Red Robin Kids' Cook-Off burger now on menu [giveaway]

Updated on Monday, August 8, 2011 at 10:10AM by Mommycosm

Last December I traveled to Colorado to cover the Red Robin Kids' Cook-Off Competition.  It was so much fun to be there first-hand and the burgers created by the kids were scrumptious.  I SO didn't envy the judges having to pick just one as the grand prize winner.

So... want to try the winner burger yourself?

You finally can :)

From Tuesday, July 26 to Sunday, September 11, 2011, Donovan's Mt. Vesuvius Burger is available at all Red Robin locations.  And this is the part I love most: Red Robin will donate 50 cents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for every burger purchased during the fundraiser period.

Click to read more ...

Red Robin 2010 Kids' Cook-Off recap video

Red Robin sent me a video that recaps the Kids' Cook-Off in Denver.  It was so much fun to be there behind the scenes.  I remember most of these clips being shot.  They did a great job...and how cute are the kids?!?!

Winner of 2010 Red Robin Kids' Cook-Off Championship

 I am home from the Red Robin Kids' Cook-Off Championship in Denver, CO.  What an event!

Unfortunately, my little friend Gavin did not win the grand prize.  He was completely adorable and extremely poised for a 7 year old.  I think he did awesome.  All of the kids were SO darn cute in their chef coats and hats.  They did such a fabulous job.  Red Robin made them feel like royalty and gave them all memories to last a lifetime.

Here's a shot of me with Gavin just before the event went live:

I also posed with Red, the Red Robin Mascot:

The grand prize winner was 12 year old Donovan from Kansas.  He also won the Fan Favorite award with over 2,000 online votes.  Wow.

Donovan is quite a ham and his The Mt. Vesuvius Burger is YUMMY.  It included ingredients like bleu cheese, lava sauce, provolone, and bacon.  You will see it on menus this summer at all U.S. Red Robin locations. Fifty cents from each one sold will support the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).  How cool is that?!

Also this summer, the 10 kid-chef finalists’ gourmet burger recipes, along with 40 other kid-invented burger recipes, will be included in a kids’ cookbook available for free download at RedRobin.com.  The NCMEC will feature child safety tips in the cookbook as well.

I must say, Red Robin did an stellar job running this event.  I come from an event background, so I don't toss that compliment around lightly.  Their staff was amazing and we got to catch a glimpse into their corporate culture during the run-through when they called for "unbridled acts of kindness" to kick it off. Apparently, they begin each meeting giving props to staff members for getting caught going above and beyond.  Love it.

I might not have a Red Robin in my immediate location, but they have earned a new fan in me.  I will definitely seek them out wherever my travels take me.

Red Robin paid all expenses for me to attend their event.  See my disclosure.

Red Robin Kids Cook-Off rehearsal pictures

Hello from Denver!

I arrived safely this afternoon at the Red Robin Kids Cook-Off and went right to work.  It was the big rehearsal day for the kids.  Gavin spent some time in the kitchen teaching the Red Robin chefs how to make his The Meatball Burger.

All of the finalists were given chefs coats and hats to wear tomorrow.  How adorable is he?!

No hair comments.  I've been traveling all day, people.  I'm starving and cannot wait to eat at Red Robin in a bit for dinner.  Also can't wait to get to know the fellow blogger correspondents tonight.  Seems like a fun group.

Also, during the rehearsal tonight they hinted at a surprise celebrity judge.  Interesting.

Watch live tomorrow if you can.  12 noon back in Boston.  I'll tell you all about it when I get back on the east coast.

Watch the Red Robin Kids' Cook-Off live webcast on 12/09/2010

I can't believe it is finally here! 

By the time you read this, I will be on my way to the Red Robin Kids' Cook-Off in Denver, CO to be the Boston Correspondent.  I am very excited to cover the event and hope the judges love Gavin's The Meatball Burger as much as I do!

The championship competition will be shown via live web cast on Thursday, 12/09/2010 at 10am (MT).  If you would like to watch, please register.