Discover Newport has cooked up a delicious new promotion to celebrate local dining during our quieter time. The Newport Burger Bender is a simple "best burger" contest taking place Friday, February 17 through Sunday, February 26, 2017, during the Newport Winter Festival. Restaurants, which are limited to one burger submission, have entered both existing burgers as well as burgers created specifically for this event.

“This is just another example of how in our destination, the off-season is on,” said Kathryn Farrington, vice president of marketing at Discover Newport. “What better way to savor this extraordinary time of year? The fire is lit, the energy is palpable and the best seat in the house awaits!”

To date, 23 restaurants throughout Newport and Bristol counties have submitted diverse entries ranging from beefy burgers featuring local Aquidneck Farms beef (Brix at Newport Vineyards) to burgers topped with fried oysters (Midtown Oyster Bar). There’s also a bevy of creative entries including a pork belly and chorizo burger (Saltwater at Newport Harbor Hotel), “The Turducken Burger” featuring ground turkey and duck confit (Scratch Kitchen & Catering) and “The Woodsman,” a venison burger with herbed goat cheese spread and a wild mushroom medley (The Wharf Pub).

To vote, diners can go to the Newport Burger Bender website and pick their favorite burger. The contest is limited to 25 participating restaurants and the burger with the most votes will be crowned the winner. A “Critic’s Choice” winner will also be named by a lauded Rhode Island food critic.

Diners can tag their burger photos on social media with the hashtag #NPTrightnow. Tagged photos will be automatically entered to win daily giveaways. For the past few weeks, area chefs have been “bringing the heat” to The Rhode Show on WPRI 12/CBS Providence by cooking up their entries. Voting takes place throughout the entirety of the contest, Feb. 17 to Feb. 26, 2017.

 

ABOUT DISCOVER NEWPORT

Discover Newport is the official destination management organization (DMO) dedicated to promoting the City of Newport and the eight surrounding coastal townships in Newport and Bristol counties, Rhode Island. These include Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Warren. As a non-profit organization, Discover Newport partners with stakeholders throughout our tourism and hospitality industry to market the region as a premier destination for business and leisure travel. DiscoverNewport.org

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