Community members gathered in the streets of downtown Opelika to taste test burger creations from some of Opelika's and Auburn’s best burger chefs at the annual Burger Wars Saturday.
This year's event was Opelika Rotary's fourth year hosting Burger Wars. In this year's competition, 25 teams competed.
“We were just trying to come up with [a fundraiser] that was interactive and could involve people in the community,” said Brooke Kastner, who helped put on the competition. “It’s always been in conjunction with Touch-A-Truck so we could draw people that are already downtown to participate with that as well.”
The competition was divided into three categories corporate, tailgater and professional.
In the corporate division, ABS Business Systems of Auburn came in first with the “Good Burger.” Jericho and Rebecca Wilson with the “Devine Bovine” burger won first-prize in the tailgate devision. In the professional division, La Cantina’s "Border Burger" won first-place.
Proceeds from Burger Wars go to East Alabama Foodbank’s backpack program, which works with Opelika schools to provide children in need with food to help sustain them over weekends.
“[Burger Wars] gets bigger every year and more fun every year,” said Burt Harris, a competitor. “We entered last year and got second place, this year we’re going for first place.”
The judges deliberated in the Red Clay Brewery where portions of each team’s burger were presented to them. Many teams added side items, such as corn on the cob and coleslaw, to their plate as decoration.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller has judged the competition since it began.
“Several years ago when they first had this they asked me to judge," Fuller said. "You can tell I’ve never met a burger that I didn’t like. I’m grateful that they keep asking me back, but it’s a lot of hamburgers to sample.”
Both the Red Clay Brewing Company and the John Emerald Distillery were packed during Burger Wars as attendees sought relief from the heat and a cool drink. This year, the John Emerald Distilling Company had a team in the burger competition.
Their focus when creating their "four booze" burger for the competition was to incorporate their products into it, Jimmy Sharp, head distiller, said.
Their meat was marinated in John Emerald whiskey, and their onions were caramelized with their rum. Their pickles were made were their gin, and their brandy was added to the sauce they used.
“The events have been in our front yard for a couple of years now, and we decided it was about time we participated,” Sharp said.
Each year during Burger Wars, the Auburn and Opelika Fire Departments compete in the Big Bite Battle, a four-part relay race sponsored by Niffer’s Place.
The first firefighter on the relay team ate an entire niffasaurus, the largest burger Niffer's Place serves. The next firefighter ate one of Niffer’s giant cookie desserts. The third firefighter then drank a full pitcher of water. Finally, the last firefighter put on a firefighter’s protection suit.
“I’m excited and I’m pretty hungry,” said Andrew White, Opelika firefighter, before he participated in the relay.
The Auburn Fire Department has won the relay the last three years. In this year's relay, the Opelika Fire Department gained an early lead which allowed them to win the relay this year.
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