Hospitality Grad Student Creates a Burger Worth $10,000

Nayeli Lomeli/Staff Writer

She loves to cook and has been doing it as a hobby since seventh grade. Thirteen years later, she took home $10,000 for her original burger creation.

Ashley Hutchinson, a graduate hospitality management student, created the Elote Motive burger. Her recipe includes roasted corn, various kinds of cheese, lime juice, chile powder, cilantro and jalapeño.

“I’m Jamaican and this is a Mexican street corn burger. I was really going for something outside of my comfort zone. I really enjoy trying new things and challenging myself with new dishes,” she said.

Hutchinson entered the Red Robin Golden Robin Burger Contest and won a $10,000 scholarship and the chance to serve her creation at the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF).

SOBEWFF is a national, five-day event that showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities.

Hutchinson has volunteered for the event for the past three years and says this time will be special.

“It’s a little intimidating, but I can feel the love. Every year I’ve volunteered with SOBEWFF I have had a blast, especially being around my favorite chefs, so this one will definitely be one for the books,” she said.

Interim Dean Michael Cheng said everyone at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is proud of Hutchinson and her creation for winning the contest this year.

“The Elote Motive is ingenious! From the name to the ingredients and the creator, it is a true representation of what the Chaplin School is all about,” Cheng said.

Hutchinson previously tried four to six different recipes and she would invite her friends over to try them and get their opinions.

“The recipe was trial and error from a list of a lot of other burgers,” she said. “This is something I’ve been planning for some time and I looked at so many things around me for inspiration, but ultimately I wanted to be different and unique.”

Hutchinson said she knew the Elote Motive was the one immediately after she tasted it.

“I was scared about the cilantro, but that was the best part of the burger and what made me go with this choice,” she said.

Charmaine Campbell, Hutchinson’s friend, had the opportunity of trying the burger before it was entered in the contest. She felt that the Elote Motive had a certain kick that the others did not.

“My favorite part was the corn, hands down. I’ve never thought of corn in a burger, but after tasting it I knew it would be a winning recipe,” she said.

Campbell has known Hutchinson for over 11 years and she said it has always been Hutchinson’s dream to have her own catering company.

“I think this win is momentous and truthfully a catalyst for kick starting her dream. I’m so proud of her and can’t wait to continue to support her in the many more achievements I know will come her way,” she said.

Campbell said she is happy and proud that she was able to be part of the process.

Hutchinson shared that she is going to use the money to help pay for some of graduate school, travel a bit and invest in herself. She said she feels motivated to keep going and become better at what she loves to do. She wants to start learning different techniques and different ways of becoming a better cook.

“I’m super excited about this amazing opportunity and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me,” Hutchinson said.