Jennifer Beckman

2011 Grand Prize Winner

Former lawyer, now stay-at-home mom from Falls Church, Virginia

Inspiration for the Screen Porch Burger

"My parents have retired to a small farm in Maine in the foothills of the White Mountains. Summers are short but hot, perfect for growing the armloads of sweet, crisp summer vegetables that my family and I devour when we visit. Happiness, for me, is sitting on the huge screen porch, listening to the tree peepers chirp, sipping a cool glass of Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc, and noshing on burgers filled with the farm's bounty: sweet corn, basil, scallions, heirloom tomatoes, and Mom's bread and butter pickles from just-picked cukes."

Memories of BBB:

"Wine. Burgers. Like-minded foodies. A couple of nights at a chic urban hotel. The opportunity to compete in a fantastic next-generation kitchen, and to grill on a roof deck overlooking the Chicago River. Face time with some of the country's hottest chefs. And then the adrenaline rush of winning a whopping check at the end of the trip....who wouldn't still be grinning, weeks later? This year's Sutter Home Build a Better Burger experience was thrilling, even before I won the Grand Prize.

"While I had a ball throughout my trip to Chicago, and was just charmed by all of the Sutter Home team members that so graciously hosted all of the finalists, my mental snapshot comes from the competition itself. Standing in my kitchen space at the World of Whirlpool center in Chicago, unpacking the best-of-class ingredients that Sutter Home executive chef Jeff Starr had sourced for me, I felt so present, so grounded in the moment...it was surreal, but also very comfortable. I enjoyed talking with the guests about my burger and hearing about their icon burger-on-the-grill moments. I let my frickle flag fly, passing out spare fried pickles to guests who asked nicely. And I gave thanks for the cool breeze coming off the river as I tried to grill the perfect patty.

"Obviously the money is a wonderful prize, and I am excited about the ways I can put it to use. But for me, the entire experience was a wonderful adventure, and I'm so appreciative to have been given the opportunity to play."

Other Notable Wins

First Place, National Cornbread Cook-Off, 2011
Grand Prize, Crisco Olive Oil's Mediterranean Inspirations Recipe and Essay Contest, 2011
Winner, Taste of Home Every Day Every Way Recipe Contest, 2010
Winner, Earth Balance Holiday Bake-Off, 2010
Finalist, Good Housekeeping's Cook Your Heart Out, 2010