Chef Brad Halsten earned the $1,000 grand prize in the TigerChef Video Contest with his California BBQ Burger recipe, a mouthwatering and creative twist on the California burger that he serves at his restaurant, The Burger Dive. His expert combination of spices and meats sets his invention far above conventional barbecue recipes. Halsten’s video stood out from those of many talented professional chefs, whose submissions included restaurant equipment demonstrations, signature recipes, and cooking techniques. The runner-up, the Houston Zoo’s Executive Chef Shane Miller, receives a $250 TigerChef gift certificate for his Southwest Blackened Tenderloin.

The Winning California BBQ Recipe

The California BBQ Burger holds a place of honor on the menu at Chef Brad’s Billings, Montana restaurant, The Burger Dive. Halsten’s recipe contains an impressive array of ingredients, from coffee to Cabernet Sauvignon. His personality and obvious natural talent shine in his video, which features him performing each step of the burger-making process. Using a truly original combination of wine, spices, vegetables, and even ketchup, Chef Brad concocts a sauce that packs in a maximum of flavor while maintaining a natural feel. He crowns his burgers with thin slices of beef rubbed with coffee and a fascinating variety of spices. Halsten clearly devotes a great deal of attention to the quality of his ingredients, right down to the burger buns. The result is a recipe that the restaurant owner can be proud to serve.

The Burger Dive Philosophy

A newcomer to the food service industry, Chef Brad and his wife, Andi, opened The Burger Dive in 2010 with the help of his father, Gary. Despite a lack of prior experience, the team’s business has flourished. The can-do, upbeat attitude that Chef Brad exhibits in his winning video submission has served him and his team well in the business aspect of the endeavor. As he explains in the video, Halsten makes industry trends his own by supporting local suppliers and using fresh, healthful ingredients. His coffee comes from a local roaster and his burgers sit on buns from a local bakery. The Burger Dive features a menu full of dishes that Chef Brad and his team create in-house. “I love what I do and enjoy the chance to go to work every day,” Chef Brad notes. A look at the video confirms these words, especially when contemplating the considerable effort and experimentation that must have gone into creating such a complex and beautifully orchestrated recipe. Chef Brad enjoys as his prize a $1,000 TigerChef shopping spree for a plethora of restaurant equipment and industry essentials as well as valuable exposure in the form of online features on TigerChef.com and social media outlets. Congratulations to Chef Brad and the whole Burger Dive family!

Filed under: Give-Aways • TigerChef News • Recipes

Tags: barbecue recipe, bbq recipes, california burger, restaurant equipment