DeLand’s main street is no stranger to interactive community-centric events, and this month, one event is set to be just as delicious as it is entertaining.
The Athens Theatre is sponsoring and hosting the Cheeseburger in Paradise competition, where local restaurants go head-to-head to see whose featured burgers reign supreme.
Starting July 1 and ending Aug. 6, the community is invited to try out as many of the featured burgers as they can and then vote for their favorite.
Each location will have a QR code that links to a survey so diners can cast their votes. Come Wednesday, Aug. 9, the winner will be announced via the Athens’ social media pages. The restaurant that receives the most community votes for their burger will win a full-page color ad in the next playbill that the Athens puts out, four tickets to any Athens Theatre Company 2023-2024 production and, best of all, bragging rights.
As for the competitors? The lineup is looking stacked. At Chicas Cuban Cafe, they’re featuring the Frita Cubana, which is topped with crispy julienne potatoes and onions and a smoky spicy red sauce.
At Cress Restaurant, they’re offering a Prime Beef and Game Cheeseburger with Parmesan truffle fries. This one is made with a patty composed of a blend of premium beef, wild boar, duck and lamb, and is stacked atop housemade pickles, ketchup and aioli.
DeLand Eatery is offering it’s Smash Burger for consideration, which is adorned with caramelized onions, American cheese, shredded lettuce, sour pickles, and secret smash sauce.
The Parched Oak is featuring its Da Kine Teriyaki Pinappah Burgah, which is a teriyaki-glazed beef patty set over bacon-onion marmalade and topped with smoked Gouda cheese and a grilled pineapple citrus slaw.
And finally, BakeChop has entered its Allicin Wonderland burger into the ring, which is topped with a French onion reduction, housemade garlic aioli, Swiss cheese and house fried crispy onion straws.
For more information about the event, check out #athenscheeseburgerinparadise on social media, and stay tuned to see which local eatery has the best burger around.
Mmmmmm Cheeseburgers.
I will have to get me one or two to enjoy before the show at the Athens.