Voters can follow the addition of restaurants by checking out the Evanston Chamber of Commerce’s website, evchamber.com. Daily tweets will alert diners as to any specials promoted by the restaurants.  .  Beginning the week of August 12 and each week during the contest, one voter will also be randomly drawn for a restaurant gift card. 

Restaurants must be members of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.  For more information contact Elaine Kemna-Irish at 847-329-1500 X22 or

Jessica VanderBergh, X24.  

David Levine of Illinois Nut & Candy says, “Last year we won the Presentation award with a chocolate hamburger….just wait until  you see what we can do with a salad!” What will he and the other vendors do to make this competition fun and tasty too?

Forks and knives at the ready—the war has begun!