Congrats to the BBB 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
Meet Jennifer McNabb from Nashville, Tennessee, the 2024 Grand Prize Winner of Sutter Home’s 34th Build a Better Burger contest. She entered the contest 4 years in a row, and her recipe this year, the Burger Diane took home $25,000! We asked her about her inspiration, wine pairing and the best burger she’s ever had! Take a peek below to see what she had to say!
1. What inspired your homemade burger recipe?
My Dad introduced me to the mostly-forgotten steak house dish, Steak Diane, a long time ago. When my husband and I went to NYC 20 years ago, we ordered it and I just always remembered how delicious it was and the old school tableside service. When thinking about concepts for a new burger recipe, this popped into my mind. Similar to Sutter Home’s origin story, my concept was to make a high end steakhouse dish accessible and approachable in burger form and, let’s be honest, much more reasonably priced! I also wanted it to be easy to make, yet impressive if you have guests, kind of like tableside service.
2. What inspired your homemade burger recipe and wine pairing?
It was a no-brainer to pair Sutter Home’s Cabernet Sauvignon with this! Not only is it super accessible for all, but it’s on the drier scale for Sutter Home’s wines which pairs perfectly given the Diane sauce is a on the slightly sweet side.
3. If you had to choose one or two KEY ingredients that sets your recipe apart from the BBB contestants what would they be?
Hands down, it’s the Sutter Home Triple Cream Sherry! A Diane sauce is typically made with cognac, but I wanted the sauce for this burger to be sweeter and not as assertive as cognac so I created it with the sherry. It is ideal given all the other components of the burger and spices within the burger itself.
4. Did you first pair your burger recipe to wine, or the wine to your burger recipe?
I paired the wine to the burger. I had two Sutter Home varietals that made the “semi finals”, but the Cabernet Sauvignon made the final cut.
5. Can you remember where you had the best burger ever? If so, does your recipe now beat that memory?
I currently am in love with a burger here in Nashville that everyone must try! It’s at the restaurant, Tennfold, and it’s double smashed patties with koji pickles, kimchi comeback sauce, cheese and shredded lettuce. Similar to mine, the sauce is obsessible, but in a completely different flavor profile. Since they are totally different burgers in almost every way, I will say it’s a photo finish on which is better!
