A humble food truck in Co. Down has beaten off stiff competition from some of the most popular burger joints in the country to be crowned Ireland’s Best Burger as part of BurgerFest 2019 in association with Ballymaloe Foods. The Hatch, owned by chef Colin Johnstone and Bronagh Johnstone, takes home the Golden Burger trophy this year, with two-time winners Son of a Bun on Cork’s MacCurtain Street missing out on a hat trick by a sprinkling of customer votes. It was a hectic week, with venues nationwide going burger mad with events, tastings, challenges and demos. The Hatch, which has a cult following at locations in Kilkeel, Dundrum and Newcastle, pulled out all the stops for BurgerFest 2019, gifting their loyal customers a free burger for every one purchased. After winning Best Burger in Ulster in 2018, we are delighted to now win Best Burger in Ireland 2019, especially given the quality of the other entrants this year""We are so proud and grateful to receive this award to get recognition for our love for good food, local produce and hard work."

Source: Irish Examiner February 21, 2019 16:52 UTC