Our knowledgeable panel of veggie burger aficionados was assigned the task of ranking the Top 16 Veggie Burgers in our inaugural Veggie Burger Cup.
The judges represented a wide array of dietary viewpoints, including Vegetarians (37 percent), Vegans (27 percent), Partial Vegetarians (18 percent), and Omnivores (18 percent).
With decades of combined experience tasting meat-free options in Beijing, these judges brought distinct perspectives to the table – ranging from long-time vegetarians who recall a time when choices were scarce, to omnivores who are actively trying to decrease their meat intake, along with others in between.
Here’s a quick introduction to the panelists:
Julia B.
As a long-time vegetarian, Julia has observed the growing variety of veggie options throughout the years, not just in Europe but also in Beijing. She particularly appreciates burgers that highlight their unique flavors instead of emulating meat. She feels fortunate that such options are available in Beijing and looks forward to discovering even more.
Chris Clark
Having been a vegan for nine years (and vegetarian for nine years prior), Chris has resided in Beijing for five years and has sampled nearly all the vegan or vegan-adaptable burgers in the city.
Sofía Gassino
An Argentinian vegan living in Beijing for the past three years, Sofía is on an ongoing quest for the ultimate plant-based comfort food—the type that makes you question, “Wait, this isn’t meat?” When she's not bringing friends around the city to try new vegan burgers, she intensely debates quiz answers or pretends to attend tango classes more often than she actually does. She takes her burgers seriously—messy, juicy, and evaluated with care (but no leniency).
Gideon Goldfeder
After spending 15 years as a vegetarian in the capital, Gideon has witnessed many burgers come and go—and he has tried most of them. Nevertheless, he is always eager to explore new options.
Jake Haselkorn
A New Yorker who has lived in Beijing on two occasions—returning in 2010 after a period in Tokyo—Jake is a former journalist (ABC News Bureau Chief in Beijing, CBS News Bureau Chief in Tokyo) now focusing on media training and consulting while teaching journalism at Tsinghua and Chongqing Universities. A burger lover, he attempts to reduce his beef intake but remains a devoted follower of the Beijinger.
Tiago Ines
Having been vegetarian for 20 years and vegan for the last eight, Tiago has extensive experience in creating delicious veggie dishes.
Srivedant Kar
As a vegetarian who often tries veggie burgers around town, Srivedant samples at least a few each week.
Jennifer Morgenthaler
Vegetarian or vegan for more than half of her life, Jennifer recalls the days of subpar, plasticky Boca patties and is excited about the progress veggie burgers have made. Now completely vegan, she frequently cooks at home but enjoys treating herself to a veggie burger when dining out with her husband or omnivore friends. As an accomplished cook, she has high expectations when eating out, making her a discerning burger connoisseur.
Shawn Piers
Having been a vegetarian for ten years before a brief return to meat, Shawn is now a pescatarian as a compromise with his wife. He follows a largely plant-based diet and has a weakness for veggie burgers. From his experience, vegetarians tend to be very brand loyal—which applies to him as well: when he discovers a great burger spot, he sticks with it.
Brittney Quon
With more than half her life spent as a vegetarian, Brittney is always on the lookout for a fantastic veggie burger. Having been in Beijing for a couple of years, she is gradually experiencing all the incredible food the city has to offer.
Michael Wester
A resident of Beijing for 25 years who has organized burger festivals for 14 years, Michael has sampled countless burgers, including many vegetarian and vegan options. Although he enjoys meat, he also loves trying new items and is interested in reducing his animal product consumption for a variety of reasons, including health and environmental considerations.
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Images: courtesy of the panelists
Introducing the 11 panelists who judged the inaugural Veggie Burger Cup.
