This November, one Colorado high school culinary team will see its own burger creation make it to the big leagues—and every bite you take helps fund the next generation of chefs. The Cherry Cricket has teamed up with the Colorado Restaurant Foundation (CRF) and the Colorado Beef Council to launch the Colorado Beef Burger Competition, inviting CRF’s ProStart students across the state to design a one-of-a-kind burger for a spot on Cherry Cricket’s November menu.
From August through September, the students pounded out their burger recipes, perfecting toppings and adjusting sauces. The top three teams presented their creation to the Cherry Cricket chefs, who selected the winning Bulgogi Burger, a ½ lb. beef burger topped with kimchi mayo red cabbage slaw, bulgogi sauce, green onions, and sesame seeds on a brioche bun. “Our chefs look for balance,” explains Melissa Brooks, VP of Human Resources with Cherry Cricket. “A winning burger should be creative and memorable, but also approachable—something guests will crave again and again.” Throughout November, you can order it for yourself at any of their four locations.
For every winning burger sold in November, $1 will be donated to the CRF to support ProStart, a two-year culinary and business management training course that enrolls more than 2,300 high school students statewide. The funds raised will directly support students earning industry-recognized credentials and work-based learning opportunities, as well as hosting a state competition involving over 200 students. The Colorado Beef Council also stepped in to support the program, helping students deepen their knowledge about the state’s signature ingredient.
Beyond the dollars raised and the bragging rights earned, the competition offers invaluable hands-on experience. Every student who participates gains real-world experience developing recipes, balancing flavors, and considering guest appeal, while also building confidence, creativity, and industry connections that will support their future careers. “High school is such a pivotal time for career exploration, and ProStart gives students hands-on experience in hospitality and culinary arts,” Melissa says. “We’re not only supporting the future of our industry, but also showing students that their ideas and talent matter today and not just someday down the road.”
With Cherry Cricket’s platform, Colorado’s aspiring chefs are getting a taste of what it means to create food that connects with an audience. And for guests, ordering November’s Bulgogi Burger is more than a meal—it’s an investment in the state’s next generation of culinary leaders.
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