At the 2025 National Hardware Show Cookoff in Las Vegas, pitmaster Christie Vanover of Girls Can Grill represented Monument Grills and took home the $5,000 prize with a Thai-inspired, cheese-stuffed slider that wowed the judges and impressed the crowd.
This wasn’t just any burger. The bold creation featured ground pork, fragrant herbs, spicy mayo and melty mozzarella. Vanover made sure every bite was packed with texture, balance and flavor.
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“My jaw dropped to the floor when I took a bite of this. I looked around. I think everyone had the same response,” said Chuck Matto, the event emcee and founder of Chuck’s Flavor Train.
Celebrity Judge Tony Ramirez of TFTI BBQ even called it the best slider he’s ever had.
What Made It a Winner
The award-winning burger was built on three standout components:
- The Pork Patty – Seasoned with fish sauce, brown sugar, lime, ginger, garlic, shallots and Serrano pepper.
- Thai Basil Mint Chimichurri – A vibrant herb sauce made with cilantro, mint, Thai basil, garlic, lime, vinegar, oil and chili flakes.
- Spicy Mayo – A creamy mix of Japanese mayo and sriracha that added just the right kick.
Together, they created an umami-rich, herbaceous, spicy and fresh burger loaded with texture.
The Game-Changing Technique
Instead of melting cheese on top, Vanover hollowed out bakery-style hard rolls and stuffed them with shredded mozzarella. Then she pressed seasoned pork patties on top to seal everything in. When grilled, the bread crisped up on the outside while the cheese inside melted to perfection.
She cooked the burgers on the Monument Eminence 425 gas grill, carefully managing the temperature to avoid burning the bread while ensuring the meat cooked through to 160–165F degrees. Once done, she finished each slider with a generous smear of spicy mayo and a spoonful of chimichurri.
Served with Style
Each judge received a full slider, while the crowd was served quarters – and still couldn’t get enough. The burger delivered on all fronts: crunch from the bread, tenderness from the pork, richness from the cheese and a tangy, herb-packed punch from the sauces.
Want to make the $5,000 burger at home? The full recipe is available at Girls Can Grill.
Vanover also took home first place in the appetizer category, winning another $1,000. She grilled Filipino-inspired BBQ chicken thighs and layered them on purple ube waffles with spicy mayo and crispy rice noodles.
