When it comes to green chile cheeseburgers, Santa Fe is evolving thanks in part to an annual competition that was founded by Tourism Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute.
Launched in 2013, the Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown was originally about “finding the best green chile cheeseburger in Santa Fe.” However, it has since evolved into finding the best green chile cheeseburger in the state of New Mexico.
Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown – How it Works
- Restaurants sign up to be a part of the competition.
- A panel of judges visit each restaurant to taste each green chile cheeseburger entry then determine which seven creations will face off in the one-day “smackdown” event.
- The public is invited to the smackdown event (entry fee required) held in Santa Fe. Each attendee casts a vote for the green chile cheeseburger he/she likes the most.
- There are *two prizes awarded – the judges’ choice (CHOMP Winner) and the public choice (People’s Choice Winner).
There is a lot of tough competition for the coveted CHOMP and People’s Choice prizes. The winner gets bragging rights (and tourist interest) for having the best green chile cheeseburger in the state.
Take a look at this promotional video from 2018.