Best burger?

CIBOLA COUNTY - A challenge was issued to all restaurants in the state by Governor Bill Richardson to prove who has the best green chili cheesburger.

    In response, Cibola County has come forward with three of its best burgers to compete in the outdoors cook off, held at the State Fair on Sept. 22 at 3 p.m.

    Bibo's Bar and Restaurant, Badland's Burger and Laguna Development Corporation are expected to compete in the event.

Badland’s

GRANTS - The famous 'Millie Burger' goes back to Chile Kicks, the restaurant in the building before Badland Burgers arrived. Millie Chavez owned Chile Kicks and her son, Daniel, is owner of Badland Burgers. The burger joint is right across the street from the Phillips 66 convenience store on Santa Fe Avenue and west of Habiger's Service Printing.

    The burger consists of two one-third pound patties, guacamole, cheese and bacon. The burger costs $6.95 with fries. The meat purchased by Shamrock Foods of Albuquerque is 80 percent lean.

Daniel said that nearly 80-90 percent of their orders are for the Millie Burger.

    “People love it,” Daniel said.

“It's a big burger. You won't go away hungry,” he added. “You can order it with a one patty, double patty is too much for me.”

Daniel's older brother, Steven, is the person responsible for naming the great burger sandwich.

What is the special seasoning in the burger? “It's special,” Daniel told the Beacon. “Very simple, but special.”

    Daniel said on Wednesday that an old friend named Gary Chavez is the person who taught him how to cook a burger. “This goes way back… Gary made the best burgers around right in his home and today, I used that same technique.” Again, Daniel would not share the details.

When asked if he was nervous about the contest on Tuesday at the State Fair, he said, “I am very nervous, I want to be sure and meet the qualifications for the Environmental Inspection.”

Daniel will be creating the famous burger at the fair. The contest starts at 3 p.m.

    Armed with only two chefs, secret recipes and a gas grill the cooking will produce three burgers for sampling for three judges. After testing the state's best, the judges will select the winner of the challenge and present the restaurant with a plaque.

    The New Mexico Tourism Department is also holding separate promotion for a Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail. Patrons are encouraged to vote for their favorite at http://newmexico.org/greenchilecheeseburger/cheeseburger_ballot.php.

    The most voted sites will be entered on a map where visitors can find the wide variety of delicious choices New Mexicans have selected.

Bibo Bar

    Joeseph Hanosh built a warehouse in 1913 along the main road that runs through the town of Bibo, Little did Hanosh know, that warehouse would be converted into the Bibo Bar and Restaurant.

Eddie Michael, the current owner, said he has been serving the locals of Bibo since he was old enough to put a beer on the counter.

In 2000, Michael decided the bar needed to add food to their menu. Instead of prepackaged, microwaveable food, he decided the restaurant would make the highest quality of choices.

    “All of the ingredients are hand picked,” said Michael of his food. He travels down to Hatch every year and picks up 1,000 pounds of chili, one-half ton, to ensure the patrons receive the “same, quality burger every time.”

    After finding a secret seasoning he was comfortable with, the Bibo Half Pound Burger was ready for customers.

    “In the beginning, we didn't really advertise,” said Michael. “People found out about the burger through word of mouth.”

    Now, bikers from Albuquerque longing for a nice country ride frequent the establishment as well as drivers from around the county. All of who enjoy the burger or homemade battered chicken.

A man enjoying a refreshing beer said he comes to the bar six times a week and mostly gets the burger. Without a doubt, he said, “the burger is the best in the county.”

Laguna

    The origins of the Famous Laguna Burger started in a small supermarket, where freshly ground beef was always available. Locals could grab a quick lunch for a small price and be on their way with one of the county's best kept secrets.

    The Laguna Development Corporation began looking for a promotional food that could serve thousands of drivers along the interstate and that would become world famous. According to LDC Director of Retail Charles Archuleta, the corporation visited top dining sites around the nation as far as San Antonio and out to California.

    “We looked at what burgers were good and what they lacked,” said Archuleta.

But the best burger they could find was right in Laguna's backyard.

With some minor recipe changes the Famous Laguna Burger was born and found to be an instant success with locals and travelers alike.

    “If you look in the log book of visitors,” explained Dominic Orosco, “the majority of people have found the Laguna Burger through word of mouth and recommendations.”

    The burger continues the tradition of quality ingredients coming straight from the supermarket and onto the plates of loyal customers.

    “This is the best burger,” one patron said. She said her family has tried the other top burger joints in the county but continues coming back as often as they can.

My favorite burger... by Mark Teshima

This week I have explored the best Green Chili Cheeseburger recipes in Cibola County. The delicious, original burgers each have large fan bases and people swearing by them as “the best.”

With a round trip of 100 miles, I am not the first to find the perfect green chili burger, but it has been exciting to travel historic Route 66 in my quest.

    These are my findings, but are only subject to my opinion.

The Famous Laguna Burger is the best deal, bottom line. A near-starving passerby can get off I-40 and in less than a minute be into the Conoco ordering the delicious meal, of fries, soda and burger for $4.99. I found the fresh, hand packed half pounder to be the juiciest and one of the best values in the state. This burger is on its way to becoming a world famous burger.

    The Millie's Burger from Badlands is nothing short of flavor-filled green chili, guacamole, bacon cheeseburger . . . that reminds me of a home cooked burger. A Grants or Milan resident can stop in, have their own table, and enjoy a full lunch for $6.95 before heading back to work. Each bite into the two one-third pound patties provides as much flavor as the previous. My advice is to eat fast before you fill up or plan to take a readily available to-go-box. Easily the best burger in Grants/Milan area.

    The Bibo Bar and Restaurant Half Pound Burger has perfected its seasoning and is my favorite for a couple of reasons. The first is the beautiful drive to the Bibo Bar in eastern Cibola County. The scenic route through a green valley and arrival at a quaint village-looking bar hypes up my expectations. A glossy, hand made wooden bar awaits me and I can't help but order a refreshing beverage as the burger is being made.

    The cost of Bibo Burger ala carte is $5.50 and $7 with fries.

The quality air and the peaceful setting help the burger to be one of the best experiences in Cibola County. However, without the glossy wooden bar nor beautiful drive, the Bibo Burger may not compete as well at the State Fair challenge away from its home.

    The competition not only applies to the food itself. It's a long-standing controversy as to the spelling of the pepper plant. Some spell it chili, others chile, but most agree it's a great way to spice up any burger recipe.

    No matter who becomes the winner of the challenge, Cibola County residents ought to be proud to have their favorite among the best in New Mexico.