Featuring Winning Pocipes fro Build Bettor Burger' Contest \ ••• • •• Light your summertime fires and create an award-winning burger. WRITTEN BY LYNNE KONSTANTIN I PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAN MILLS Every year, thousands of cooks from across the country compete in Sutter Home Winery's Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest and Cook-Off. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this annual search for America's best burger — and just in time to fire up our own July 4 grills — head judge James NcNair and culinary director Jeffrey Starr have published a collection of their favorite contest-winning burgers, plus party-ready menus bound to be a hit at any backyard bash. "A great burger is reason enough for a party," write McNair and Starr in Burger Parties: Featuring Winning Recipes from Sutter Home Winery's Build a Better Burger Contest (Ten Speed Press; $19.99). Nevertheless, the authors have let the burgers guide them in creating party themes for each section of the book, from "Big Fat Greek Night" and "Burgers in Paradise" (a tropical patio party) to a "Jamaican Me Hungry Caribbean Cookout" (which includes the Pineapple Upside-Down Jerk Burger, which we show, right), along with accompanying sides, desserts, cocktails and wine pairings — even party-plan- ning ideas to make your burger under the stars the very best it can be. PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN JERK BURGERS Austin, Texas, resident Gina Wilson made this Caribbean-inspired burger at the 2005 cook-off. "Celebrating the fresh fruits of the season," Wilson 2 ripe mangoes, finely chopped 1 large or 2 small ripe avocados, finely chopped 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilan- tro 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno chile 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice Jerk Marinade 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Y2 cup chopped green onions, including green tops 1 tablespoon seeded and chopped Scotch bonnet or habanero chile 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped garlic 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon ground allspice 1 tablespoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon ground cloves Pinch of ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons Sutter Home Zinfandel 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar FROM BURGER PARTIES: RECIPES FROM SUTTER HOME WINERY'S BUILD A BETTER BURGER CONTEST BY JAMES MCNAIR PUBLISHED BY TEN SPEED PRESS, A DIVISION OF RANDOM HOUSE, INC. P 1 2 • JULY 2010 • . 1N plat intim Mayonnaise 6 tablespoons mayonnaise (try Hellman's, or Miracle Whip for a parve version) 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice Salsa RECIPES REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION AND JEFFREY STARR, COPYRIGHT 2010. explains, "this spicy-sweet combination is the perfect summer burger recipe." Look for jalapeno buns in the bakery section of many large supermarkets. wa .444,11t, '.* ".14,1 11grAY ,:e • • ••• - :ZAII.411111 1441: - • Recipes on page P14