Florida International University Student Cooks up Recipe for Burger Success as Winner of Red Robin's Savory Scholar Contest

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Luciana Page is enjoying the sweet – and savory – taste of victory, as she was declared the winner of the Red Robin Savory Scholar Contest.  Starting Jan. 10, Red Robin called on students at the Florida International University (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, the beneficiary of all proceeds from the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE, to submit their own burger recipe for consideration for the award.  Page, a Hollywood, Fla. resident, took home top honors for her Korean Kalbi BBQ Burger, earning her a $10,000 scholarship, the opportunity to serve her winning recipe at the Festival's Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray, and a three-month internship at Yummm U, Red Robin's research & development and culinary facility.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120522/NY11686LOGO )

The burger is a unique blend of spicy and tangy authentic Korean flavors including pickled cucumbers and cabbage on a Korean BBQ glazed beef patty placed between a Brioche bun and will be available for sampling at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival during the Amstel Light Burger Bash on Friday, February 22.  Red Robin will serve as a first time-sponsor of the Amstel Light Burger Bash, America's most prestigious burger competition bringing together top chefs and culinary personalities.  Guests of the event can taste the winning burger at the Red Robin station, and the winning burger could potentially make its debut on the Red Robin menu as part of its Red's Tavern Double ™ Style burger platform in 2013.

"As the gourmet burger leader, we at Red Robin believe in celebrating culinary innovation," said Denny Marie Post, Red Robin's senior vice president and chief menu & marketing officer.  "We're thrilled to provide this up-and-coming chef with a jumpstart to her culinary career and the opportunity to train with our terrific R&D team."

"As part of their journey to become leaders, the students at the Chaplin School are exposed to all areas of the industry, including culinary, because they must understand all aspects of hospitality including what goes on in the kitchen," said Mohammad Qureshi, associate dean at Florida International University (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. "It's always great to see how students translate what they learn in the classroom to practical experiences, like what Luciana did with her entry in Red Robin's Savory Scholar Contest."

In addition to serving the winning burger from the Red Robin Savory Scholar Contest, the gourmet burger expert will also present the "Red Robin's Best of the Bash Award."  All chefs participating in the Amstel Light Burger Bash are invited to submit their burger recipe to Red Robin for the chance to win $10,000.  Mo Rocca, host of Cooking Channel's My Grandmother's Ravioli and correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, along with Red Robin's director of culinary and chief marketing officer, will judge, select and announce the "Best of the Bash" that evening.  

"I'm looking forward to serving as a judge for Red Robin's Best of the Bash Award," said Mo Rocca.  "I will be eating many many burgers that night and may have to be carried out on a stretcher.  But no doubt it'll be worth it!"

In addition to the cash prize, the winning burger will be served in more than 470 Red Robin^® restaurants in the U.S. and Canada this fall during the launch of Red Robin's premium burger line.

For more information about Red Robin and to find a restaurant location near you, visit www.redrobin.com.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., is the gourmet burger expert, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries^® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages.  In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology^® Beverages.  There are more than 470 Red Robin^® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM^®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook and Twitter. 

About Mo Rocca
Mo Rocca, host of Cooking Channel's My Grandmother's Ravioli, is best known for his off-beat news reports and satirical commentary.  Currently a Correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, he's also a panelist on NPR's hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! and the host of Food(ography) on the Cooking Channel.  Mo spent four seasons on Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  On Broadway he starred in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  A native of Washington, D.C., Mo earned a bachelor's degree at Harvard and resides in New York City.

About the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has been distinguished as one of the top hospitality programs in the U.S.  Each year more than 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States and around the world choose FIU for its outstanding reputation, advantageous campus locations, expert faculty, rich curriculum, and fast-track career advantages in the international hotel, foodservice and tourism industries. In August 2006, FIU unveiled the first U.S. School of Hospitality and Tourism in Tianjin, China. The Marriott Tianjin China Program is FIU's largest international program, with a capacity for up to 2,000 students.  For more information about Florida International University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, visit http://hospitality.fiu.edu/.

SOURCE Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.