By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
Watch out McDonald’s.
Move over Wendy’s.
Forget it Whopper.
It’s the Hazel Burger – and it was introduced at the Spear Ridge Café (11990 Mitch Dr.) Thursday afternoon.
And it was created by Piner Elementary third-grader Hazel Vice.
“She’s the newest chef on our menu,” Keli Manning, Spear Ridge Café Manager told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “Her amazing burger will appear in lights – on our menu – officially Monday – at both our Independence and Florence locations.
Now, you’re wondering – how did a third-grader manage to get a burger on the menu?
Earlier this month, Spear Ridge launched a “Design a Burger” contest for students across Kenton and Boone County. The community submitted dozens of ideas, including everything from a chili cheese Frito burger to a dessert-style sundae burger.
After thousands of online votes, the winner – Hazel.
“She had over 600 votes,” Manning said, “and we had a couple of hundred entries.”
So, what exactly is the winner?
Lettuce, Cheese, Mac-N-Cheese, Pulled Pork, BBQ Sauce, and a Pickle-on-Top.
“I had an idea for a burger,” Hazel told the Tribune, “and I just picked my own options. In fact, this is the first time I’ve actually seen it — and, of course, tasted it.”
Hazel prepared her first Hazel in the kitchen of the Spear Ridge, with her beaming mom overseeing everything.
“I am so very proud of her,” mom Chelsea Vice told the Tribune. “She fixes things at home that she likes. But cooking is not in her future – she wants to be an oral surgeon.”
Hazel – the winner—f ound out about her winning Hazel Burger Tuesday at school.
“It was part of the school announcements that day,” she said. “All the kids at school were happy for me.”
Of course, they were – Hazel wins hamburgers for a year at Spear Ridge – who wouldn’t want to be her buddy now?
“I entered the contest when I found out about it in school – I tried it, and, I won,” she proudly said.
The Hazel – with a drink and sides – will cost $14.99 starting Monday at both locations. In the meantime, Hazel – the winner, not the burger – will still help out mom in the kitchen at home.
“She’s in the kitchen about three-or-four-times a week with me,” Chelsea said. “Spaghetti, is one of her favorite dishes. Honestly, I think she’s a better cook than me.”
“We loved seeing the creativity from these kids,” said Timmy Croffoird, president of Spear Ridge Café. “We had entries from Kenton and Boone County grade schools and middle schools.”
The judging, he said, took a couple of hours – probably longer than the time it took for Hazel to whip up her Hazel.
“I’m not retiring from menu items, not yet,” she said after her first bite of her concoction. “Maybe I’ll do a salad or soup next.”