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Securing the spatula
Junction House burger throws down in contest
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Shanah Hildebrandt, an employee at Junction House, said she was surprised to learn they had taken first place in the Green County Best Cheeseburger Contest. - photo by Marissa Weiher

MONROE — Shanah Hildebrandt listened to the names of the third and then second-place winners of Green County’s Best Cheeseburger Contest while she stood on the Green County Fairgrounds just over one week ago.

She figured the Junction House, where Hildebrandt works, didn’t win anything since first place was the only spot remaining. 

But then she heard Nelli Mcdermott, chair of the burger Contest, shout out the Throw Down Burger. Hildebrandt said her mouth dropped open in surprise. 

“It was exciting,” Hildebrandt said. 

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The Throw Down Burger features bourbon sauce, a slice of cheddar, onion rings, bacon and a deep fried apple slice. - photo by Marissa Weiher

Hildebrandt, who has worked at the bar and grill for about two years, powered through her nerves to give a small thank you speech after the announcement Aug. 16 at the 36th Annual Green County Beef Producers Steak-Out. Hildebrandt was asked by Junction House owner Charlie Bentayou to accept the award on his behalf while he was working out of town. 

Bentayou concocted the recipe for the burger over two years ago with a former employee and decided his family’s secret bourbon sauce recipe would be the key ingredient. The Jack Daniels bourbon sauce takes roughly four hours to make. Although he couldn’t attend the event, photos were sent to him of Hildebrandt accepting the oversized spatula with a surprised expression. 

Maggie Beaton, Hildebrandt’s mother and a fellow employee at Junction House, said the Throw Down Burger has always been the most popular burger on the menu and saw it as a “matter of time” before it would see success in the contest. 

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Shanah Hildebrandt, a cook at the Junction House, makes a Throw Down Burger, recently in the restaurant kitchen outside of Monroe on County J. The burger took the top prize in the Green County Best Cheeseburger Contest. - photo by Marissa Weiher

The Throw Down Burger features a beef patty, Bentayou’s bourbon sauce, a slice of cheddar cheese, two or three onion rings, two slices of bacon and a deep-fried apple slice all on a toasted pretzel bun. 

Beaton said the Throw Down Burger’s popularity has risen even more since it was deemed the winner. On Aug. 18 alone, customers ordered 17 burgers. 

The contenders with Junction House were the North Side Pub & Grill’s Roxie Burger and last year’s winner Papa Don’s Horseshoe Saloon’s Dream Burger 2.0. Papa Don took home third place while North Side secured second place in the contest. 

The contest asks public participants to visit at least five locations and vote on their favorite creation.

Mcdermott said more than 12,000 burgers were sold during the contest, which is at least 200 more than in 2017.

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The Throw Down Burger includes a homemade bourbon sauce and is served on a pretzel bun. - photo by Marissa Weiher

Mcdermott said when she saw how many votes the Throw Down Burger was getting she had to try it.

“I loved it,” Mcdermott said.

She also said she was glad she didn’t have to vote since she liked so many of the entries. 

As for Bentayou, Hildebrandt said he was excited to return to Monroe and the Junction House to check out the giant spatula award with the business’ name engraved on it — a welcome piece of decor to add to the restaurant.

“He was very proud,” Hildebrandt said.