I pretty much swore off burgers after completing my list of the region’s 13 best in February. But I slipped out of greasy hibernation to judge the American River Burger Battle last Sunday, which pitted seven area restaurants (plus Sacramento Fire Department and Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District representatives) against each other at Discovery Park in South Natomas.

Some restaurants (Gami Burger, Moksa Barrel House) submitted the flagship burgers available on their daily menus. Others came up with new creations, like The Firehouse’s beef tenderloin/ribeye/flank steak patty with horseradish remoulade, blue cheese and pickled onions.

Metro Fire’s jalapeño inferno burger (two Oklahoma-style smash patties, housemade jalapeño salt and chipotle bacon onion jam on branded buns) was near the top of my book. But my No. 1 pick was the overall winner: Good Neighbor’s resuscitation of the Pangaea Bier Cafe burger featuring dry-aged beef, housemade pickles and bacon on a Bella Bru bun.

Read Judging Burgers Once Again on Abridged here!