4. Cedar’s Cafe
Chef Toni Elkhouri broke down the ingredients of a classic burger at Cedar's Cafe, her restaurant in Melbourne, Fla. “I’m Lebanese, so I always have to pay homage to that flavor profile,” she says.
Elkhouri set out to make surprising substitutions for familiar toppings, such as using tahini and Greek yogurt in place of mayo. She also used homemade pomegranate ketchup and banana pepper mustard with curry powder.
She choose three different mushrooms to blend with the beef and topped her creation with goat cheese, peppery bacon, spinach and avocado. Fig jam and a ciabatta bun round out her entry. “I wanted to create something where if you listed all the ingredients, mentally, you don’t think it works; but when you take a bite, you’re like, ‘It works,’” she says.