Inaugural Patriot burger throwdown one of scheduled Patriot Days events

Dining services director Shannon Mariani is cooking up something special for this week’s Patriot Days, and he hopes it is just the recipe for a new University tradition.

Mariani plans to announce the winner of the inaugural “Patriot Burger Throwdown” — a contest for a new Grille Works menu item — at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the University Center.

“We are always looking to increase student involvement around campus,” he said. “So instead of our staff creating the new burger, we would like students to create a burger that the student population would like to see on the menu everyday.”

Mariani and marketing intern Meridith Jones created the online contest through Surveymonkey.com.

The survey allowed students to create a hamburger from five types of bread, six types of cheese, 10 toppings and seven spreads.

Patriot Burger Throwdown

“Every category online has an ‘other’ option to choose from to allow students the opportunity to type in a more creative ingredient,” Mariani said.

Junior criminal justice major Michael Neal won’t reveal exactly what is on his burger version, but said he plans to use spicy guacamole.

“The spicy guacamole adds a cool and creamy, yet spicy layer that offsets the steaming burger patty quite nicely,” he said.

Students and administrators judge the entries, and the winner receives $100 dining dollars and two free burgers each week until the end of the semester.

The second place winner receives $50 and one free burger each week. The third place winner receives one burger per week.

“Our intention is to do this the first week of every semester,” Mariani said. “This is our first year back in the University Center, but we would like to feature a different burger every semester as long as we are here.”