GRAND PRIZE

The Healthy Butcher

After instructing his staff on how to cook the seven butcher shop burgers to his liking (medium rare, he insists), David Lee takes a seat at a table in his own restaurant. Armed only with a knife and fork, a napkin and three condiments (ketchup, Dijon mustard and mayo) for the tasting, Lee begins his best burger quest. The Healthy Butcher’s Mama Fiorucci prepared patty is an immediate hit: “I love the thickness of the patty,” says Lee, “and the quality of the meat.”   
Price: $19.82/kg
Location: 298 Eglinton Ave. W.

RUNNER UP – McEwan, 38 Karl Fraser Rd.

“I enjoy the simplicity of this burger,” says Lee, carefully considering the Bymark beef burger patty from McEwan. “It’s basically just ground meat.”
Price: $19.82/kg

THE SKINNY – Pusateri’s, 1539 Avenue Rd.

Taking a bite of Pusateri’s beef hamburger, Lee says that he’s found “a great everyday hamburger,” although the patty is a little too thin for Lee’s liking.
Price: $5.99/lb

STEAK-OUT – Bruno’s Fine Foods, 9665 Bayview Ave.

“I can taste a little rub or steak spice in this burger,” says Lee, tearing off a piece of Bruno’s Fine Foods’ seasoned beef patty. He concludes it’s “a bit too sweet” for his taste.
Price: $5.99/lb

GAME ON – Stuart Carroll Quality Meats, 7509 Yonge St.

“This one tastes a bit gamey,” says Lee, digging into Stuart Carroll’s Angus beef burger. “It’s pure, though,” he says, “not a lot of seasonings in there.”
Price: $5.99/lb

HOLY COW – Cumbrae’s, 1636 Bayview Ave.

Lee proclaims that Cumbrae’s patty is “a good burger,” although he can’t quite place the burger’s seasonings.
Price: $7.49/lb

FINE GRIND – Olliffe, 1097 Yonge St.

“This one isn’t bad either,” says Lee. Returning to Olliffe’s offering for another taste, he notes that, “There’s just a bit too much gristle” in the patty’s finely ground beef.
Price: $4/patty