Chile cheeseburger contestants picked

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Twenty restaurants will compete for green-chile cheeseburger greatness during the New Mexico State Fair on Sept. 22.

The Governor's Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge was announced after an episode of Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" put the celebrity chef's green-chile cheeseburger against one from the Buckhorn Tavern of San Antonio, N.M.

It was open to commercial restaurants across the state. The deadline to enter was originally Friday, Sept. 4, but the entry period was extended to Sept. 15.

The maker of the winning cheeseburger will receive a plaque and an automatic entry onto the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail, which is being created by the state Tourism Department.

The roster of contestants, according to a news release from the State Fair:

• 300 Club, Holiday Bowl, Albuquerque
• Airport Grille, Alamogordo
• Ancient Way Cafe, Ramah
• Badlands Burgers, Grants
• Bibo Bar & Grille, Seboyeta
• Burger Boy, Cedar Crest
• Chef Damon's Restaurant, Taos
• Chef's Bistro, Albuquerque
• Circle T Restaurant, Belen
• Don's Chuck Wagon, Blanco
• El Pinto Restaurant, Albuquerque
• Embudo Station, Embudo
• Fat's Sat Bar and Grill, Belen
• Home of the Laguna Burger, Laguna Superette, Laguna
• Independence Grill, Albuquerque
• Katrinah's East Mountain Grill, Edgewood
• Monte Carlo Steakhouse, Albuquerque
• O'Neill's Pub, Albuquerque
• Paso Monte Grill, Alto
• Sheepherder's Café, Albuquerque

The Roasted Clove in Angel Fire had originally been chosen to participate, but later dropped out.

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Also on the Web: NM Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail