La Palma Burger Crowned the Winner of the National Gourmet Burger Championship

innerSpain’s most creative burger has been crowned at the 36th edition of the Salón Gourmets in IFEMA Madrid, where the national Gourmet Burger championship was held.

El Baifo Street Food restaurant, located in Santa Cruz de La Palma, won the coveted Burger Combat and left judges and the audience amazed with their unique and delicious creation called “Benahoaritas”. The author, Mariana Hernandez, is a young cook who has demonstrated her culinary skills by combining pretzel bread with 15 – day old matured beef from Palmera island, vacuum-cooked goat meat stew, cheese sauce from La Palma, and goat leg ham.

However, El Baifo Street Food was not the only impressive burger in the competition. Sergio Sanz, from Pólvora in Madrid, came in second place with his white shell crab tempura burger, shiso leaf, sweet soy reduction, kimchi mayonnaise, and butter. Sanz opted for a non-conventional version of the burger and has made it clear that he is willing to think outside the box when it comes to cooking.

In third place, Javier Almado, from El 2 de Gasteiz in Vitoria, presented “La Vacuna 2.0”, a burger based on 90 day old matured beef chop, roasted piquillo pepper sauce and mayonnaise, raclette cheese, guanciale, and grilled pineapple with rum and cinnamon, a nod to his Venezuelan origins.

The jury, composed of gastronomy experts such as Iñigo Urrechu and Juan Antonio de la Rica, evaluated the most ingenious flavor combinations, presentation, harmony, and innovation in the ingredients used. In addition, the most popular burger of the event was “La Amante” created by Sergi Mateo Lladó of Hamburguesería Paradise in Girona.

Mariana Hernandez, the crowned winner of this competition, said she will add her winning creation to the menu of her restaurant, stated that for her, the perfect burger is one that tells a story, has heart, and shows the work and history behind the dish.

With this victory, Marianna has gained the prestige and admiration of her colleagues and the public, demonstrating that innovation and creativity are key in the world of gastronomy.

A HUGE Congratulations to Marianna and everybody that participated!