Winnipeg Beach’s own Carlo’s Cucina votede the best burger in Canada.
After two weeks of serving up The Magnifico, Carlo’s Cucina won Le Burger Week. It isn’t the first time the local restaurant has won the competition, either, having taken home the same title in 2021.
This year, Carlo Guzzi, owner of Carlo’s Cucina, created the first burger of its kind. An Italian-inspired burger, The Magnifico had Guzzi’s own caponata, an Italian relish-like sauce with eggplant, roasted peppers, garlic, white onion, and chili flakes, in a focaccia hamburger bun. The burger was complete with a five oz. certified angus beef patty, five slices of soppressata (a dry, Italian salami), Bothwell mozzarella cheese, arugula tossed in olive oil, Himalayan salt, black pepper, and a roasted garlic parmesan aioli.
The first-time creation won Carlo’s Cucina more than 2,500 votes, clinching them the win. Guzzi said this year’s Le Burger Week was their best yet, votes and all.
“Winning this year was the icing on the cake for us,” he said. “I wanted to showcased the Interlake and put it back on the map. We deserve to be here.”
Guzzi noted that being in a rural community like Winnipeg Beach makes it more difficult for them to get the exposure restaurants in Winnipeg get. To try Carlo’s Cucina’s burger, most people had to drive for over an hour, so the win is that much sweeter.
“Le Burger Week said they’ve never seen someone get so much exposure in such a little town,” said Guzzi. “They said the amount of ‘wow’s’ we got was the most in Canada.”
Guzzi said though he created the burger, the win is because of all Carlo’s Cucina staff. So, he’s getting a trophy made to commemorate the win that has each staff member’s name on it.
“A win’s a win, and we all win together,” he said.
Guzzi already has next year’s and the year after that’s Le Burger Week planned out. He said next year will be another first for customer’s taste buds and he plans to showcase Canada.
