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NEW LENOX, Ill. -
Mike Smyth is bringing the heat.
The New Lenox seventh-grader is a fan of hot peppers and other spicy foods. So when he saw a sign inviting kids to enter an original burger recipe in Red Robin's fourth annual National Kids' Cook-Off, he naturally thought of jalapeno poppers.
"I went on the computer and was surprised that no one's ever put poppers on a burger before," the 12-year-old said.
In addition to two jalapenos, Mike added a dollop of cream cheese and two slices of bacon to a one-third-pound patty and entered his Bacon Hot Popper Burger.
It won.
Locally, so far.
Mike's burger is one of 10 national finalists chosen by Red Robin from a pool of 11,000 entries. The public can go online and vote until Thursday, when the national winner will be announced. The kid chef with the most online votes will be named fan favorite and will receive a $100 gift card to Toys R Us.
On Thursday, the finalists will prepare their burgers in Denver for a panel of judges, including Robin Miller, host of the Food Network's "Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller."
If Mike wins, his burger will be featured at Red Robin restaurants next summer.
The winner also gets a trip to the Universal Orlando Resort in
Florida.
"But if I win, it means the rest of America loves my burger as much as I do," he said. "That would be awesome."
Mike learned how to cook from his dad, Mike Smyth Sr., who works for the city of Joliet.
"We both like spicy food and we both like to hang outside around the grill - just to get away from all the talking," young Mike said, referring to the frequent lively discussions among his mom, Kim, and his four older sisters, Erin, Jenny, Melissa and Katie.
But even if he doesn't win the national title, Mike said he knows his burger rocks.
"When I tasted the burger with the hot poppers and the cream cheese, I thought it was wonderful. Then I added the bacon and it made it even better," he said.
John Domina, manager of the Orland Park Red Robin, said Mike's creation "is a great burger. We made it here and everyone loved it."
Melissa Smyth, 17, said she is very proud of her little brother.
"He's a great cook, a hothead, like my dad," she said. "They both love spicy food. They grow their own peppers in a garden, too."
A Boy Scout, Mike often is called to plan the menu, do the shopping and then cook for the rest of his troop on campouts. He also participates in wrestling and volleyball at Liberty Junior High School in New Lenox. His favorite TV shows are "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" on the Food Network and "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel.
When he grows up, Mike hopes to open a restaurant of his own.
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On the Net: http://www.redrobin.com/thefinalists/
The New Lenox seventh-grader is a fan of hot peppers and other spicy foods. So when he saw a sign inviting kids to enter an original burger recipe in Red Robin's fourth annual National Kids' Cook-Off, he naturally thought of jalapeno poppers.
"I went on the computer and was surprised that no one's ever put poppers on a burger before," the 12-year-old said.
In addition to two jalapenos, Mike added a dollop of cream cheese and two slices of bacon to a one-third-pound patty and entered his Bacon Hot Popper Burger.
It won.
Locally, so far.
Mike's burger is one of 10 national finalists chosen by Red Robin from a pool of 11,000 entries. The public can go online and vote until Thursday, when the national winner will be announced. The kid chef with the most online votes will be named fan favorite and will receive a $100 gift card to Toys R Us.
On Thursday, the finalists will prepare their burgers in Denver for a panel of judges, including Robin Miller, host of the Food Network's "Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller."
If Mike wins, his burger will be featured at Red Robin restaurants next summer.
The winner also gets a trip to the Universal Orlando Resort in
Florida.
"But if I win, it means the rest of America loves my burger as much as I do," he said. "That would be awesome."
Mike learned how to cook from his dad, Mike Smyth Sr., who works for the city of Joliet.
"We both like spicy food and we both like to hang outside around the grill - just to get away from all the talking," young Mike said, referring to the frequent lively discussions among his mom, Kim, and his four older sisters, Erin, Jenny, Melissa and Katie.
But even if he doesn't win the national title, Mike said he knows his burger rocks.
"When I tasted the burger with the hot poppers and the cream cheese, I thought it was wonderful. Then I added the bacon and it made it even better," he said.
John Domina, manager of the Orland Park Red Robin, said Mike's creation "is a great burger. We made it here and everyone loved it."
Melissa Smyth, 17, said she is very proud of her little brother.
"He's a great cook, a hothead, like my dad," she said. "They both love spicy food. They grow their own peppers in a garden, too."
A Boy Scout, Mike often is called to plan the menu, do the shopping and then cook for the rest of his troop on campouts. He also participates in wrestling and volleyball at Liberty Junior High School in New Lenox. His favorite TV shows are "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" on the Food Network and "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel.
When he grows up, Mike hopes to open a restaurant of his own.
------
On the Net: http://www.redrobin.com/thefinalists/
